South Moravian Region Research Articles

Interfunctional Coordination and its Influence on Customer Success

AbstractThe purpose of the paper is to expand the knowledge about interfunctional coordination (IFC). The term IFC has been used for 50 years and it extends to many branches. The most popular ones are in marketing, logistics and IT management. The purpose of IFC is to develop collaboration between the diverse departments within an organization. The goal of the paper is to describe the relationship between IFC on the B2B market, especially if IFC in one company can influence customer success in business. The research was undertaken with companies producing electronic components and electrical equipment in the region of South Moravia in the Czech Republic. 60 SME have answered the questionnaire. The Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to analyse the influence of IFC of companies on the success of their customers. The results show that the implementation of IFC in a company has a positive relationship on the success of its customers.

Importance of Knowledge and Ski lls of Project Managers for Implementation of Technical Projects

Abstract The level of technical knowledge and skills of project managers shows a high differentiation, which has an impact on the management of (non)investment projects in the given region, regardless of the sector area such as agriculture, entrepreneurship or services. This paper aims to confirm that the level of technical knowledge and skills of project managers is highly differentiated in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic and to identify the knowledge areas that are affected by the ignorance in this region the most. The research has shown that the management knowledge areas most affected by ignorance in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic are namely Scope management, Quality management and Communication management. These findings show a high level of differentiation in the knowledge and skills of project managers on the regional level, having direct impact on public and private projects in the given region. Due to this issue, there should be established certain standards for project management, which can be demanded by central authorities.

Theoretical Calculations of Economic Life of Firefighting Appliances Based on Chassis Tatra in the South Moravian Region

This paper is focused on the evaluation of economic data obtained from operational records of firefighting equipment with a focus on firefighting and rescue appliances, especially on exit vehicles based on the chassis CAS 20 – TATRA T815-231R55 18 325 4x4.2. These vehicles have been operated by professional units of the Fire and Rescue Service in the South Moravian Region since September 2013. The producer of firefighting superstructures WISS GROUP, Bielsko-Biala, Poland, was a supplier of all these vehicles. The paper’s aim is to specify the optimum lifetime of the firefighting vehicles by the analysis of firefighting vehicles’ economical operation. Theoretical calculations of the optimum lifetime have been processed with implementing both the method of exponential trends and the Brown method. The residual value of vehicles has been calculated both according to the current Czech tax law, and to the Expert Standard Valuation of motor vehicles in force in the Czech Republic.

Significant leadership competencies at large industrial companies: Results of exploratory quantitative research

The aim of this study is to identify important managerial competencies applied in large industrial enterprises established in the South Moravia region. The study was created on the basis of extensive research activities of competency-oriented publications, published in the last 15 years. Current scientific approaches to competence research, their composition and classification are described. The research was carried out on a sample of 24 managers. The significance of 25 competences was evaluated by using a 5-point Likert scale in the form of self-evaluation of the manager. The contribution of the presented study is an analysis of key concepts in the area of competency models and identification of stakeholders [Human Resource, managers, employees and society as a whole], including their relationship to the application of a competence approach. The identified most important managerial competencies in relation to the managerial level at which leaders work are used as a base for the creation of competence model in large industrial companies.
 
 Keywords: Managerial competencies, quantitative research, leadership, competency model, personnel management.

The effect of public R&D subsidies on firms' competitiveness: Regional and sectoral specifics in emerging innovation systems

This article examines regional and sectoral impacts of R&D subsidies on firms in Czechia during the period 2007–2014. Driven by still-developing innovation policies where regional innovation systems are emerging, R&D support plays an important role for activating regional potential. To explore this we employed a geographical perspective and a combination of two counterfactual approaches. Our results revealed that R&D support has a higher net effect on companies operating in regions with lower R&D intensity. In the most advanced regions, the differences in effects between supported and unsupported entities are very small and targeted support no longer plays such a significant role. In contrast, indirect tax support associated with innovation activity is applied much more often. Furthermore, our case study in the South Moravian Region revealed that the impact of R&D support is changing over time and reflects from economic cycles. It has been confirmed that direct R&D support in this advanced regional innovation system is associated negatively with firms' competitiveness.

THE CREATIVITY INDEX GROWTH RATE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: A SPATIAL APPROACH

The presented paper analyses the development of conditions for the development of a creative economy in the regions of the Czech Republic. Through the calculations of a number of sub-indicators in the area of talent, technology and tolerance (Florida´s 3T model), the development of the Creativity Index in 2011-2015 has been mapped in individual regions. In the next phase the development of the average growth rate of the Creativity Index was evaluated and graphically illustrated. At the end of the research, a situational and trending matrix of creativity was compiled, dividing the regions into four quadrants (leaders, up and coming, laggards, and losing ground). The results showed the dominant position of the capital city of Prague, which reached the highest score throughout the whole period and with great precedence surpassed all other regions. Only the South Moravian Region surpassed Prague in a specific way, in the value of the R & D indicator. In this region lies the second largest city of the Czech Republic in Brno, which has a very strong position in the field of research, development and innovation. The situational matrix captured the situation in which the leader’s quadrant was only Prague, while the other regions were growing in the region quadrant. On the contrary, the trend matrix has suggested that Prague is losing its leading position as it is overtaken by the South Moravian region.

Morphoscopical approach in material agent analysis: Cut marks produced by stone and metal tools from Early Bronze Age site Pasohlávky (Czech Republic)

Cut marks left on animal bones are commonly found at archaeological sites, and the analyses based on certain differences within their micromorphological structure might help in the material determination of an artefact used in the butchery process. We present a new method for differentiating cut marks made with stone and metal tools by examining the morphoscopical characteristics using a light microscope at a low magnification. Additional goals are testing the soft tissues and cleaning medium impact on the specific cut mark characteristics. The replicas of six types of stone artefacts, together with a bronze knife replica were produced, and also one modern flat-edged steel knife was included for comparison. The experimental cutting on metapodials and ribs of a domestic pig was inflicted within four types of tissues – fresh bone, fibrous tissues, fleshed and roasted bone. The data show that the characteristics of cut marks display evidence of differences between individual materials used in tool production. The condition of bone and the presence of soft tissues lead to differences in cutting process obtaining to the variable structure of cut mark and needs to be considered in the following experimental studies.Moreover, discussion concerning material preference in butchery tool production dated to the Early Bronze Age in the Czech Republic might be supported with such osteological evidence. This study aims to describe cut marks recorded in archaeozoological material from the Pasohlávky site (South Moravia region, Czech Republic) dated to the Early Bronze Age. The methodology expresses enough efficiency in examination of butchery artefacts and the results could be applied in the following analyses within the context of Early Bronze Age South-Moravian sites.

Assessment of Soil Variability of South Moravian Region Based on the Satellite Imagery

The aim of this study was to analyse the sets of atmospherically corrected Remote Sensing (RS) data in order to assess the variability of bare arable land between different soil blocks in the selected area and evaluate the suitability of this approach for locally targeted management. The study was carried out on the territory of parts of South Moravian, Vysocina and Zlín regions. The RS data was analyzed by two models developed in the Arc GIS 10.22 environment using the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Principal component analysis (PCA) analyzing bare soil (BS) with more than 50 % and more than 95 % of the block representation. A layer of agricultural land from the LPIS system was used to delimit arable land areas. For correct determinig of BS value for NDVI were carried out the terrestrial measurements in the monitored area by using the GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor and The FieldSpec® HandHeld 2 spectrometer. Based on these measurements and image dates, 0.2 NDVI was selected as the limit value. As a more suitable source for identifying BS, RapidEye appears to be able to identify an average of 26 % of the observed area as bare ground compared to Sentinel 2 data (22.5 % of the observed area) in models with more than 50 % By representing the BS in a block (NDVI 50, PCA 50). In these versions of the model was more variable soil (VS) indicated by RapidEye. With more than 95 % of the BS in the block (NDVI 95, PCA 95) was found more variable soils by Sentinel 2. This method of indirectly identifying soil variability can assist in the application of fertilizer or soil treatment in the area of site‑specific management.

Rezervované postoje učitelů k dalšímu vzdělávání jako jeden z rizikových faktorů kurikulární reformy

The key requirement of a successful implementation of curricular reform is the creation of such conditions that strengthen the teacher’s autonomy and support his/ her acceptance of the changes and his/her willingness to implement them. One of the important factors of this process is the area of teachers’ further education. The study brings the results of a survey among the primary school teachers administered in autumn 2006 in the South Moravian region of Czech Republic. The aim of the survey was to find out what areas of the creation of the school curriculum are considered problematic and what form of further education in these areas provided by the Faculty of Education of Masaryk University would be preferred.

Land-Use Changes at Nest Sites of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) in the South-Moravian Region of the Czech Republic

Abstract The Little Owl is currently endangered bird species of agricultural lowland areas in Central Europe. Nesting sites of the Little Owl are often old trees as well as buildings and quarries with suitable nesting cavities. The Little Owl has severely declined in a major part of Europe during the past decades. Information on habitat requirements of the Little Owl and data related to land-use changes at nest sites (covering both the breeding and foraging habitats) are needed for conservation programmes aimed at this bird species. Land-use changes in farmland rank among frequently discussed negative factors causing the population decline of the Little Owl. The aim of this study is to analyse land-use changes at nest sites of the Little Owl in the South-Moravian region (Czech Republic) between the years 1976/1977 and 2014. In both studied periods (1976/1977 and 2014), the most important land-use type within 500 m from the nest sites of the Little Owl was arable land (66.94 % – 62.25 %), followed by built-up areas (19.97 % –22.41 %), while the other land-use types made up less than 5 %. The proportion of the particular land-use type did not change significantly between the years 1976/1977 and 2014. The most important change in comparison with the period 1976/1977 was the decrease in the area of arable land by 4.69 % and that of orchards and gardens by 1.99 %, while the surface of built-up areas increased slightly by 2.45 % and that of meadows and pastures by 1.5 %. The analysis shows that at the known nest sites of the Little Owl in the South-Moravian region (Czech Republic), there were no significant changes in the proportion of the particular land-use types within 500 m from the nests between the years 1976/1977 and 2014. Based on these results, we can conclude that in comparison with the availability of nest sites, which seems to be the important limiting factor for the occurrence and population density of the Little Owl, land-use changes in study area were not very important factor influencing decline of the Little Owl.

Teacher as an Amateur Speech Therapist – Current Knowledge in the Field of Speech Therapy Prevention in Kindergartens

Abstract Introduction: In our paper, we focus mainly on defining the term of speech therapy prevention, on the anchoring of speech therapy prevention in the legislation and education, the teacher as an actor and direct mediator of the primary speech therapy prevention, and his competence. The research part describes the data obtained by in-depth interviews with teachers in nursery schools in the Zlín region. Methods: The empirical part of the study was conducted through a qualitative research. We have obtained research data via interviews with teachers from nursery schools in the Zlín Region. The data, after transcribing them into written form, were subsequently analysed and interpreted. Results: Based on the results of the research, we can identify one of the most significant categories in the survey of the method of implementation of speech therapy prevention in selected nursery schools in the South Moravian Region. It’s called “Teacher as an amateur speech therapist”. Within this category, we can also distinguish between three types of teachers: teacher - speech therapist, speech therapy assistant as a substitute of speech therapist, teacher - preventionist, and speech therapist. Discussion: What is the cause of this situation? Poor education? Legislation? Pedagogical practice? Limitations: The research was realized only in the South Moravian Region (CZ) and cannot be applied to the entire population. Conclusions: It is evident from the results of the research that some respondents have insufficient knowledge about the competences of individual actors in the speech therapy prevention process as well as about the realization of speech therapy prevention in kindergartens.

Historical Changes in the Land Use Connected with Appropriation of Agricultural Land – Case Study of Cadastral Areas Dolní Věstonice and Modřice (Czech Republic)

Abstract The article focuses on the issue of agricultural soil sealing in the Dolní Věstonice and Modřice cadastres (South Moravian Region). Available data and map resources were used for this purpose (historical and up-to-date). Data was processed using manual digitalisation which helped to generate the needed map output. The decrease in area of agricultural land is analysed in individual periods starting in the year 1824 (source of data stable cadastre - the first half of the 19th century) until the present, and the sealing of different types of plots and soil kinds is assessed according to Evaluated Soil-Ecological Units (ESEU). In most cases, agricultural land sealing is associated with municipal expansion. To compare future development, potential (forthcoming) agricultural land sealing proposed within the valid landscape plans was also explored. Likewise, the overall price of sealed plots in both locations was calculated. The results show that there was a significant change in the use of both model territories between 1824 and the present. In Modřice, the area of the built-up area was changed from 16 ha (1824) to 409 ha (2016). The area of the site has expanded from 90% to agricultural land. The most significant change in this area is the development of builtup areas on agricultural land. In the model territory of Dolní Věstonice, the area of the built-up area increased from 16 ha (1824) to 48 ha (2016). The area of the site has expanded from 70% to agricultural land. Due to the construction of water reservoirs “Nové Mlýny”, the area of water bodies increased by 569 ha (during the period 1824- 2016). The water reservoirs occupy 65% of the cadastral area of Dolní Věstonice. The most significant change in landscape is the increase in water areas in Dolní Věstonice. Should this trend persist, an extensive reduction in agricultural soil and ensuing problems associated with sustainable agriculture, potentially also deficient food resources must be anticipated.

Corporate Social Responsibility of Public Administration through Eyes of Enterprises

The present paper focuses on corporate social responsibility in public administration. The subject of interest is the South Moravia Region and enterprises seated there. The subject of the present research includes overall awareness of the inquired enterprises about corporate social responsibility and activities of the South Moravian Region Authority related to corporate social responsibility of the institution. The research has brought conclusions testifying a certain level of knowledge of the CSR concept among enterprises, albeit on the basic level only. The awareness of socially responsible activities of the regional authority was very low and therefore further steps of this institution must be considered to improve communication of CSR activities and develop an environment for better cooperation of the public and the private sector in this area. The research was based on secondary data drawn from annual reports of the South Moravian Region Authority and on primary data obtained by questionnaire-based inquiry among 384 enterprises doing business in the South Moravia Region.

The varying effect of water erosion on chemical and biochemical soil properties in different parts of Chernozem slopes

In recent decades erosion processes have influenced agricultural soil quality worldwide. In the Czech Republic the situation is made even worse by the fact that, in the post-war period, considerable changes occurred in land use during collectivisation of farm land, along with a significant increase in the average size of farmed plots. This led us to observe the changes in chemical and biochemical soil properties in the intensively farmed Chernozem region of south Moravia. According to the erosion/deposition model, 48 localities with erosional, depositional and control areas were chosen where soil samples were then taken from among maize crops. These samples were then analysed and the results were statistically processed. From the results of analysis of chemical properties relating to basic nutrients and soil organic matter, it is apparent that, in depositional areas of slopes, supplies of potassium and phosphorus were higher in comparison with erosional areas. The opposite trend was evident in calcium, where statistically significant higher levels were found in erosional areas of slopes, which is linked to the chemistry of soil-forming substrate. This trend also influenced pH. Differences were also found in characteristics relating to soil organic matter. Overall carbon and nitrogen content was significantly higher in depositional areas. There was a statistically conclusive difference in quality of organic matter in these areas expressed by the carbon content of humus matter, carbon in humic acids and the C:N ratio. The content and quality of organic matter influence biological and biochemical soil properties. In enzymes there was statistically higher activity of dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, urease and nitrate reductase in depositional areas compared with erosional areas.The results obtained indicate considerable differences in soil properties within individual plots of land, especially between erosional and depositional areas of slopes, and the conclusions of the study are applicable in planning anti-erosion defences and management measures in agro-ecosystems.

Internal factors of intermunicipal cooperation: what matters most and why?

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the internal aspects of intermunicipal cooperation, providing a new and innovative approach to the cost effectiveness of municipal waste management. We examine a sample of 658 municipalities in the Czech Republic’s South Moravian Region and 205 cooperating municipalities separately during 2012–2014. The results, based on ordinary least-squares regression, show that cost reduction is significantly influenced by the institutional arrangement of intermunicipal cooperation, the participation of municipal representatives in management, and professional managers. The paper shows that a crucial role in cost reduction is played by internal factors that have been investigated only marginally so far. Cost increases are related to municipality sizes larger than 10,000 inhabitants and to profit-oriented behaviours of waste collection companies. The results differ in the size samples of municipalities; only the impact of institutional arrangement is significant in all groups of municipalities.

Association of Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms with Dietary Composition but Not Anthropometry in Obese as Well as Nonobese Individuals

ABSTRACTObjectives: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are detoxifying enzymes for a number of substrates, including some food compounds. Selected GST polymorphisms have been proven to significantly affect enzymatic activity; however, it is unclear whether this altered metabolism influences dietary composition. The objective of this study was to locate the correlation between GST polymorphisms and selected nutritional parameters, namely, fiber and vitamin C intake.Methods: This study was conducted on a cohort of 472 individuals (mean age 45.26 years; mean body mass index [BMI] 32.36) from the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Basic anthropometrical parameters were measured and no association was found for the selected polymorphisms. Polymorphisms in GSTA1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 were genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methodology. Food intake was monitored using a self-administered 7-day questionnaire that was subsequently analyzed with a special focus on vitamin C intake, fiber intake, and total energy intake.Results: For GSTA1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms, an association was observed with fiber intake. Though no association was found with vitamin C intake, mean vitamin C intake was found to be higher than recommended daily values. No association was found with either daily energy intake or anthropometric parameters.Conclusion: Based on our results, GST polymorphisms seem to affect dietary composition; however, they have no effect on total energy intake or any association with obesity.

West Nile virus in overwintering mosquitoes, central Europe

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) is currently the most important mosquito-borne pathogen spreading in Europe. Data on overwintering of WNV in mosquitoes are crucial for understanding WNV circulation in Europe; nonetheless, such data were not available so far.ResultsA total of 28,287 hibernating mosquitoes [27,872 Culex pipiens, 73 Anopheles maculipennis (sensulato), and 342 Culiseta annulata], caught in February or March between 2011 and 2017 in a WNV-endemic region of South Moravia, Czech Republic, were screened for the presence of WNV RNA. No WNV positive pools were found from 2011 to 2016, while lineage 2 WNV RNA was detected in three pools of Culex pipens mosquitoes collected in 2017 at two study sites.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of WNV RNA in overwintering mosquitoes in Europe. The data support the hypothesis of WNV persistence in mosquitoes throughout the winter season in Europe.

Epigeic Spiders from Lowland Oak Woodlands in the South Moravia Region (Czech Republic)

This paper presents spider faunistics from abandoned coppice oak forest stands located along the South Moravia region. Spiders were collected from May to July 2012 by pitfall trapping at eight different localities. We collected 1945 adult spiders representing 20 families, 53 genera, and 90 species. More than one-third of all the species are known to be xerothermophilous with ecological restrictions to open and partly shaded habitats such as forest-steppe and sparse forests which belong to endangered habitats along central Europe. The most abundant species were Pardosa alacris, P. lugubris and Arctosa lutetiana from the family Lycosidae. In the surveyed area, 24 species were found listed in the Red List of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic (CR – 1 species, EN – 2 species, VU – 15 species, LC – 6 species). In general, we discovered a substantially diversified spider community with a large presence of rare and endangered species characteristic for open and xeric habitats.

Economies of Scale on the Municipal Level: Fact or Fiction in the Czech Republic?

Abstract Many countries have carried out extensive amalgamation-related territorial reforms at the level of local self-government and created relatively large municipalities. The Czech Republic is one of the few remaining European countries with a fragmented territorial structure. There is a lot of discussion in the country about the need for amalgamation, but this discussion is mainly based on political arguments rather than on empirical evidence about the feasibility of amalgamation and its potential to improve local government performance. This paper analyses economies of scale on the local level as a factor that should be reflected in debates about the pros and cons of amalgamation in the Czech Republic. To add to the existing knowledge about the reality of economies of scale on the municipal level in the Czech Republic, we processed the municipal costs of three selected areas on a representative sample of municipalities in the South Moravian Region. The analysis showed that economies of scale can be identified for collecting local fees and for pre-school and elementary education, but not for local administration. Our results suggest that the existence of too small municipalities in the Czech Republic results in inefficiencies and should be addressed.

The relationship between public transport and the progressive development of rural areas

In a consequence of the economic transformation, transport companies compete for the most profitable lines of public transport whereas the wide countryside remains of a little interest. As a solution, integrated systems of public transport could play an important role in the development of rural areas, especially in post-communist countries. Such a system in the South Moravian Region connects 24 state, municipal and private transport companies in a unified mode. It includes unified tariff, operation management from one place, and creation of a skeleton of high capacity (train) lines with transfer traffic nodes, creation of nodes on the city fringe for the change from buses to electric vehicles and release of capabilities for tangential lines. The system competes mainly with the individual car transport by its increasing comfort and extension of services. The annual performances have increased from 118 to 829 million of passengers-kilometers in the regional transport and from 344 to 396 million passengers in the city during the period 2004–2015. The relation between accessibility and rural development, particularly depopulation trends, was investigated. It was found that the frequency of connections is sufficient throughout the territory, which is one of main reasons inhabitants should remain in the countryside. Moreover, this frequency contributes positively to rural tourism, prevents social exclusion and stimulates progressive rural development throughout the whole territory.