Strategic Management Instrument Research Articles

Intellectual Capital Statement (ICS) – A Case Study from a Hungarian non-profit Joint Venture

An Intellectual Capital Statement (ICS) is a strategic management instrument for assessing and developing the Intellectual Capital (IC) of an organization. The ICS shows how IC is linked to corporate goals, business processes and the business success of an organization using indicators to measure these elements. By identifying the causal relationships between the different types of capital, improvement potentials are discovered, which can then be used profitably for the strategic and operational development of the organization. Therewith, the ICS is an essential tool for preserving the competitive edge and keeping business successful in the knowledge-based economy. The workshop-based approach to creating an ICS helps participants to gain new insights into how their own organization operates. It also provides concrete results in the form of prioritized recommendations for action to foster their organization’s sustainable development and consistent reporting. Against this background, a case study to outline selected essential steps of the ICS creation for an applied research a non-profit joint venture for computer science and control in Budapest is presented.

Засоби управління логістичною компонентою економічної безпеки підприємства

The conceptual provisions and relevance of the issues of separation, along with the management of the logistics component of the economic security of enterprises are substantiated. It is shown that in a highly competitive environment, when in order to ensure the survival of enterprises, it is necessary to constantly promote products to the market, business success largely depends on the ability of the enterprise to effectively manage relations with suppliers in a system of simultaneous minimization of risks and threats to the logistics security of enterprises. In turn, the dependence of enterprises on suppliers of raw and other materials, subcontractors and partners requires the skills to quickly find reliable suppliers (able to meet the needs of production) and establish effective working relationships with them. A comparative characterization of the components of supplier management according to two directions has been developed: (1) long-term relationships; (2) strategic partnerships. The scheme of strategic management instruments in the context of managing the strategic partnership of an enterprise with suppliers in the system of strengthening the logistics component of its economic security is generalized. Four types of relationships with suppliers are allocated that an enterprise must adhere to in order to ensure the logistic component of its economic security in a strategic vertical type interaction (with suppliers and consumers). The economic risks within the logistics component of the enterprise in the supply system are summarized. It is stated that in the conditions of war and critical instability, logistics becomes one of the key components of ensuring the economic security of enterprises. Its formation requires the introduction at enterprises of a mechanism for guaranteeing the logistics component of security, aimed at forming its proper level in the course of financial-economic activities both in the current period and in the future. It is proved that the strengthening of the logistics security of enterprises will contribute to the achievement of a number of parameters of technical-technological development, namely the creation of new organizational and production structures, the use of leasing, active participation in promotional and communication activities, the introduction of the best practices and technologies of logistics.

Modelo conceptual para diseñar un plan curricular auxiliar sostenible en periodos de contingencia para las instituciones públicas de educación superior

El presente trabajo es el resultado del estudio de una herramienta innovadora de diseño curricular para la educación del desarrollo sostenible. El principal objetivo fue crear un instrumento estratégico de gestión para situaciones críticas durante el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se analizó el método de diseño curricular de tres instituciones públicas de educación superior, tres postulados internacionales para la educación del desarrollo sostenible, dos teorías de aprendizaje constructivista basado en el andamiaje, una teoría para el diseño de estrategias de aprendizaje, así como referencias acerca de los estilos y modelos de aprendizaje. 
 El estudio se basó en los métodos analítico, sistémico e inductivo, a través de los cuales se obtuvieron datos acerca del contexto de las principales teorías de aprendizaje constructivista, métodos de diseño curricular, postulados acerca de la educación para el desarrollo sostenible, tendencias tecnológicas en la educación, tipos y modelos de aprendizaje, y formas de enseñanza.
 Se observó que ninguno de los métodos utilizados por las tres instituciones públicas de educación superior dispone de un plan de contingencia para situaciones críticas dentro de la estructura del método de diseño curricular, aunque se han implementado acciones para dar solución a los problemas presentados. En cuanto a su estructura, se identificó que el método es diverso, con excepción del modelo curricular, ya que en dos instituciones es sistémico y en una es modular.
 Los temas relacionados con la agenda 2030 para el desarrollo sostenible en el contenido curricular de los programas de estudio favorecen la calidad de la educación. Se sugiere integrar en el método de diseño curricular un plan auxiliar sostenible para la prevención de situaciones críticas y también incorporar temas relacionados con el desarrollo sostenible que sirvan de complemento al contenido programático vigente y que propicie el aprendizaje significativo sostenible para dar respuesta a situaciones críticas derivadas de fenómenos naturales ocasionados por el cambio climático.

The Moderating Effect of Internal Audit in Strategic Planning Implementation Success

The objective of this study is to measure the moderating role of internal audits in the strategic planning implementation success. An internal audit is the primary function for all organizations to measure the effectiveness of the internal controls, risk management and governance processes. On the other hand, strategic planning is one of the most important resource allocation and strategic management instruments for an organization. The question is, how does the internal audit affect the strategic planning implementation success? How do these two strategic management instruments affect each other? In order to answer these questions, an empirical approach is being followed in this study. The conceptual framework of the study is being set up based on internal audits and strategic planning literature, previously validated measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the variables are used to test the hypothesis. Turkey’s biggest 1000 firms are chosen as the target group, and a survey is conducted with 299 samples selected from this target group. The results indicate that the effectiveness of internal audits increases the strategic planning implementation success. Internal audits moderate the relationship between risk management and strategic planning implementation success. Internal audits moderate the relationship between governance and strategic planning implementation success. No empirical evidence is found on the moderating effect of internal audits on the relationship between internal controls and strategic planning implementation success. The primary contribution of this study to the internal audit literature is presenting the relationship between internal audits and strategic planning in a holistic approach with the help of empirical data.

ANALYSIS OF AN AUDIT AND EXPERTISE IN A CIVIL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LOCATED IN THE CITY OF MANAUS/AM

This article aims to emphasize the importance of Auditing and Expertise with civil construction companies, as well as to investigate whether Internal Audit systems can be considered as a tool in management procedures. Due to the fact of the constant growth in the last years of the companies are linking the concept of Strategic Management to the existence of a specific branch of the new administration, which reflects in the main objective that is to know the biggest obstacles that deprive the companies of civil construction to adopt the audit as a management tool for the purpose of ascertaining the procedures adopted by company managers. For this, a comparative analysis was performed between the literature review and the opinion of the managers of the organizations, through semi-structured interviews. The research problem was adopted qualitatively using books, articles, dissertations, legislations and manuals to support the analysis of the contents from 2009 to 2019. Finally, there is a need for transparency in procedures. In this context, there are tools available to organizations for systematic use. In this sense, Internal Audit should be understood as a Strategic Management instrument that completes the objective, systematic and periodic assessment of companies. This tool can and should be extended to the entire organizational structure of the company. In other words, it can be stated that Internal Audit procedures aim to ensure the financial protection of an organization through correct accounting practices.

Street foods: contemporary preference of tourists and its role as a destination attraction in India

PurposeThe study aims to assess and find out the preference of street-foods amongst the foreign tourists visiting India. It will also discuss in detail the important factors that lead to the selection of street-foods outlining the relevance of food as a destination attraction.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied the use of location intercept technique through one to one interview using a structured survey scale to take the responses from 586 outbound foreign tourists at the departure gates of International Airport at New Delhi. The street-food preference of foreign tourists was analysed using the analytical hierarchical process model and Chi-square statistics.FindingsThis study resulted in identification of 18 street-foods which were preferred mostly by the foreign tourist in India, with Tandoori Chicken tikka being the most favoured and Kathi Kebab being least preferred. This study also confirmed that amongst the all factors which were considered to have an influence on the street-food preference of foreign tourists only marital status was found to be insignificant.Practical implicationsThis study suggested that street-food vending can be considered to be a strategic management instrument that can (re)create a destination image and sustain or rejuvenate tourist movements towards a gastronomically rich destination like India. It might help the shareholders in the street-food vending businesses across India to devise strategies to showcase India on a global gastronomic platform.Originality/valueIt is the first study which has tried to exploit the foreign tourists’ emotions through their street-food preference which can be used by the local street vendors to attract, reconnect and increase their repeat visits in India. It will also help sensitising the local street-food vendors including restaurants, catering joints and hotels to include the preferred delicacies in their operational menus for maximising the earnings from tourists.

Risks Management in Travel Business: Peculiarities, Types Criteria of Estimation

The article considers important issues on the security of travel business as a component of the state’s social and economic system and methods of its impact on risks. The major purpose of this article is to identify the main principles that substantiate the peculiarities of risk assessment in the travel business as the main element contributing to the achievement of travel security, as well as to study instruments and types of risks on the travel services market. The study subject is the security of the travel business. The study object is the market of travel services.The development of tourism technologies is the leading trend of the world economy stipulated by social restructuring of the modern society. The Russian Federation has defined the economic task of the state policy related to travel services. This is to turn tourism into a competitive, innovative, sustainable and highly-profitable sector of the national business. Travel business involves a comprehensive system of relations between suppliers and consumers of the relevant services, between travel agencies and their competitors, as well as among business partners. The operation of a travel agency on the market includes the following: selection of a market niche; development of a travel product; determination of the volume of services provided; improvement of pricing formation; expansion of advertising activities; scientific research; attraction of investments; interaction with other companies, and relations with government bodies. Currently methods and models are intensively implemented in the formation and development of travel management systems, which is associated with the increased competitiveness of the products offered on the travel market.The identification of risks in the operation of a travel company can become a guarantee of its successful and well-coordinated activity. It is possible to quickly and timely identify risks of a travel agency by using the SWOT analysis as a strategic management instrument.

Moving towards a competence centre for geriatric medicine and care: Quality management and human resource management as major support factors.

Changed employment models, an ageing workforce and demands of new generations are challenging healthcare facilities to go down new paths. Never before have well-qualified staff been as highly sought after within the medical and nursing care sector as they are today. For many years, the Geriatric Health Care Centres of the city of Graz (GGZ)-a large regional health care provider with more than 650 staff across five locations-has focused a lot on the topic of competence management, facilitation of specialist and management careers in nursing and medicine as well as the optimal mix of skills and grades in staffing. In addition to competence management, quality management is another prerequisite for systematic staff development. The consistent path of quality management at GGZ has demonstrated for more than 15 years that the regular consideration of quality management systems supports the constant development of human resource management; additionally, it has also demonstrated that it leads to important certifications and prestigious prices: these include the KTQ award for Cooperation for Transparency and Quality in Health Care (Kooperation für Transparenz und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen) in 2010 and 2013, the Austrian Quality Award (Staatspreis Unternehmensqualität) in 2014, the European Quality Award from EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) in 2015 and runner-up for the Austrian award for the most family-friendly company (Staatspreis Familienfreundlichster Betrieb Österreichs) in 2014. Furthermore, the competitive edge is sustainably ensured. However, to remain competitive in the labour market and to satisfy the aforementioned requirements, skill-based teamwork and consideration of life-phase-orientation are keys to increase the job and life satisfaction of staff, especially for the mentally and physically draining work with elderly, chronically ill and dying patients. The facilitation of specialist and management careers and age-appropriate workplaces are in turn part of workplace health management of the company. Incorporating workplace health management into the corporate strategy allows health-related management decisions to be made. The integration of health-relevant agendas as strategic management instruments (e.g. the so-called balanced scorecard) is supported by the processes of quality management systems (e.g. EFQM). The strategic corporate objective of GGZ is to increase the health literacy of the population-and by doing so, also increases the health literacy of patients and residents. This kind of patient empowerment can be substantially supported by specially qualified, empathic staff with good social skills and a genuine interest in the elderly; this reinforces the high significance of professional human resource management.

Strategic Management Instruments for Cyber-Physical Organizations: Technological Posthumanization as a Driver of Strategic Innovation

Strategic Management Instruments for Cyber-Physical Organizations: Technological Posthumanization as a Driver of Strategic Innovation

Corporate Social Responsibility in Companies of the Primary Sector in the Czech Republic, a Preliminary Study

Over the past years the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement has been rapidly growing in significance as a strategic management instrument. The role of business in society is changing and companies no longer operate in isolation but are a part of the business environment. CSR has been characterized as a concept in a variety of ways such as legally complying with the letter of the law, complying with the social and environmental codes of conduct engaging in corporate philanthropy, and the broader impact that business has on society among others. The aim of this paper is to assess the CSR within companies of the primary sector. An analysis was made within companies of NACE Section A2 – Forestry and Logging, which have information available on the internet. From the 1040 companies only 298 have their own web page and only 117 presented their CSR there. The preliminary study includes companies according to given criteria which were subsequently analyzed in approaches to CSR based on reporting in this field. The most common certification was ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, CFCS 1004 and PEFC, which promotes sustainable forest management through forestry certification. From public information it arose that neither support nor cooperation with non-profit organizations were proven, except for one joint-stock company and one forestry state enterprise (LČR, s. p.).

Municipal woodland in Denmark: resources, governance and management

Urban woodlands are the subject of complex decision-making that requires a strategic overview of the resource. This article contributes a national study of municipal woodland in Denmark. Data were collected among all Danish municipalities through a postal survey (with a response rate of 52%). As much as 83% of the woodland units were located within urban settlements or at their fringe, emphasising that municipalities are important urban woodland providers. Municipal woodland resources were typically divided into many separate units of varying size. On average, the responding municipalities owned 12.6 woodland units with an allocated area of 265 ha, resulting in a mean size of 21.5 ha. A general lack of management plans, and a significant drop in recreational facilities provided with decreasing woodland size indicate that the recreational use potential of small woodland units was largely overlooked. Municipal woodland units frequently bordered other woodland or nature areas of different ownership. Thus even small municipal woodlands can play a key role in the development of multifunctional green infrastructures in the urban landscape. Only municipalities with extensive woodland property had issued a woodland policy, and/or certified woodland management. This indicates a need for development of governance and strategic management instruments attractive to municipalities with limited woodland property.

Strategic Management Applications in Rejuvenation Efforts of South-Western Nigerian Hotels: Facilities Management Perspective

A survey was conducted of probabilistically determined fifty-seven hotels of various ‘stars’ in South-Western geo-political zone of Nigeria to investigate the responsiveness of the hotel organizations to strategic property management practices in particular level of use of facilities management, level of commitment to business development, use of information and communication technology and support services procurement methodology. Data were collected from hotel organizations through their general managers, staff and customers with the aid of questionnaires. A combination of stratified and cluster sampling techniques were used. Kothari’s formula was adopted to determine the appropriate sample size while descriptive statistics and balanced score card were used for data analysis. It was found that use of facilities management as a strategic management instrument is at low ebb (36%), the same is true of level of commitment to business development (46%), use of information and communication technology (39%) and support services outsourcing (46%). The use of balanced score card principle shows that the four variables all less than 50% may be balanced but in a negative sense suggesting non-responsiveness to the use of strategic management practices. This discovery also affirms that receptivity to FM is at low-ebb in the hotel sector of Nigeria’s economy and a pointer to ignorance of FM as instrument of strategic change. The study recommended that International Facilities Management Association (Nigeria Group), hotel organizations and Governments at all levels in Nigeria should be conscious of this development and put in place strategic actions to educate the gentries on the efficacy of FM in running hotel businesses. The hotel managements are also encouraged to be responsive to new ways of doing things especially when such a method would have a tremendous impact on the performance of the hotels.

Clinical Pathways as Instruments for Risk and Cost Management in Hospitals - A Discussion Paper

Introduction:The distinctive characteristics of the German health system are medical progress and financial pressure—and this is especially true of the hospitals. These challenges must be met by strategic management instruments for quality assurance, and by reducing costs.Purpose:This article presents the instrument “clinical pathway” (also known as “clinical treatment pathway”) and describes the possibilities it offers, both for quality assurance and risk management, and for cost reduction. The clinical pathway presented here will be that for “multimodal pain therapy”, as used in the context of acute inpatient care in Germany.Methods:A general presentation of the risks in hospital is followed by consideration of the risks associated with core processes. A comprehensive total cost analysis is performed for those patients who meet the pathway entry criteria and who fulfil the requirements for the structure of care provided within multimodal pain therapy.Discussion and Conclusion:Multimodal pain therapy places high demands on the structural, procedural and outcome quality of the medical, nursing and therapeutic services provided, and these demands are reflected in high costs for the provision of this care. The treatment process involves many different professional groups. These complex interfaces can potentially generate risks, which can lead to the possibility of legal liability. A clinical pathway must structure the core process and then combine elements of quality assurance in order to optimise patient care and minimise risk. The examination of costs reveals significant potential savings (patients with clinical pathway: EUR 3086±212; patients without clinical pathway: EUR 3774±460; Mann-Whitney U test; p<0.001). For the managers of a hospital, the clinical pathway represents a strategic management instrument that can serve for continual cost control and cost reduction, and can contribute in the form of quality assurance towards a transparent provision of services.

Integration of health management in schools using the Balanced Scorecard as a strategic management instrument

Aim Organizational development is crucial to health promotion in different settings. The Learn to Live Healthy intervention [German: Gesund Leben Lernen (GLL)] is a new school health promotion strategy designed to develop schools into healthy environments for all those who work and study there. GLL focuses on strengthening available health resources and reducing negative and excessive health stresses. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC), a strategic management instrument designed to support change processes, is employed in this BMBF-funded study. This research will assess the suitability of the BSC as a management and evaluation instrument for schools.