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Contemporary Human Resource Management (HRM) emphasizes individualized approaches to employee learning and development (ILD), such as coaching and mentoring, and assigns key roles to line managers in HR processes. While both elements are recognized separately for their benefits, the joint impact of ILD and line managers' involvement (LMI) on overall company performance (CP), including productivity, innovation, and environmental effects, has not been extensively studied at the organizational level. This study investigates this relationship using data from a large-scale CRANET survey of 4145 medium and large companies across 38 countries. Utilizing Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling, the research tested a model examining the direct effect of ILD on CP and the mediating effect of LMI. The findings confirm a positive and significant direct relationship between individualized learning and development and company performance. The study also found that line managers' involvement positively mediates this relationship, which strengthens the effect. However, the analysis revealed that the direct effect of ILD on CP is substantially larger than the indirect effect mediated by LMI. These results provide clear direction for practitioners. Practitioners should incorporate individualized development methods, such as coaching and mentoring, while strategically leveraging managerial involvement to optimize business outcomes. Companies aiming to boost productivity, innovation, and environmental performance should include the implementation of ILD approaches. Simultaneously, they should support line managers in their HR roles as their involvement, although not the main driver, positively contributes to the overall impact. Implications for Central European audience: For Central European audiences, the sources reveal a significantly lower use of individualized learning and development compared to global averages. The study highlights a strategic opportunity for companies in Central Europe to boost competitiveness and innovation through coaching and mentoring. Theoretically, the study confirms a direct link between ILD and organizational performance, followed by further practical implications driven by individualization in LD and the usage of i-deals for increased engagement. Personalized development serves as the primary driver of improved performance.

The paper examines the evolvements in the global value chain positions of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. This approach enables us to reveal both economic and sector-level structural changes in the economic catching-up process. To study the structural patterns, we developed a modified smile curve framework that combines the value-added ratio and upstreamness index. Data were derived from the WIOD database from 2000 to 2014. By undergoing a significant catch-up in the last decades, CEE countries have shown considerably different patterns in their evolvements of GVC positions. Regarding the economy level, we concluded that leading economies can be described by a “U”-shaped smile curve over the period. There are two further dominant patterns that have become widespread among the CEE countries. Until 2014, the most common structure is marked by a “/” shape, which reflects an upstream-weak economy (e.g., BGR 2000; HUN 2000; LVA 2014). The second most common structure is marked by an inverted “U” shape (“^” shape), which denotes a manufacturing-heavy economy (e.g., EST 2000; POL 2000; HUN 2014; POL 2014). There is no significant difference in the added value ratio of the manufacturing sectors compared to the western countries.
Implications for Central European audience: Typically, the CEE countries are shifting towards supplier positions and sectors with less complex output, resulting in the flattening and twisting of the “U” shape. While most studies focus on a single sector or region, this study involves many sectors and many countries that provide a real global context, thus extending the GVC-related empirical studies concerning the CEER. To further facilitate the significant catching-up process, the upstream-weak economies should develop their structure in a way that less simple and specialised production processes are done at a high rate in any sector. Heavy manufacturing should elaborate market connections and develop connections to customers. It alerts that a transition is required from extensive to intensive and knowledge-based developments.

In Central and Eastern European (CEE) business conditions, intellectual capital is becoming increasingly important as a form of intangible rather than tangible capital. The aim of this study is to determine the structure of intellectual capital, identify determinants and evaluate their values for agri-entrepreneurship development. Thereby, potentials are identified and strategic guidelines are created. The research methodology is based on a measurement and evaluation process using calculations of importance weights and ratings and values of all attributes and determinants. It is recognized as human, structural and consumer capital with different attributes and descriptions. Four research questions are tested through research and analysed with a primary focus on the measurement and evaluation of attributes. The results show a predominant value for entrepreneurs' abilities in human capital. Agri-entrepreneurs are found to have the greatest potential in the organizational structure for structural capital. The distribution channel has the highest value in consumer capital. Moreover, the study shows that human capital has the highest value and potential for agri-entrepreneurship development compared with consumer and structural capital. A strategic analysis is applied to connect the proposed guidelines. This research on intellectual capital potential establishes guidelines for strategic goals on which entrepreneurs should focus to increase their competitiveness on the market.
Implications for Central European audience: Research on agri-entrepreneurship has been increasing but is still lacking in the CEE region, especially in countries where agriculture is one of the most important economic branches. This conceptual research model is an attempt to formulate an empirical evaluation of the determinants of intellectual capital. It aims to recognize weaknesses and form strategic goals for the production value growth and operations of economic entities in agriculture. The model focuses on intangible capital and its components, which are crucial for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector.

A growing interest in human resource management (HRM) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has not been accompanied by increased knowledge of how different HRM policy orientations can affect SMEs' effectiveness. In this way, the goal of this paper is twofold: to test whether the orientation of HRM towards high-performance work practices (HPWP) –represented by the Abilities-Motivation-Opportunities (AMO) framework– allows SMEs to achieve better performance and to test the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientation. Based on a telephone questionnaire together with data collected from a sample consisting of 1,136 Spanish SMEs that operate in the industrial or services sector, our results show that SMEs perform better when HRM policies are oriented towards the AMO model. In addition, our findings highlight that this performance impact of orienting HRM towards HPWP is positively moderated by a CSR orientation. This paper thus complements HRM-related literature by adding new evidence exploring the impact of the AMO model on firm performance as well as the role played by CSR orientation within the SME context.
Implications for the central European audience: Managers should be aware of the importance of considering and implementing appropriate ability, motivation, and opportunity policies for their employees in order to enhance SME performance. In addition, the importance of a CSR orientation is highlighted, which intensifies the impact of HPWP on firm performance. This empirical paper brings evidence from the underexplored high-performance work policies in SMEs, given their importance in stimulating employee and organizational performance. It also takes into account the particularities of the Spanish context, where most businesses are considered to be SMEs.

This study investigates the impact of audit committee members’ competence on the ethical aspects of external audits and its influence on the audit quality of public interest entities (PIEs). Using a mixed-method approach, including surveys with respondents at audit firms and PIEs in Europe and semi-structured interviews with participants at PIEs in Europe, the findings highlight the importance of pre-appointment training for audit committee members concerning external audit ethics. This pre-appointment training would enable audit committee members of PIEs to evaluate whether external auditors and audit firms should implement appropriate safeguards and mitigations to ensure the ethical audit practices of PIEs. The study recommends stringent global regulatory provisions mandating specific guidelines for PIE audit committees for assessing external auditor independence and minimizing potential conflicts of interest to preserve the PIE audit quality.
Implications for Central European audience: For the Central European audience, the study advocates for mandatory pre-appointment training of prospective audit committee members and restrictive regulatory mechanisms to enhance audit committee members’ competence concerning the evaluation of external auditors’ independence and minimizing potential conflicts of interest for ensuring ethical audit practices and preserving PIE audit quality.

This study examines the individual factors of artificial intelligence (AI) implementation by small and medium‑sized enterprise (SME) owners, based on a survey of 499 respondents in Russia. Drawing on Innovation Diffusion Theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and stakeholder‑oriented sustainability approach, the analysis shows that SME owners who already use AI for private purposes are more likely to implement it in their businesses. Owners who see AI as potentially damaging to their businesses are also more likely to adopt it. Those who believe AI will harm the economy overall are less likely to use it. Younger entrepreneurs are more inclined to adopt AI. Education is not significant. Owners of larger SMEs and those in urban areas are more likely to adopt it.​
The findings challenge TAM based evidence regarding the role of hedonic motivation: in this post‑transitional economy, expected damage to one’s own business emerges as a key driver of AI implementation by SMEs.
Implications for Central Eastern European audience. As AI penetration grows in CEE, SME owners with personal AI experience should be more likely to implement AI in business, with younger entrepreneurs expected to lead adoption, similar to Russia. However, unlike Russia, urban-rural differences in CEE may be less pronounced due to a closer distances between cities and rural areas, potentially diminishing the role of settlement in AI adoption.
Policies emphasizing practical, experiential learning opportunities may be more effective than formal education, given the limited additional technical skills required for AI implementation in SMEs.

This study evaluates the logistics performance index of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries using a hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model. It examines the logistics performance of CEE countries from 2010 to 2023. The countries included in this study are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine. The assessment of the logistics performance is conducted based on six criteria determined through a literature review: customs, infrastructure, international shipments, logistics competencies, quality, timeliness, and tracking and tracing. Data is obtained from the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) reports published by the World Bank. The criteria weights are determined using the Logarithmic Percentage Change-driven Objective Weighting (LOPCOW) method, while the countries' logistics performance is ranked based on the Ranking of Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (RAWEC) method. Findings from the LOPCOW indicate that infrastructure, timeliness, and tracking and tracing are the most significant criteria from 2010 to 2023. The RAWEC analysis reveals that Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Estonia performed the highest logistics performance between 2010 and 2023. Additionally, sensitivity and comparative analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings. The results of this research are expected to offer valuable insights into the logistics performance of CEE countries over the past several decades.
Implications for Central European audience: CEE should prioritize the implementation of advanced tracking and tracing systems to enhance supply chain visibility and operational efficiency. Establishing partnerships with technology providers to adopt AI and IoT solutions will enable real-time tracking and help quickly address delays.

In the contemporary business environment, many companies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have adopted self-service technologies (SSTs), moving away from traditional face-to-face interactions. Although numerous studies have examined the factors that shape users’ attitudes towards SSTs, the extant literature has primarily focused on the impact of specific individual and technological factors. In addition, a predominant emphasis is placed on SSTs for hotels, restaurants and retail stores. To bridge these gaps, the present research explores the effect of demographic factors on Bulgarian users’ attitudes towards SSTs at filling stations. The methodology employed consists of a review of the existing literature on SST-related attitudes and a quantitative analysis, for which data were collected via a web-based self-administered questionnaire. Results reveal that younger individuals attribute higher convenience to SSTs than persons of older age. Unexpectedly, advanced age is associated with lower SST anxiety and heightened SST readiness. Additionally, females demonstrate greater SST apprehension and reduced SST readiness compared to males. Notably, education plays a role as well, suggesting that individuals with a Bachelor’s degree exhibit escalated SST anxiety and diminished SST readiness in comparison to those with secondary education. The originality of this paper lies in the fact that it attempts to add substantial new knowledge to understanding the interplay between demographic variables and selected individual and technological factors. By virtue of this, the present study highlights another important dimension in the process of designing and implementing SSTs – shaping user experiences that cater to demographic differences so that user acceptance can be reinforced.
Implications for Central European audience: From a social perspective, this study offers valuable insights for the development of user-centric self-service solutions. By gaining comprehension of users’ attitudes towards SSTs, technology providers can tailor their offerings to meet diverse user preferences, thus allowing the enhancement of user experiences and promotion of wider SST acceptance. In an economic context, the research allows filling stations to make informed decisions regarding the integration of such solutions, potentially leading to operational cost reduction and improved service efficiency. This could translate into lower consumer prices/higher profits.

The role of high-tech companies increases in turbulent times. Additionally, the status of the company (high-tech or non-high-tech) affects financial decisions. Moreover, CEOs with ownership in the company that they work for make specific financial decisions. The paper aims to identify the impact of CEO ownership on financial decisions in high-tech companies. The sample consists of 750 manufacturing firm-year observations from the period 2018-2021. All the companies included in the research are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Linear mixed-model analysis with individual and interactive effects were implemented. Findings show that high-tech companies managed by CEOs with a stake in a company differ from the rest: they are smaller, have higher cash ratios and have lower debt ratios. However, in high-tech companies, CEOs with a stake in the company affect investment expenditure, debt ratio and cash holdings positively. The originality of this research lies in including the interactive impact of CEO ownership and high-tech companies on financial decisions. The findings might be important for investors who want to invest in high-tech companies with a CEO as an owner.
Implications for Central European audience: The findings might be important for other Central Eastern European countries and listed companies. The findings are important for investors who consider investing in companies managed by a CEO having a stake in the company as CEO ownership might lead to empire-building behaviour or rent extraction. The findings are important for policymakers as the cautious financing policy of high-tech companies (mostly based on equity) might affect the efficiency of public aid. Evidence shows that is important for the theoretical discussion on financial decisions and CEO ownership in a specific type of companies (high-tech companies).

Empirical research on the impact of entrepreneurial bricolage on business performance remains insufficiently grounded and often yields non-straightforward results. The objective of this study is to investigate how entrepreneurial bricolage relates to business performance, both directly and indirectly through entrepreneurial resilience. Structured survey data were collected from 640 owners and founders of micro and small businesses in the Republic of Croatia. PLS-SEM was used to examine the interplay among entrepreneurial bricolage, resilience and business performance. The results indicate a significant and positive relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage, business performance, and entrepreneurial resilience, as well as a significant and positive relationship between entrepreneurial resilience and business performance. Specifically, the results show that entrepreneurial resilience partially mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and business performance. In addition, the study also shows a high predictive power of the analysed model, which confirms the generalizability of the findings and provides novel evidence that entrepreneurial bricolage not only supports problem-solving behavior but also enhances the capacity to effectively respond to changing circumstances, acting as a form of "pragmatic resilience". This contributes to the literature by offering a new theoretical lens on how entrepreneurial bricolage generates sustained competitiveness in micro and small enterprises and points to the broader need for future investigation of bricolage's role in fostering resilience, entrepreneurship and crisis management. Future research should further explore the boundary conditions of the entrepreneurial bricolage-resilience-performance relationship, particularly across different stages of firm development and in more diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Implications for Central European audience: The research study strengthens the empirical evidence on the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and business performance in the context of micro and small businesses operating in a weak entrepreneurial ecosystem, suggesting its direct and indirect association through entrepreneurial resilience. Results can encourage micro and small entrepreneurs to adopt positive bricolage practices that promote the development of entrepreneurial agility. This study is also useful to policymakers in shaping the local entrepreneurial environment and designing adequate policies and measures that address entrepreneurs’ specific needs during certain phases of their growth process.

The success of sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) depends upon the active support of all stakeholders. Thus, it is highly relevant and becomes the goal of this paper to perform a pilot case study of the negative determinants of readiness of the new Central European generation of financially sufficiently strong consumers to support CSR, in particular, to answer two research questions: (i) which is the prevailing determinant and (ii) whether it is gender-sensitive. Therefore, 53 male and 53 female Generation Z students from a private university in Prague, ready to pay a CSR bonus, were surveyed in the summer of 2021 regarding the negative determinants of their decisions. The collected answers were statistically processed via cross-tabulation and chi-squared test measures, and the dependence between negative determinants and genders was considered to answer both research questions. The data analysis implies four prevailing negative determinants, two of them related to the infodemic, represented differently by male and female members of Generation Z. This leads to propositions linked to prior studies and advancing them in a new direction. Namely, this indicative pilot case study suggests that Generation Z's readiness to support CSR by paying a CSR bonus is eroded by the infodemic and that male members of Generation Z are more sensitive in this respect than female members.
Implications for Central European audience: This article targets the underestimated issue of factors deterring committed young consumers from their support to sustainability via their readiness to pay a CSR bonus. It empirically points out the relevance of proper information and the negative and gender-sensitive impacts of the infodemic. Theoretical implications include a pioneering contribution to the conceptual appreciation, methodological processing and assessment of particular aspects of infodemic and negative CSR determinants for an emerging cohort of Central European consumers. Practical implications include the dramatic importance of enhancement of awareness and practical suggestions regarding how to inform these male and female consumers and engage them in sustainability and CSR.

This study examines the dynamic connectedness between Bitcoin and various financial assets, including the stock market, gold, oil, bonds, and exchange rates, as well as explores portfolio strategies involving these assets. The study covers the period from January 2, 2015, to March 1, 2024. The quantile connectedness approach and portfolio strategies are utilized in the analysis. The findings are as follows: Intermarket volatility spillover significantly increases under extreme conditions. Bitcoin emerges as a transmitter during bullish markets and acts as a receiver in bearish and normal market conditions. Gold serves as a receiver in extreme conditions and a transmitter in normal conditions. Unlike gold, oil acts as a transmitter under extreme conditions and functions as a receiver under normal conditions. Among the fundamental markets, the stock market is the most significant shock transmitter. In risk-mitigating portfolios, the proportion of Bitcoin is low, while the proportions of gold and the dollar index are high. Bitcoin has been found to have low hedging properties.
Implications for Central European Audience: Since the emergence of Bitcoin in 2008, the cryptocurrency market has developed rapidly. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have come to occupy an important place in financial markets in terms of value and volume. Bitcoin can affect portfolio management in the financial system in terms of diversification, hedging, risk management, portfolio strategies, and linkages between financial assets. This study investigates the linkages, hedging and portfolio strategies between Bitcoin and the stock market, gold, oil, bond and exchange rate markets. The results of the study are important for portfolio managers, risk managers, financial analysts and economic managers.

The objective of the paper is to assess the advantages and disadvantages of costing methods for companies in the engineering sector. We compare traditional costing methods (absorption costing and marginal costing) with the activity-based costing (ABC) method. The analysis is carried out in Slovakia and Czechia. We examine the reasons for the transition to the ABC method and also the reasons for continuing to use the traditional marginal costing method. For statistical analysis, we use the chi-squared test, the chi-squared data distribution test, the Wilcoxon paired test and the Mann-Whitney U-test for two independent selections. We use each of these tests for the individual hypotheses and research questions in accordance with the nature of the specific data appearing under the given hypothesis or research question. Slovak companies are statistically significantly more likely to perceive doubts about the suitability of the ABC method as its disadvantage compared to Czech ones. In the end, proposals for business practice are presented.
Implications for Central European audience: Managers of engineering companies are aware of the role and importance of costing, but they usually do not pay enough attention to the actual compilation and monitoring of costing. We analyse a selected sample of Slovak and Czech companies, but our conclusions and proposals can be generalized and applied in other Central European countries, which have similar political and economic environments, culture and history.

Within V4 automotive Global Value Chains (GVCs), technologies absorbed by the corporate sector represent a significant impact on the level of value-added created within the economy. Sectoral and geographic targeting of our research is determined by the export of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers produced in the V4 countries. The article’s main objective was to investigate the role of services provided by V4 countries within GVCs with an emphasis on transport and storage. The authors used the method of linear regression analysis to answer two central research questions. Is there a synergic or spillover effect within the automotive clusters of the V4 countries in creating value-added originating in the logistic services? What role absorption of technology at the firm level in EU27 countries (the most important trading partners of the V4 countries) plays in creating value-added in the V4 automotive sector? Authors found differentiated results within V4 countries, confirming the hypothesis related to technology absorption.
Implications for Central European audience: Despite high V4 export performance, the research suggests how to increase the value-added through higher involvement within GVCs (particularly the automotive industry). The paper demonstrates a positive impact of importing transport services from the EU countries to some V4 countries (Slovakia, Czechia, and Poland) and its value-added content in gross exports. For any V4 country, an increase in the quality of the business environment of EU trade partners (measured as the corporate level of technology absorption) results in a lower value-added creation, quite significantly, with lower effect in the case of Czechia, but more than 15% decrease in case of Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.

The post-COVID period brought not only a change in the way of life but also in business. The aim of the paper is the investigation of possible changes in preferences in the context of retail as well as the identification of key elements of changes in behaviour for the needs of managerial practice. The paper is supported by a primary survey based on 370 respondents. Respondents responded to seven key statements that emerged from the professional literature as possible elements of change that occurred after COVID-19. For data processing, we use a number of statistical methods with an emphasis on descriptive statistics, correspondence analysis, and explanatory factor analysis. The results point to new trends in consumer behaviour to which retail must respond. This is primarily a change in purchase frequency and a change in distribution channels. The results provide not only an expansion of the knowledge base but also direct applications for practice.
Implications for Central European audience: Knowing the customer's needs and way of thinking helps shape the current trend of the new standard. The results will help not only to supplement the knowledge base of the subject matter but also offer knowledge applicable in management with an emphasis on the field of retail in Slovakia. It is possible to state the currently ongoing change and the need to react in terms of distribution management.

The focus on customer value-added (CVA) concepts in human resource management (HRM) is increasingly vital for maintaining competitiveness and sustainability in today's dynamic environment. This study evaluates the current implementation and future expectations of CVA in HRM within Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, comparing these findings with practices in Western Europe (WE) and globally. The primary objective is to analyze the extent of CVA integration in HRM systems and assess the sustainable competitiveness of CEE enterprises. The study aims to understand the current state of CVA in HRM and its projected importance for sustainable business strategies. Data was collected through a survey conducted across the CEE region, involving 1107 company representatives. The survey assessed both the current application and future relevance of CVA concepts using a five-point scale. Analytical methods included non-parametric pairwise Wilcoxon tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, supplemented by effect size metrics to evaluate significant findings. The study highlights the importance of adapting HRM practices to local conditions in CEE to achieve competitive performance levels comparable to WE. It also underscores the varying challenges and opportunities across different sectors, particularly in the context of technological and organizational adaptability. A nonparametric pairwise comparison of ratings of the CVA concept in HRM showed that respondents rated the expected state significantly more positively than the current state.
Implications for Central European audience: The presented research results in this paper will help businesses with the implementation of the CVA concept, focusing on increasing customer value throughout the entire human resource management. It will direct their attention to regular monitoring and evaluation of the level of CVA concept implementation and its impact on customer satisfaction and overall organizational performance. By adopting these steps, organizations can enhance their competitiveness and better adapt to a dynamic market.

The paper compares the funding structure of European clusters. It uses a hand-collected questionnaire survey (n = 185) to examine the budget structure of European clusters. The objective is to identify the differences between clusters in post-communist and developed countries, as well as between clusters located in countries with higher and lower levels of innovation performance. The results show that clusters in (i) post-communist countries and (ii) countries with lower levels of innovation performance have a much higher share of EU structural funds and community programmes in their budgets than clusters in (iii) developed countries and (iv) countries with higher levels of innovation performance. The latter two groups of countries exhibit a predominantly higher share of funding from national, regional and local subsidies and grants. These are sources to which other European clusters frequently do not have sufficient access. Moreover, the results indicate that there is no relationship between cluster budgets and their sectoral classification.
Implications for the Central European audience: The issue of clusters, cluster policies and their support and financing has been topical since the 1990s, especially in Western and Northern Europe and North America, as well as in developed Asian countries. In Central Europe, the penetration of clusters as an effective instrument of regional but also innovation policy has been slower, although there are also considerable differences in the implementation and support of cluster policies among Central European countries, with the most problematic situation among the V4 countries being in Slovakia. Through a self-administered questionnaire survey, in which responses from V4 clusters are among the most represented, we compare the structure of European cluster budgets, highlighting the differences in cluster funding between the different country groups.

This study examines the evolving competencies of management consultants in Northeast Hungary from 2001 to 2021 and proposes a comprehensive consultant competence model based on a 20-year longitudinal analysis. The research combines questionnaire surveys (conducted in 2001 and 2005–2006) with in-depth interviews involving consultants and clients during 2011–2012, 2015–2016, and 2020–2021, analysed using SPSS 30.0. Findings reveal significant transformations in consultant competencies over the two decades, shaped by the region’s socio-economic evolution. Notably, perceptions of consultant competence remained stable between consultants and entrepreneurs, with minimal discrepancies. However, digital skills showed no notable improvement after 2006, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a persistent gap in digital readiness. The consultant competence model identifies five critical factors: change and collaboration skills; experience, social competence, and loyalty; strategic thinking and communication skills; project-oriented approaches; and advisory authority.
Implications for Central European audience: The theoretical section synthesises management consulting theories, competency frameworks, and essential consulting roles, along with a review of international literature, and summarises empirical studies previously conducted in this field. The practical section presents a competence model derived from this longitudinal research, offering applications for university curricula and professional training programs organised by industry associations. This model has broader relevance for enhancing consultant training across Central Europe.

This study examines how intuitive (experiential) and cognitive (data-driven) processes interact in business decision-making, comparing professionals and early-career participants from Austria and India. This country-dyad selection was made on the basis of rising trade relations between a developed and rising economy. Using a sequential mixed-methods approach (194 survey responses and 159 reflective essays), the authors developed a 2×2 cognition–intuition typology and conducted thematic analysis to identify culturally and gender-influenced decision patterns. Findings show: (1) analytical reasoning dominates structured, high-stakes decisions, while intuition supports rapid and creative choices; (2) Austrian participants tend toward strategic, data-oriented thinking, while Indian participants emphasize context-sensitive, experience-based intuition; and (3) women more often report integrating both approaches. We discuss practical implications for Central European firms, highlighting the need for dual-process decision training and culturally responsive leadership development, particularly in the light of deepening EU–India trade relations.
 Implications for Central European audience: This study shows how cross-cultural cognitive styles influence collaboration in Eurasian value chains, offering practical advice for Central European firms working with Indian partners. As EU–India trade grows, firms should adjust procurement and negotiation to balance structured analysis with intuition. We recommend: (1) formalizing decisions while allowing brief storytelling at meeting starts, (2) training teams to blend narrative sense-making with analytics, and (3) creating mixed decision committees with experiential experts. These steps help bridge differing thinking styles, analytical (Austrian) and intuitive (Indian), and can improve joint decisions and innovation in high-stakes contexts.

Work flexibility as an element of work flexicurity has had an impact on employment at the national level. In this study, work flexibility is expressed through flexible work arrangements. Organisations may implement various flexible work arrangements, depending on their size or specifically promoted policies in this sense. Thus, organisations indirectly contribute to higher employment at the national level. The aim of the study is to evaluate flexible work arrangements from the perspective of organizations in order to determine to what extent they are available for implementation. To test and validate the results, we develop a questionnaire that includes ten flexible work arrangements. Each flexible work arrangement is rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. The survey comprises 350 companies of different sizes from various sectors, located in urban and rural areas. In order to process, analyse and interpret the results, several statistical methods are used: principal component analysis, the ANOVA procedure and the post-hoc test. The findings show that some flexible work arrangements are better rated than others. Differences are also identified in the evaluation of flexible work arrangements by organization size. Our results provide evidence that some organizations show reluctance towards certain flexible work arrangements. Moreover, flexible work arrangements with higher scores are more likely to be implemented by organizations, which may lead to higher employment at the national level.
Implications for Central European audience: Work flexibility is an important and promising element in the context of changing work paradigms. In this context, organizations need to adapt their HR strategies and policies by taking into account work flexibility trends. It will enable them to attract the required workforce both quantitatively and qualitatively. Likewise, organizations implementing different flexible work arrangements could contribute indirectly to increasing employment at the national level.

The effectiveness of education policies and economic, social and environmental conditions play a crucial role in a country’s ability to attract intellectual capital and influence emigration levels. Effective management of migration processes requires coordinating and synchronizing policies across various economic sectors to address the complexity of these dynamics. This study employs a two-step system of the generalized method of moments (GMM) to analyse the impacts of population literacy and ICT skills on migration patterns in EU countries in the period 2007–2022. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing ICT skills and improving education systems. Population literacy has a statistically significant nonlinear impact on the net migration rate. Initially, higher literacy may lead to more emigration and lower net migration. However, as literacy rates reach very high levels, the country becomes more attractive to immigrants, leading to greater net migration. A 1% increase in ICT skills can significantly boost a country's ability to attract skilled migrants by up to 5%. Policymakers need to ensure that increasing literacy rates are complemented by sufficient local opportunities to retain the educated population.
Implications for Central European audience: This study highlights key strategies for Central European countries to manage migration and foster sustainable development. Investing in ICT skills and lifelong learning, increasing R&D to at least 1% and implementing balanced trade policies can attract and retain talent. Promoting sustainable economic growth improves living standards, reducing migration outflows. Tailored migration policies that address diverse migrant needs enhance integration and retention. Adopting data-driven approaches for continuous policy improvement ensures adaptability to emerging challenges. These combined efforts support a competitive workforce and long-term economic resilience, positioning Central Europe as a hub for innovation and sustainable growth.

More efficient and productive employees enable businesses to achieve better results, innovate, enhance the quality of products and services and respond to changing market conditions. The research therefore focuses on an analysis of procrastination at work in Slovak SMEs. We focus on the prevalence of procrastination and demographic determinants that were investigated and analysed among 253 administrative employees of various SMEs in Slovakia. Quantitative research was carried out by online inquiry using the standard questionnaire Procrastination at Work Scale, which focuses on online and offline employee procrastination and its total score. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in maintaining economic stability in Slovakia. They generate jobs, stimulate local markets and contribute to overall GDP growth. They are not only the driving force of innovation but can be characterised by flexibility and the ability to react quickly to changes on the market. They also contribute to increasing the country's competitiveness and balanced regional development. However, the performance of SMEs depends on the productivity of employees. Motivating employees is essential for businesses as it boosts employee efficiency, productivity and performance, promotes collaboration and stimulates creativity and innovation.
Implications for Central European audience: The present study provides answers to many questions and can help SMEs obtain the necessary recommendations that are applicable in practice in the field of motivation. Addressing this issue opens up the ground for conducting similar research dealing with global changes in management of small and medium-sized enterprises.

This research explores the relationship between the recruitment process and turnover intentions, with the mediating role of affective commitment among Generation Z working in European enterprises operating in Vietnam. Specifically, the study explores the relationship between job description, job evaluation, job specification, job analysis and affective commitment of Generation Z while also identifying the influence of affective commitment on turnover intentions. Based on the theoretical and literature summary, the research model is proposed. Accordingly, hypotheses are developed, and we apply a quantitative analysis with a research sample of 250 Generation Z respondents working for European businesses in Vietnam using the snowball sampling technique. Questionnaires were designed in the form of an online survey (using Google Forms) and sent privately via personal emails to respondents. The collected data were then processed and analysed by SPSS v.22 and AMOS software to estimate the research model, test hypotheses and evaluate the impact of variables on turnover intentions. The research results reveal that job description contributes to enhancing affective commitment (0.232), job evaluation positively influences affective commitment (0.283), job specification significantly affects affective commitment (0.184), job analysis has a strong and positive relationship with affective commitment (0.532) and affective commitment negatively influences turnover intentions (-0.433). Based on the research findings, we propose some managerial policy implications for Central European enterprises to increase the affective commitment of their employees, including (1) regularly reviewing and updating the requirements as well as job descriptions for each position, ensuring that they accurately reflect the tasks that employees need to perform. This helps the company provide clearer guidance on roles and expectations for employees from the outset; (2) overcoming cultural barriers and fostering a sense of inclusion and respect for the unique values and work expectations of Vietnamese employees, which helps employees perform better in their jobs while also enhancing their commitment and expectations; (3) creating a flexible workplace that meets Generation Z employees' needs to attract and retain talent effectively; and (4) emphasizing a supportive team environment, job-life integration and  meaningful work through recruitment marketing.
Implications for the Central European audience: The insights gained from the research are particularly relevant for Central European enterprises looking to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the Generation Z workforce in Vietnam. Our insights on managing new-generation workforces in a developing and emerging country context can guide Central European enterprises in tailoring their strategies when expanding their businesses into Southeast Asian countries that have some characteristics in common with Vietnam regarding economic development, culture, population, technology level, etc. It emphasizes the significance of comprehending local dynamics and meeting employees’ needs to improve affective commitment through aspects of the recruitment process to reduce turnover intentions. The results can be used by companies in a variety of fields, sizes, r

The underrepresentation of women in leadership positions is common evidence of gender inequality. Consequently, the European Commission brought a directive to balance the underrepresentation of women on boards in EU countries. Often, females are presumed to be less favourable for top management positions in successful companies and are faced with different obstacles during their careers. However, they possess many different characteristics, which makes them excellent leaders and may create positive differences in financial reporting quality (FRQ). Croatia still lags behind other EU countries in terms of the share of women within corporate boards; therefore, in this paper, we aim to investigate whether the FRQ differs based on the boardroom’s gender structure. The research is conducted on a sample of listed Croatian companies using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Two sub-samples were formed in order to capture the effects of the Gender Equality Act (GEA) application. Our results show that women are still underrepresented as board members despite the regulations that introduced a list of activities for gender equality. The gender structure of corporate boardrooms is significantly associated with FRQ, and issuing positive audit opinions is related to tilted-structured management boards, where up to 40% of the board members are women. The contribution of our research is twofold: to investigate the trends and level of gender inequality in leadership positions of Croatian listed companies, and to identify whether the gender structure of top management plays a significant role in a company's FRQ.
Implications for Central European audience: The results of this study provide significant insight into the underrepresentation of women on corporate boards within EU countries. Our findings and recommendations may be of special interest, particularly for Central European countries that share the experience of transition from planned to market economy with Croatia and are characterised by similar institutional, political, economic and financial systems. The topic is crucial in contemporary business, especially following and adapting to the directives brought by the European Commission, pinpointing the issue as a current and future challenge.

This study investigates the perceived value of social media content across four key dimensions – informational, entertainment, aesthetic, and social – by comparing video and image formats. Drawing on the theory of consumption values and advertising value theory, the paper offers a multidimensional framework of content value that moves beyond conventional engagement metrics. A 2x3 between-subjects experimental design was implemented, involving 403 participants exposed to either image or video-based posts on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok over a seven-day period. Three-way ANOVA analyses revealed that perceptions of social media value vary by gender. Women prefer Instagram for both informational and entertainment value, while men favour TikTok for these aspects. Men see videos as more valuable, whereas women do not have a clear format preference. Women associate social value primarily with Instagram, while men connect it more to TikTok. However, aesthetic value perceptions are unaffected by age, gender, education, or social media usage. The findings contribute to the literature by refining the conceptualisation of content value on social media and offer actionable insights for marketers aiming to tailor content strategies to audience characteristics.
Implications for the Central European audience: This study highlights the need to align social media strategies with the target audience. Based on the findings, marketers should focus on Instagram for information and entertainment while targeting women, and TikTok when targeting men – segments found also across Central Europe. The results encourage moving beyond traditional engagement metrics to consider informational, entertainment, and social value. Additionally, the research supports format-specific content planning for more effective digital campaigns and better targeting in diverse markets.

This article examines the challenges of integrating new employees into a company in an environment where remote work is growing significantly. The reference situation is the COVID-19 crisis, seen as a case study. To describe the process as accurately as possible and to identify areas of diligence, we use a mixed method based on 51 questionnaires containing numerous open-ended questions and eight semi-structured interviews. The descriptive part of our analysis allows us to focus on the link between the degree of experience and the proactivity of newcomers. It also reveals the differing expectations that newcomers may have regarding what integration should entail. Applying methods from grounded theory, we identify five key areas for companies wishing to effectively integrate their collaborators. The article concludes with the need for companies to return to implementing integration tactics and devices and make the process less dependent on employee proactivity. To continue, it seems crucial to focus on further research for a better understanding of what each individual expects from integration, particularly when new generations are concerned.
Implications for Central European audience: In today's fast-changing environment, swift integration of new employees is increasingly becoming a key success factor. However, the rapid growth of remote activities within companies presents a new constraint that must be considered. Additionally, it is essential to recognize that newer generations may perceive the integration process itself differently or may be less willing to invest effort in it. This research represents one of the first inquiries into this emerging issue.

This study examines how beliefs about emotions shape the emotional labour of senior business development managers in long-term, relationship-driven business contexts. While emotional labour research has primarily focused on short-term roles, less is known about how emotion regulation operates in sustained strategic client relationships. Based on semi-structured interviews with 12 senior managers in the Czech Republic, analysed using template analysis informed by Grandey and Gabriel’s framework, the findings show that beliefs influence emotional labour at three interconnected levels: as antecedents shaping initial orientations toward emotional demands; as evolving intermediaries recalibrating emotional engagement through experience; and as real-time components guiding moment-to-moment regulation or generating ethical tensions. By positioning beliefs about emotions not only as stable antecedents but also as evolving and enacted elements of emotional labour, the study extends understanding of how emotion regulation unfolds in long-term B2B relationships. The findings suggest that organisations can strengthen managerial resilience and authenticity by targeting underlying emotion beliefs, for example through coaching and reflective development practices.
Implications for Central European audience: This study suggests that beliefs about emotions play an important role in how senior business development managers perform emotional labour. While the concept of emotion beliefs has been examined internationally, this research explored it within the Czech context, offering insights relevant to Central European business culture. Building on Central European Business Review’s established interest in workplace well-being and the role of emotions in organisational life (Pauknerová, 2024; Globočnik Žunac, 2024), the findings suggest that resilience could be supported, and a sense of authenticity maintained, not only through skills training but also by addressing managers’ underlying beliefs about emotions. Coaching, reflective practice, and leadership development may provide useful avenues for supporting adaptive regulation in relationship-driven roles in the region.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the expectations of the management of different industries in the Czech Republic related to governmental support for their implementation of Industry 4.0 and their preparedness for the challenges associated with these technological changes. Mixed research, specifically exploratory sequential design, was used. The findings of qualitative data analyses from in-depth semi-structured interviews (n=41) with representatives of different industry sectors formed subsequent quantitative data collection (N=146, the board of management members representing various industries) through survey items corresponding with formalized research questions. The findings revealed a strong group of companies already implementing Industry 4.0 elements (85% of respondents) driven by companies with 250+ employees. As perceived by the management, the critical threat related to the workforce is a lack of skilled labour. Managers tend to prefer a transparent business environment without state interventions or interventions targeted to strategic state industries, preferably to the spheres of education, research & development, energy sector, sustainable agriculture, and healthcare. The results indicate that the easier administration and education reform are among the companies' boldest expectations from the government, among general conditions for current business.
Implications for the Central European audience: Central European companies face challenges related to implementing the Industry 4.0 elements. Therefore, the findings that aim to contribute to the debate addressing administration simplification, business environment transparency, and reform of the education system are considered relevant for the CE audience.

The struggle toward an environmentally sustainable economy brings forward many difficult decisions and actions. Governments may confront substantial resistance from the general public as they try to promote or enforce policies that will be necessary to secure a stable natural environment and sustainable economic performance for generations to come. Understanding the current stances of the population towards environmental issues is a prerequisite for any successful implementation of environmentally concerned policies. The goal of this paper is to provide (based on primary data) structured information on generational and other socio-demographic differences in individual environmental stances and related lifestyle preferences. Given the Likert-scale based data collected from the questionnaires, we use ordered multinomial logistic regression as our main tool for quantitative analysis. Major differences in stances are identified between genders and among different age and education groups. Women and younger individuals exhibit higher levels of environmental awareness. Lifestyle preferences segmentation provides additional context for our analysis and the basis for incentivising and targeting environmental policies. Overall, our contribution brings forward fundamental and actionable information that can facilitate many of the complicated decisions and policy actions leading toward environmental sustainability.
Implications for Central European audience: Environmental protection and sustainability plans are thoroughly implemented into most of EU policies, programs, and subsidies. However, for Central European economies, the transition towards sustainable and environmentally neutral economies may be more complicated as compared to “old” member states. Weaker GDP per capita, a historically strong coal-based energy sector and prevailing energy-intensive production segments imply a slower and more costly transition. Our analysis can be used to ease some of the impediments and complications lying ahead.

The coronavirus pandemic was one of the greatest global challenges in history – primarily as a health issue, but also as an economic challenge. The need to control the pandemic has led to a significant shift towards virtual collaboration, which has also exposed the lack of preparedness of most German companies for the abrupt virtualization of teamwork. This raises the question of approaches to the implementation and design of virtual collaboration in practice. This paper reviews and extends the current state of research into virtual collaboration by interviewing experts in the IT consulting industry, considering the challenges in the context of the pandemic. As a response, this paper proposes practical approaches to the implementation and design of virtual collaboration, including a guideline for adapting to the increasingly virtual collaboration environment within teams and beyond the pandemic.
Implications for Central European audience: The model presented in this paper includes factors that are relevant to current practice and can enhance efficient and productive virtual collaboration in the post-pandemic world.