rss_2.0Sciendo RSS Feed for Croatian Regional Development Journalhttps://sciendo.com/journal/CRDJhttps://www.sciendo.comhttps://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64716b802b88470fbea1737e/cover-image.jpghttps://sciendo.com/journal/CRDJ140216https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0013<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The proliferation of environmental awareness and the growing recognition of the significance of sustainability has resulted in a new trend of retailers embracing secondhand reselling from unsold or unwanted inventories. Their numbers are increasing while also leveraging various business models, strategies, and procedures. This study uses a survey data of 154 responses from retailers of second-hand clothing across four cities in Liberia to evaluate the used clothing sector in the country. Findings from the survey highlight that while the SHC value chain encourages sustainable consumption, it is also a promoter of economic growth, particularly for developing countries emerging from war. Its retail growth potential is closely tied to the level of economic development geared toward supporting subsistence activities. Findings also show that respondents strongly oppose banning the importation of used clothes and the notion that second-hand undergarments pose health challenges. These findings are essential for providing business owners with understanding of the retailing process and how they can strengthen their foothold in the used clothing sector. They also emphasize the used clothing industry’s significance in Liberia and create avenues for future research.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00132022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0007<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Using a systematic literature review and bibliography, this paper aims to map the research field of urban sustainability. The keywords “urban sustainability and urbanization” were used to search the Web of Science database. Following fair and unambiguous criteria, the most significant research in urban sustainability analysis has been chosen. The fundamental goal of this research is to provide a bibliometric analysis of nearly thirty years of urban sustainability research. In total, 787 articles were extracted from the literature database on the Web of Science. The literature was analyzed using VOSviewer, a scientific mapping software program. Incorporating multiple network analysis approaches such as keyword co-occurrence, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling, VOSviewer is used to determine prominent topic areas and to identify relevant authors, publications, and journals. The present state of urban sustainability research has been assembled to identify research gaps and propose future research paths.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00072022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0009<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The covid-19 pandemic is a major health challenge for society and health workers globally. The study sought to determine the effect of perception, attitudes, and myths on vaccine acceptance in residents in West African countries. This cross-sectional study of 1170 respondents was conducted while maintaining social distancing measures in sub-Sahara Africa. Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire via social media platforms. Data gathered were analysed using SPSS version 25.0 for windows. Of 1170 responses received, 59.5%, 51.8%, 70.8%, and 39.5% were from respondents between 30–39 years, males, from English-speaking countries, and had a college degree or above. Respondents had good knowledge (96.999%) of the COVID-19 vaccine, and information about the vaccine was mainly through social media/internet (55.6%) and media houses (23.8%). The overall results show that the majority of the respondents, 96.80% were aware of the Vaccine through social media. However, the findings from covariates show that myth and perception, gender, educational qualification, and employment status have a significant impact (p&lt;0.05) on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The study suggests that people in Sub-Saharan Africa need to be reassured of the importance of vaccinations through proper information dissemination. Thus, information highlighted a need for Stakeholders and Policymakers to contribute to holding an optimistic attitude and perception free of devoid of misconceptions circulating on social media towards vaccine acceptance.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00092022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0008<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The aim of this paper is to describe the process of creating a web service and its client applications. One can combine them and create Flare application, an image repository which simplifies the image management process in developing web or mobile applications. Original image versioning is enabled so that users can have several different versions of the same image in their application. These versions are created by adding parameters to the original image URL. The newly created image version is saved on the server to optimize each subsequent request for the identical version. Client application provides a graphical interface for web service interaction via HTTPS protocol.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00082022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0010<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Global demographic trends indicate that the share of the elderly in the total population is growing due to the increase in life expectancy and the decline in the number of births. The policy of sustainable development addresses this problem because the number of pensioners and life expectancy are increasing, the number of younger employees is declining, and there is a need to extend working life if possible. Consequently, this affects the relief of pension funds on the one hand, and on the other, employers need to make additional efforts to ensure that senior employees develop digital competencies so that they can be active in the business system. Due to their age, numerous members of the 54+ population have limitations (eyesight, motor skills, acquisition of new knowledge, adaptation) making it difficult to develop digital literacy and remain active. Leaving the business environment usually brings a kind of personal sense of “liberation” from the obligation to adapt to the challenges of the digital age and raise digital literacy, which in turn leads to isolation and a growing digital generation gap. This is a social problem that requires an active and systematic approach to solution through public policies. The paper presents key indicators that can support all previously stated claims. The main data sources are mainly secondary databases such as the data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics on the Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011 and 2021 (hereinafter referred to as Census) in the Republic of Croatia, Eurostat data on e-society, scientific papers and public policies on the issue.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00102022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0014<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Tourism value of a modern tourist destination depends on managing and organizing social, historical, cultural and natural resources into a unique tourist attraction. Changing trends in cultural tourism and technological development affect the creation of new cultural tourism products and channels of their promotion. Virtual and augmented reality offer new ways of promotion and consumption of cultural tourism services. Destinations adapt to these changes by creating a tourism offer in accordance with sustainable development. Furthermore, tourist destinations needed to adapt to Covid-19 pandemic conditions and therefore started using new trends in virtual and augmented reality. Virtual reality and digital technologies are beneficial in creating and implementing new forms of cultural tourism, especially in the given circumstances of new travel rules and changed tourist expectations, with an emphasis on social distance, preserving the health of tourists and local population and protecting the environment. The aims of this paper are to define the changes in cultural tourism caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and explore the effect of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality on cultural tourism development. The paper also aims to determine the possibilities for cultural tourism development regarding new trends. Historical method, desk research, analysis and synthesis have been used for the purpose of this paper. Paper contribution is reflected in applying new trends which resulted in changes in tourist behaviour in pandemic conditions, as well as insights into the possibilities of developing different models of cultural tourism consumption in accordance with new technological achievements.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00142022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0012<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Digital literacy is important in many areas of life, such as remote working, using public services on the Internet, communication, buying goods and services, education, participation in political and cultural events, entertainment and leisure. Digital literacy enhances employability of young people in the global labour market. It can reduce financial insecurity and increase access to information, finding advice and support. Digital literacy is also important for the elderly, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups because it enables equal participation in society, independent living, working, and reduces the risk of social isolation. Some of the goals of the Digital Literacy Development Network and the key goal of the working group for Digital Citizenship are digital inclusion of individuals from all age groups, improved quality of life and empowerment through digital technologies. In this paper, initial chapters describe the benefits of digital technologies and the Internet for vulnerable groups. The paper continues with a presentation of the basic idea, implementation and work of the Digital Literacy Development Network as part of the Digitalna.hr project. In this paper, the emphasis is on the description and implementation of the activities of the working group for Digital Citizenship, which deals with public opinion polls and the needs of digital inclusion of vulnerable groups and areas. The paper ends with recommendations for creating guidelines for national, regional and local decision makers. Once created, these guidelines can be used in future strategic documents with the purpose of actively including a particular population group in the digital society.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00122022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0011<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>A sustainable tourist destination and its content are becoming targets of growing tourism of specific interests. Visits to art or sports events are increasingly part of shorter vacations during weekends or holidays. At the same time, on the global tourist market, the interest of tourism consumers in tangible and intangible cultural heritage is growing, as well as the interest in rural tourism in a peaceful rural environment with traditional values. Interest in ancient culture is the focus of interest of modern consumers, as well as cycling, hunting, green - eco tourism, cruise travel, travel for health - Medical Spa, food and drink tourism, and especially wine tourism. Tourism is a changing, dynamic activity that adapts to increasingly demanding and sophisticated tourism consumers who have changed in the last ten years with a different way of life, pace, style and standard, working hours and the fact that they no longer go on vacation once a year. The aim of this work is to point out the importance of protecting the destination area and preserving local identity.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00112022-12-09T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0005<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Markov chains have a wide application in predicting the movement of various phenomena. The aim of this paper is to present the development and functionality of a software application for solving the problem of predicting consumer behavior using the Markov chain method. The software application is primarily intended for predicting the use of electronic services and forecasting the number of users. The work of the software application was tested on the example of an organization whose activity is the provision of electronic and financial services. The importance of predicting the use of services and forecasting the number of users is reflected in the assessment of the capacity of servers on which the services of the organization are located. The software application contains user instructions for easier use and interpretation of the obtained results.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00052022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0006<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The hotel industry undeniably holds strong market power. Its economic impact can affect the infrastructural, economic, and digital development of a particular region. In addition to numerous advantages, digital development has also posed certain challenges for the hotel industry, such as fierce competition and a struggle for market power, which in turn lead to constant searching for new beneficial solutions. Hotel websites need to be of good quality to have a positive impact on profitability. Quality websites are functional and useful, and innovation is a common factor observed when testing quality. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the innovation activity of Croatian hotel websites. Two methods were used for research purposes: the e-MICA framework and content analysis. Descriptive statistics and the significance of Chi-squared tests were used to analyse the results. Research findings suggest that Croatian hotels have adopted innovative features on their websites modestly: mostly, 5-star hotels, hotel chains, and foreign-owned hotels as well as hotels focused strategically on direct sales channels. The obtained results are important for future research which should analyse the issue in more depth. Furthermore, hoteliers could also benefit from these results, and use them to their advantage in order to revise and improve their existing strategies.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00062022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0001<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>This paper presents the findings of a study on digital maturity in higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Empirical research was conducted in 2020. Teachers from eight public higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina were included in the sample. The findings revealed that digital transformation has been ongoing in these institutions for some time, that some results have been achieved, but that digital maturity has not yet been attained. The findings also revealed barriers that must be overcome in order to accelerate digitalization and reap the anticipated benefits.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00012022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0002<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>A relatively new scientific discipline that finds its primary source in psychology, better known as behavioural economics, is attracting the attention of many authors. It is increasingly applied for the purpose of better understanding consumers, especially in decision making, including personal feelings and limitations in a realistic way. This paper aims to present a model of application of behavioural economics in the sectors of the creative industry. The creative industry has great potential in the role of regional development, accordingly the application of behavioural economy in its sectors can have a positive impact on the further development of the economy of the Republic of Croatia. The paper proposes a model for applying mental accounting to increase the number of visitors in the arts and culture sector to increase the attendance at events of projects funded by EU projects and which must be free.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00022022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0004<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Introducing a balanced scorecard system may assist managers in identifying four dimensions and recognizing cross-functional interactions, which can ultimately lead to better problem solving, decision making, and business growth. Monitoring a company's key performance indicators (KPIs) can improve organizational performance and enhance shareholder value. A survey was prepared and distributed to 60 managers from Croatian businesses to investigate the relationship between business success as assessed by a balanced scorecard system. The questions were based on the balanced goal system, a four-dimensional model for measuring business performance that covers financial performance, knowledge, and employees, processes success, and market performance. It was used to assess managers' perceptions of foreign and domestic businesses. Furthermore, a two-step cluster analysis was conducted. The results indicated that the respondents who are dominantly oriented towards the international markets share identical perspectives on the importance of the company's performance as those in the predominantly domestic markets.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00042022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-0003<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Tourism and air transport are among the sectors most affected by the covid-19 crisis. The pandemic lasting almost two years has been reflected in short-term effects in both sectors, but there are also serious long-term consequences including the impact on quantitative and qualitative employment change. National authorities will have to set recovery plans in accordance with the relevant policies and in international cooperation with public and private entities. The aim of the paper is to identify a set of strategic and crises measures to recover the international tourism and international civil aviation transport in the context of the long-term human resource management and the optimisation of future quality and quantity of human resources in both mentioned sectors. These strategic recommendations are intended for application in national tourism and transport policies. The methodology of the paper is based on current statistical data and strategic documents at the national and international level represented by the international organisations (esp. UNWTO, WTTC, IATA, ICAO, ECAC). Attention is focused on crises management of the public sector entities in terms of the definition and implementation of reconstruction strategies, on private sector stakeholders, on the interconnection of the tourism and air transport sectors, as well as cooperation in the international environment. Methods and tools for the renewal of both sectors are based on a strategic approach of the public sector, support for the introduction of new business models in the private sector, change in the product and marketing mix, digitization, innovation and education.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2022-00032022-10-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0010<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The experience of many organizations so far has shown that the risk of failure of the software implementation project is high, and in order to reduce this risk, significant efforts have been made so far to implement the project management methodology. However, research to date shows that, despite improvements in project management, a relatively significant number of projects still fail by some of the performance criteria. A methodology is proposed that includes: (i) analysis of previous research; (ii) design a research instrument to measure project performance and define key determinants of project performance; (iii) development of a multi-criteria model for measuring the performance of software projects; (iv) development of software project management performance models for Croatian organizations using a data mining approach. These activities can be carried out using the following methods: bibliographic analysis of previous research, survey research method, descriptive and inferential statistics methods, structural equations method and data mining methods (supervised and unsupervised learning, text mining). The results of this research framework can be used as a starting point for researching the success of business software implementation projects.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00102022-02-02T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0011<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The purpose of this research is to investigate the extent to which the preconditions for the introduction of topics on death and other losses are met in primary schools. The aim was to examine the beliefs of primary school staff about teaching students on these topics and to examine their knowledge of the grieving process in children and youth. The sample consisted of 213 school staff from 13 primary schools in Zagreb and the surrounding area who met the <italic>Belief Scale on Teaching Students About Death and Other Losses</italic> and the <italic>Knowledge Test on the Grieving Process in Children and Youth</italic>. In this paper, the results of this empirical research are presented, which showed that primary school teachers have beliefs about higher self-competence for teaching students on the mentioned topics in relation to subject teachers. The results also showed the existence of a low positive correlation between beliefs about the usefulness of teaching about death and other losses and knowledge about the process of grieving children and young people. A low negative correlation was also found between the age of the participants and the results of the Knowledge Test. The conducted research brings practical implications that are important for further consideration of this topic and for the design of education for teachers and professional associates on the topic of grieving processes in children and youth.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00112022-02-02T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0012<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The new coronavirus has spread around the world at an unprecedented speed. Understanding patterns of disease spread is an important contribution to controlling any epidemic, and today’s mathematical methods offer a plethora of proven models to choose from. We provide a brief overview of epidemiological concepts, papers pertaining to mathematical modelling, and present a robust, simple mathematical model to model incidence of COVID-19 cases in Croatia during the first year of the disease. For our models, we chose logistic, Gumbel and Richards functions, with parameters generated using the Levenberg-Marquardt iterative method of nonlinear regression. In conclusion, all three models provided adequate estimation of incidence curve and final number of infected during the chosen time period, with relatively minor differences depending on chosen parameters of significance. The model using the logistic function proved to be the most applicable to available data. While no model can give the answers to ending the pandemic, this approach can provide a simple prognostic tool to evaluate interventions and estimate disease spread.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00122022-02-02T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0006<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>Modified concretes and fiber concretes for rigid pavements have been investigated. Four-factor experiment was conducted. The amount of Portland cement, polypropylene fiber, metakaolin and polycarboxylate superplasticizer varied in the experiment. All mixtures had the same mobility S2.</p> <p>The active mineral additive metakaolin increases the compressive strength of concrete and its tensile strength in bending. The amount of metakaolin at the level of 15.20 kg/m³ is rational. Due to a decrease in W/C with an increase in the amount of superplasticizer Coral ExpertSuid-5 to 0.9.1%, the compressive strength of concrete increases by 5.7 MPa, the tensile strength in bending increases by 0.5.0.6 MPa. Due to the introduction of polypropylene fiber, the tensile strength of concrete in bending increases by 0.6.0.9 MPa, the frost resistance of concrete increases by 50 cycles. Due to the use of a rational amount of superplasticizer and metakaolin, the frost resistance of concretes and fiber concretes concrete increases by 50-100 cycles. The use of a rational amount of modifiers and fiber reduces the abrasion of concretes by 40.45%.</p> <p>The developed modified fiber concretes of rigid pavements, depending on the amount of Portland cement, have compressive strength from 55 MPa to 70 MPa, tensile strength in bending from 8 MPa to 9.5 MPa, frost resistance from F350 to F450, abrasion from 0.30 to 0.40 g/cm². Such strength, frost resistance and abrasion resistance allow the use of fiber concretes in pavements with the greatest load and ensures high durability of the material and corresponds to the directions and tasks of the state scientific and technical program “National Transport Strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2030”</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00062021-09-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0004<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>This conceptual paper re-evaluates the concept of niches in tourism markets. As many regions are now attempting to address niche markets in tourism as a development strategy, understanding of the dynamics of niche markets is crucial. Current approaches are often limited to seeing niche markets as simple subsectors of larger consumer markets. We argue for a broader view of market niches as forms of social rituals involving both consumers and producers with a mutual focus of attention. Based on the work of Randall Collins we examine how interaction rituals are produced and maintained, and how these are also reflected in niche markets, such as backpacking. We illustrate the how backpacking produces a mutual focus of attention and boundaries to outsiders, helping to sustain the niche over the longer term. This analysis has implications for producers hoping to tap into niche markets, as they too need to become part of the niche community.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00042021-09-13T00:00:00.000+00:00https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-0005<abstract> <title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> <p>The cities of the European Union are adopting big data technologies in their development towards a smart city. Given that big data technologies are complex and disruptive technologies, it is necessary to determine the importance of factors and their aspects for the adoption of big data technologies in cities. The aim of this paper is to identify the most important aspects of technological factors in the adoption of big data technologies in the cities of the European Union. In order to achieve the goal of the paper a survey was conducted on a sample of European Union cities, and on the collected data, an analysis of the map of importance and performance of factors for the adoption of big data technologies was conducted. The results of the research show that the aspects of absorption capacity and technological readiness of EU cities are of relatively high importance, but with low levels of performance in relation to organizational and environmental factors. The contribution of the paper consists of general guidelines for increasing the level of technological readiness and absorption capacity of cities in order to increase the success of the adoption of big data technologies in the cities of the European Union.</p> </abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/crdj-2021-00052021-09-13T00:00:00.000+00:00en-us-1