rss_2.0Engineering Management in Production and Services FeedSciendo RSS Feed for Engineering Management in Production and Serviceshttps://sciendo.com/journal/EMJhttps://www.sciendo.comEngineering Management in Production and Services Feedhttps://sciendo-parsed-data-feed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/63c9e027ba938b7823b8e2e7/cover-image.jpghttps://sciendo.com/journal/EMJ140216Global trends of the research on COVID-19 risks effect in sustainable facility management fields: a bibliometric analysishttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0002<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study used bibliometric analysis to investigate global research trends regarding the effect of COVID-19 risks in sustainable facility management fields. Between 2019 and 2021, the Scopus database published 208 studies regarding the effect of COVID-19 risks on sustainable facility control fields. VOSviewer software was used to analyse the co-occurrence of all keywords, and Biblioshiny software allowed getting the most relevant affiliation using the three-field plot. The results show the contribution by authors from 51 countries, and 73 keywords were identified and organised into six clusters, such as the effect of COVID-19 risks on human health, supply chain in construction projects and industry, disaster risk management in a changing climate, sustainable supply chain benchmarking, facility management and quality control, and, finally, sensitivity analysis & decision-making.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00022023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00IT reliability as a source of sustainability for organisations operating during the COVID-19 pandemichttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0003<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The article aims to show that reliable IT support was crucial for the survival and sustainability of organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article considers the negative effect of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the organisational sustainability of an organisation (i.e., organisational performance through employee job performance). It explores the role of IT reliability in mitigating such a negative effect. To verify the hypotheses, the empirical studies were performed during the COVID-19 crisis with 1160 organisations operating in Poland, Italy and the USA. The data were analysed using multiple linear regression models with mediators and moderators. The results confirmed that due to the ability to limit the severity of a crisis-induced negative effect on employee job performance (influencing organisational performance), IT reliability could be considered a mitigator for the negative effect of the COVID-19 crisis on the sustainability of organisations. The results indicate that IT reliability should be fostered among organisations operating during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain sustainability.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00032023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Exploring the usability and user experience of social media apps through a text mining approachhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0007<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study aims to evaluate the applicability of a text mining approach for extracting UUX-related issues from a dataset of user comments and not to evaluate the Instagram (IG) app. This study analyses textual data mined from reviews in English written by IG mobile application users. The article’s authors used text mining (based on the LDA algorithm) to identify the main UUX-related topics. Next, they mapped the identified topics with known theoretical constructs to place them in their nomological network relevant to the usability (the 5Es framework by Quesenbery) and UX (the Honeycomb model by Morville). Finally, to expand the study with an emotional diagnosis, sentiment analysis was performed on two levels: (i) for each recognised topic, and (ii) for the full dataset to uncover general insights into users’ emotions within all reviews. The case study of the IG app confirms the usefulness of user feedback data for software development and points out that the review data have the potential for the early detection of frustration and negative feelings introduced during the use of the application. Conducting conventional UUX evaluations with users is problematic since they are remotely located, and the user-generated content of a social app undergoes continuous and frequent changes. Thus, the consecutive stages of the proposed methodology, based on text mining algorithms, constitute a proposed framework for examining the user-perceived quality projection of applications from user feedback, and they are the main contribution of this article. The used approach can be valuable for helping developers, designers and researchers to reveal user problems and fulfil user satisfaction regarding UUX aspects for specific software features.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00072023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Characterising project management of lean initiatives in industrial companies — crossing perspectives based on case studieshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0005<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The paper mainly aims to characterise project management (PM) practices of industrial Lean initiatives by analysing and comparing three main topics: PM approaches, PM teams, and project alignment with the company’s strategy. This research encompasses two exploratory industrial case studies with an extensive literature review. Key professionals were interviewed to obtain an in-depth vision of the field. The study results allowed characterising project management practices of industrial Lean initiatives in industrial companies based on the following dimensions: 1. Understand the needs; 2. Find a suitable team; 3. Use visual tools; 4. Apply a continuous improvement (CI) approach; 5. Identify KPIs for the context; 6. Get support from the top management. This work fills a gap related to studying the PM practices applied during the implementation of Lean initiatives, proposing a schematic representation of PM variables and actors in industrial Lean initiatives. Identifying the main variables and actors that industrial companies use to develop Lean initiatives can be insightful for Lean practitioners in the context of project management.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00052023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Impact of cash flow variation on project performance: contractors’ perspectivehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0006<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study aims to determine the impact of cash flow variation in Jordanian construction projects from contractors’ perspective and its relationship with project performance. An online questionnaire was developed and distributed to a selective sample. The respondents were project managers from contracting companies working in Jordan, around 340 construction companies. The sample frame was a form of non-probability sampling of 181 project managers. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The study results showed a positive statistically significant effect at the significance level (α ≤0.05) of cash flow variation on project performance in Jordanian construction projects. In addition, respondents indicated a high level of agreement on the impact of cash flow variation on projects’ performance, with a mean of 4.01 and a standard deviation of .546. However, on the project performance dimensions’ level, Quality came first, with a mean of 4.11 and at a high level, followed by Safety, with a mean of 4.01 and at a high level, while Final Cost ranked third with a mean of 3.96 and at a high level. Finally, Project Final Duration ranked fourth with a mean of 3.95. The researchers recommended the necessity of more efforts for a better understanding of the importance of cash flow by contractors to schedule project activities correctly and efficiently to maintain a steady state of the project cash flow.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00062023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Exploring the critical success factors of a resilient supply chainhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0004<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study aims to identify and analyse critical success factors (CSFs) for an organisation aiming for a resilient supply chain. The methodology followed is the systematic analysis of big databases, such as Emerald, Science Direct, and Taylor & Francis, by using a specific set of keywords for filtering. The systematic literature review leads the author to the exploration of several CSFs, followed by their prioritisation by using principal component analysis. The paper highlighted eleven vital CSFs: top management commitment, development of an effective SCM strategy, logistics synchronisation, use of modern technologies, robust information and communication technology, information sharing with SC members, collaborative partnership, improved forecasting, trust development in SC partners, collaborative partnership, strategic partnership, development of reliable suppliers, continuous improvement in the preparedness and response practices, capacity building and training and staff development. The CSFs highlighted in the paper relate to all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper identifies the CSFs for developing a resilient supply chain that is comprehensive and has the potential to address uncertain circumstances. This work is the first of its kind on CSF assessment and categorisation in resilient supply chains.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00042023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Teleworking and sustainable behaviour in the context of COVID-19: the case of Lithuaniahttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-0001<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>COVID-19 played a significant role in the spread of telework worldwide, changing people’s lives and behaviour. The paper aims to identify how teleworking affected the sustainable behaviour of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research design applies a multi-method approach, combining systematic and comparative scientific literature analysis and a semi-structured interview. The authors of the paper present the theoretical conceptual model, which illustrates links between teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic and the sustainable behaviour of employees. The results of empirical research revealed that teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic changed employee behaviour in economic, environmental and social dimensions. Positive changes were identified due to reduced commuting and shopping; decreased costs for transport, food, clothing, and beauty services; better access to healthy and nutritious food; better opportunities for professional development. On the contrary, costs for home energy and household waste increased. Adverse effects on employees’ physical and mental health have been identified due to teleworking and COVID-19. Despite the identified negative effects, employees would like to continue teleworking even after the pandemic.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2023-00012023-03-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Supplier selection and procurement in SMEs: insights from the literature on key criteria and purchasing strategieshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0030<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Effective strategic purchasing and supplier selection in companies provides businesses with leverage in acquiring goods and services. Thus, companies are in a better position to negotiate prices, discounts, delivery times and logistic channels. Also, strategic purchasing allows for performing a risk assessment to ensure the company’s profitability. This research aimed to identify the key currently deliberated by SMEs for supplier selection, considering such purchasing strategies as (1) cost reduction, (2) risk management, (3) global sourcing, (4) total quality management, (5) sustainable management and (6) supplier management. Also, it aimed to identify the emerging issues related to purchasing strategies. This research work performed a content analysis following a literature review. The Scopus indexation database was selected to conduct the document search. After the refinement process, based on 59 analysed documents, bibliometric assessment tools were applied to identify the key criteria for supplier selection. The TOP6 highest ranked criteria, which corresponds to 80 % of the most referred criteria, include: (1) the quality of goods; (2) compliance with the delivery times; (3) price/cost; (4) supplier reputation and/or market positioning; (5) geographical location; and (6) supplier performance history. The goal of strategic purchasing is to support the companies in achieving long-term goals through its integration into the company’s strategic planning process. It should be identified by the managers as an important resource. Several factors elevate the importance of strategic purchasing, namely, environmental protection, technology advances related to logistics 4.0, and risk assessment related to global sourcing and sustainability. The present research is in line with the findings of the referred literature, i.e., the application of prioritised criteria for the procurement and supplier selection operations in the industrial context, aiming to reduce lead times and logistic costs. The criteria must be aligned with the purchasing strategies adopted by the companies. The manuscript aims to demonstrate that the fundamentals of strategic purchasing strategies can contribute to the improvement of the SME supply process with the application of simple and cost-effective approaches.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00302023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Study on the improvement of medical service quality in Beijing’s Tianqiao Community Health Service Centrehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0031<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, community-level medical institutions as health service centres have been gaining importance in the medical reform expansion. As prior research has not fully addressed how to index and evaluate the quality of medical service, this article proposes a framework based on the service quality gap theory and the three-faceted “structure–process–outcome” quality evaluation theory. The study took the medical services at Beijing’s Tianqiao Community Health Service Centre as an example to construct an index system for medical service quality evaluations. Data was collected from 211 people, and SPSS software was used for data processing and analysis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients without serious diseases tend to choose community hospitals to reduce their infection risk. As a result, they have growing requirements for clinics to have more departments and specialists. The studied community health service centre has encountered difficulties connected to low patient expectations, a poor medical environment, outdated hardware and equipment, and a low level of medical services. Some suggestions have been made to add specialised departments and consider the convenience of medical treatment for the elderly.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00312023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Integrated maintenance, inventory and quality engineering decisions for multi-product systemshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0033<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>It is essential for manufacturers to consider the interrelation among quality, inventory, and maintenance decisions to detect imperfect quality products, keep the production system in good operating condition, and manage quality and inventory costs. Hence, this paper aims to develop an integrated model of inventory planning, quality engineering, and maintenance scheduling in which the expected total cost per time unit is minimised by determining the sample size, sampling interval, control limit coefficient, along with production cycle time. In this regard, an imperfect multi-product manufacturing system is considered, in which the inventory shortage in satisfying the demand for each product type and the idle time during the production cycle are not allowed. It is assumed that the process starts in an in-control condition where most produced units are conforming. However, due to the occurrence of an assignable cause (AC), the process mean moves to an out-of-control condition in which a significant fraction of non-conforming units is produced. The efficiency of the proposed mathematical model is evaluated by a numerical example, and then the sensitivity of the proposed model to important inputs is analysed. Finally, a comparative study based on the Taguchi design approach is given to confirm the capability of the proposed model to achieve remarkable cost savings.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00332023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00An approach for semi-automated data quality assurance within BIM modelshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0034<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Successful Building Information Modelling (BIM) enabled projects that require large volumes of project data to be embedded within BIM models. However, with this wealth of data, relevance and accuracy have been identified as important issues affecting the BIM performance of the project. Currently, Quality Assurance (QA) in the industry has focused on geometric data, including scrutinising physical and spatial clashes. However, as BIM practices progress in the industry, the requirements for nongeometric model data and their quality have become more necessary. This study aimed to ascertain the feasibility of using visual programming for semi-automating the BIM QA process in a practical case study on using BIM in infrastructure projects. This paper outlines a generic semi-automated QA methodology and its application in a construction project case study. The validity of this method was tested and evaluated in practice through (n=2) workshops. The methodology was implemented within an integrated engineering consultancy, employing visual programming methodology to generate QA summaries and additionally highlight model elements with data quality issues based on a defined set of parameters. Based on the evaluation findings, the proposed process was feasible and provided a pathway for low-cost and low-skill QA of BIM model data within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The paper’s main scientific contribution is a conceptual framework for using visual programming to achieve automatic quality assurance.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00342023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Investigating cause-and-effect relationships between supply chain 4.0 technologieshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0029<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The developments of the fourth industrial revolution have caused changes in all areas of society, including production. The changes in production caused by the fourth industrial revolution have also resulted in fundamental changes in the supply chain and have converted it to supply chain 4.0. Organisations must be receptive to supply chain 4.0 to maintain their competitive advantage. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationships among supply chain 4.0 technologies so that, by learning and understanding these connections, industries can pave the way for the implementation of these technologies in their supply chains and use them in problem-solving. The literature review was used to identify the supply chain 4.0 technologies, and the Delphi technique was applied to extract them, including the Internet of Things (IoT), cyber-physical systems, cloud computing, big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), augmented reality, virtual reality, and simulation. The relationships of supply chain 4.0 technologies were examined using the DEMATEL technique and based on interpretive structural modelling (ISM), their deployment map was drawn. The type of technologies was determined using the MICMAC method. The MICMAC analysis found that the artificial intelligence technology is independent and, based on the findings through the DEMATEL technique, this technology is related to simulation, which belongs to the first level of the interpretive structural modelling technique, and IoT, cloud computing, big data, and blockchain technologies, which are at the second level. Based on the ISM method, RFID, virtual reality, augmented reality and simulation technologies are located at the first level; IoT, cyber-physical systems, cloud computing, big data and blockchain technologies are situated in the second level; and artificial intelligence technology belongs to the third level. According to the related literature, few studies have been conducted on the issues of supply chain 4.0 and the technologies that affect it.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00292023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Role of remote transformational leadership on service performance: evidence in Indonesiahttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0032<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study examined and analysed the role of remote transformational leadership in business strategy consensus by considering the contingency of competitive intensity and organisational learning culture. The population of this study are owners or service managers of start-up business companies in the provinces of DIY and East Java. The sampling technique used was a purposive sampling method with a sample size of 231 managers. The data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires and interviews with several key service managers who represent their companies. Euclidean Distance Simple Regression and Euclidean Distance Simple Regression Moderation were used as the statistical processing tools. The results of this study proved a fit between each business strategy typology with each contingency variable examined in this study. It was also found that transformational leadership could strengthen the relationship pattern. The contingency approach is crucial because situations and conditions between organisations may vary depending on the company’s internal (organisational learning culture) and external (competitive intensity) environment, especially in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. Contingency fit in the organisational strategy needs to be assessed so that the service performance can be improved and sustainable in the long term. This situation and condition will improve when strengthened by the role of remote transformational leadership.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00322023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Employee scheduling and maintenance planning for safety systems at the remotely located oil and gas industrial facilitieshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0028<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The safety of operations is vital in any process in the oil and gas sector, especially given that increasingly more hydrocarbon reserves are discovered in non-conventional remote and Arctic locations. Safety systems are designed as a part of a complex IT system for process control. The design of these systems is conducted in the form of an engineering project. This research presents a decision-making framework to facilitate formulating clear and comprehensive recommendations for the requirements specification developed for the safety systems. The contribution of this research to the strategic planning area of IT solutions for hazardous industrial facilities is integrating the problems of designing a safety system, planning its maintenance, and scheduling the employees to conduct the required maintenance. With this joint decision-making, it is possible to explore trade-offs between investments into the systems’ complexity and workforce-related expenditures throughout the solution’s lifecycle. The reliability modelling is conducted with the help of Markov analysis. The multi-objective decision-making framework is employed to deduce straightforward requirements to the safety system design, maintenance strategy, and workforce organisation. This research is relevant to managing the petroleum sector engineering projects with regard to the design of technological solutions.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00282023-01-19T00:00:00.000+00:00Collective creativity in management sciencehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0027<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This paper aims to establish the current state of knowledge on collective creativity in management science based on a systematic literature review. A systematic review was performed based on the three-step SPL procedure proposed by Tranfield et al. (2003). Two databases (Scopus and Web of Science) were searched electronically until March 2022. Literature analysis and content analysis were performed based on the secondary data. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria following the systematic literature review procedure. The conducted descriptive and thematic analysis allowed establishing the state of knowledge in the analysed area and identifying the main thematic areas along with the future research directions. The research was the first to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) on collective creativity in management science. The main contribution of this paper is its exclusive focus on analysing existing research in the collective creativity field, limited to management science. SLR allowed determining that research in the analysed area was still at a fairly early stage. Although the existing literature sheds some light on collective creativity, studies investigating the aspects of teamwork focused on problem-solving are required.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00272022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00Formation of management and technological maturity levels of enterprises for their dynamic developmenthttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0022<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Currently, the market environment contains many factors influencing the enterprise’s competitiveness. Instability, the unpredictability of events, and insufficiently effective functioning of market mechanisms alter the management focus and processes engaged in an enterprise’s functioning. Some of them are intensive in terms of required resources and finance. Such a dynamic situation requires the enterprise management to build innovative solutions to flexibly respond and timely adapt to change. Therefore, this study aims to develop theoretical and applied approaches to determining the level of managerial and technological maturity of the basic set of technologies implemented in enterprises. In the context of this issue’s development and aiming to achieve the purpose, the study proposed a model approach where the introduction of individual technologies allows combining the rules for determining the enterprise’s management and the technological maturity level, i.e., its readiness for such changes. The construction of the model was based on the analysis and calculation of statistical data from four groups of technologies (corporate, industrial, decision support, and information technologies, which are divided into subclasses) and based on the theory of dynamic innovation development. The results were tested at seven food industry enterprises in Ukraine. Based on the study, the actual level of managerial and technological maturity of enterprises was determined, creating one complex set of technologies that depend on the level and structural changes in management and the level of technological maturity of enterprises. It can be used as a typical model for differently sized enterprises representing various industries.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00222022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00Influence of intercultural competence on an organisation’s success and personal career: the case study of Lithuaniahttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0024<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This paper aims to identify the influence of intercultural competence on an organisation’s success and personal career in Lithuania. The study described in this paper is a part of international research on intercultural competence. An online questionnaire survey was conducted in Lithuania with non-probability convenience sampling to find out the views of employees working in different sector organisations. The survey was filled out by 1193 respondents from Lithuania. Employees’ intercultural competence (knowledge/cognitive dimension, skills/behavioural dimension, and attitudes/emotional dimension) was evaluated using 5-point Likert items and is elaborated elsewhere. The multivariate analysis was used to analyse the survey data and test three hypotheses stating that (1) employees support the notion that higher intercultural competence can foster an organisation’s success and personal career, (2) organisations tend to leave the development of intercultural competence to employees, and (3) current intercultural knowledge and skills are inadequate to operate in a multicultural work environment. The analysis showed that half of the respondents agreed with the statement that the development of intercultural competence (ICC) helped the personal career and an organisation’s success. The statement regarding organisations tending to leave the intercultural competence development to their employees was only supported by less than one-third of the respondents. Besides, the data did not fully support the statement that employees’ current intercultural knowledge and skills were inadequate to operate in a multicultural work environment, as no more than one-third of the respondents had frequent or very frequent issues when communicating with foreigners due to inadequate intercultural knowledge and skills in various sub-areas. The paper elaborates on detailed results.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00242022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00Impact of COVID-19 on various areas of service operation in manufacturing companies: a pilot studyhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0025<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>All manufacturers were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be assumed that producers were affected as much as the service operation field (based on company categories). This article aims to ascertain how COVID-19 affected various areas of service operations in manufacturing companies. So far, no literature is available identifying the impact of COVID-19 on various areas of service operations by current manufacturers. An electronic questionnaire was prepared and sent to the manufacturers. The questionnaire was completed by 88 respondents from four selected industrial areas. The findings show no statistically significant differences in the perception of the COVID-19 impact on various areas of service operations in manufacturing companies based on CZ-NACE, the number of employees, the type of customers and the type of services provided to products. However, in the area of the type of services, one statistically significant difference was found in the statement related to increasing interest in engaging in cooperation with suppliers in the field of smart services. Theoretical implication contributes to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturers in various areas of service operation. First, the research did not reveal any statistically significant difference in manufacturing companies sorted by their CZ-NACE, the number of employees and the predominant customers in the areas of service operations. It can be considered that the companies were hit by COVID-19 very similarly. Second, the research revealed statistically significant differences in the area of processing results according to the type of services, and in this case, only in the area of increasing interest in engaging in the cooperation with suppliers in the field of smart services. From a managerial viewpoint, this paper contributes to the field of impact of COVID-19 on areas of service operation in manufacturing companies.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00252022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00Selected contextual factors and entrepreneurial intentions of students on the example of Polandhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0023<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The article analyses the influence of contextual variables on students’ entrepreneurial intentions. The research seeks to extend previous findings concerning the impact of various contextual factors on entrepreneurial intentions. The main focus was on public policy, business environment and education as the contextual traits. The study answers the following questions: What role do contextual variables play in the formation of the entrepreneurial intention of young people? What factors comprise a latent variable — contextual factor? What is the relationship between various contextual factors? The survey was conducted among students of the Faculty of Engineering Management at Bialystok University of Technology (Poland). Data were collected from the sample of 332 respondents. This research used a causal quantitative methodology using structural equations (Structural Equation Modelling, SEM). The impact of education (E) on the business environment (BE) and of the business environment (BE) on public policy (PP) was confirmed. A direct influence of contextual factors — education (E), business environment (BE) and public policy (PP) — on entrepreneurial intentions (EI) has not been positively verified. The main theoretical conclusion is that contextual factors do not directly explain the entrepreneurial intentions of the surveyed student population in Poland. Decision-makers and politicians should consider additional measures to improve public policy in the country, but above all, measures that promote intentions indirectly. They aim to improve the educational environment in the country that is strengthening entrepreneurship education programmes in universities and earlier education stages and activities in the business environment, supporting the creation of new companies.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00232022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00Why does environmental uncertainty have a moderating effect on marketing performance? A comparative analysis of Indonesian and Thai service industrieshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-0026<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This study examined CRM’s effect on marketing performance and customer focus strategies. It also investigates the moderating role of environmental uncertainty in the relationship between CRM and customer focus on marketing performance. A quantitative research approach was used with a sample of the service industry in two countries, Indonesia and Thailand. The analysis unit was the manager responsible for customer relations. The number of examined surveys amounted to 406, with a distribution of 200 respondents from Thailand and 206 — from Indonesia. The purposive sampling approach was used. The study results indicated that CRM had a positive effect on marketing performance and customer focus. The latter positively affected marketing performance. The study also found that environmental uncertainty strengthened the relationship between CRM and the customer focus on marketing.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/emj-2022-00262022-10-20T00:00:00.000+00:00en-us-1