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Review of Implementing Energy Efficiency in Buildings at Global and European Level
No full textIn recent years, there has been an increasing interest in exploring energy efficiency as a guide to improving the energy performance of buildings, mitigating carbon emissions, limiting energy use and reducing energy consumption with a common goal of achieving sustainable buildings. This article presents a systematic review of the literature with the aim of providing best practices in this field, but also to identify motivations, challenges, recommendations and opening avenues for future research. Methodological aspects are clearly discussed, providing insights for future researchers. In this research, papers published were used from three reliable scientific databases such as; Web of Science, ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore. The number of selected papers has reached 134. During the selection of papers, two criteria were set as; the inclusion and exclusion criteria in order to classify review papers, proceeding conferences, and articles. The number of review articles was 16 from 134 selected papers, while the number of conferences was 33 from selected papers, and the number of articles was 85 from 134 selected papers. The review articles provides a general overview of improving energy efficiency to achieve sustainability in buildings, using green building rating systems, developing and implementing policies, utilizing technology, adopting techniques, and implementing strategies, while the conferences and articles are more focused on the details related to different aspects of improving energy efficiency, reducing environmental, economic, social, and other impacts. This review will stimulate and attract future researchers to make more efforts in this field
Comparative Analysis of Inflation Rate in The Western Balkans
No full textThis study conducts a comparative analysis of inflation rates in the Western Balkans, encompassing Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, over the period from 2010 to 2024, with forecasts extending to 2026. The study utilizes information obtained from the World Bank Open Database and the Statistical Agencies of the Western Balkans, and employs quantitative methods including panel regression to identify key drivers and ARIMA to project anticipated inflation trends. Overall findings report considerable variability, with inflation range between an average of 5.24% in Serbia due to global price shocks and domestic variables, as compared to the lowest rates for Kosovo at 2.81% and Albania at 2.58 %. The average inflation across the region at 3.3% indicates moderate inflationary pressure. Inflation reached to a peak of 14.2% in 2022 as a result of external crises. Future projections indicate continued declines to reach 5.0% in Serbia, and to 2.7% in Kosovo by 2026. These findings are significant and call on central banks to recognize the necessity of tailoring monetary policy to each economy in the region, while capitalizing on regional partnerships to generate economic stability
System Models in Family Businesses and Measuring Trust Through Sustainable Family Business Model: An Application on Family Businesses in Tirana
No full textIn this study, in family enterprises operating in the city of Tirana, the aim is to measure the relationship between family participation and social capital, as well as its impact on the types of social capital, bonding capital and bridge capital. In this context, the first part deals with family enterprises, the second part deals with family system models, while the third part presents domestic and foreign studies on social capital. Methodology - The data were collected through a survey in 167 family businesses in Tirana, where at least the first generation was in management, and were analyzed with the SPSS statistical program. Conclusion - Based on the analyzed results, a significant and positive relationship between family participation and social capital has been discovered. On the other hand, it has been concluded that the bonding and bridging type of social capital is also high in businesses where family participation is high
The Application Challenges and Impact of Lean Management Principles in Public and Private Sectors in the Developing Countries
No full textThis research aims to discuss and analyse the impact of lean management application on productivity, effectivity and efficiency, sustainability, digital technology and innovation in manufacturing and service industries. In addition, the study proposes a strategic model for lean implementation strategies for developing countries with focus on the case of Kosovo. It is assumed that developing countries struggle with the adaptation of lean management techniques in different industrial contexts, including all strategic factors, as discussed in this study. Consequently, the objectives of this paper are oriented towards quantitative exploration of existing challenges of organisations and businesses within the Kosova region, and towards exploring best possibilities of more successful adoption of lean management strategies and tools
Employee Perceptions of the Work Environment in Kosovo’s Public Administration
No full textThe performance of public institutions is inherently tied to the quality of their work environment and employee satisfaction. This study assesses the work environment of a state agency operating under the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. For confidentiality reasons, the agency’s name is withheld. The research identifies key factors influencing employee satisfaction, communication, collaboration, and professional growth. The study utilized a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative data derived from a structured questionnaire administered to the entire staff cohort (N = 26) of the agency. The instrument included both closed- and open-ended items addressing perceptions of working conditions, interpersonal relations, leadership support, and career development. Findings reveal a generally positive environment marked by strong job satisfaction, pride in institutional affiliation, and commitment to organizational goals. Communication and collaboration are rated highly, and leadership is viewed as supportive of autonomy. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including limited recognition of qualifications, occasional exclusion, and suboptimal physical conditions such as constrained workspace, noise, and inadequate equipment. Participants highlight the need for more transparent systems of professional development, performance evaluation, and international training access. The study emphasizes the necessity of continuous improvement in public sector workplaces. Strengthening communication structures, investing in infrastructure, and institutionalizing professional development frameworks can enhance morale, motivation, and overall organizational performance. The findings contribute to understanding workforce dynamics in Kosovo’s public administration and provide evidence-based guidance for policy advancement
Modeling Consumer Behavioral Dimensions in Multicultural Societies: Out-group and In-group Dynamics
No full textThe consumption behavior of various ethnic groups in multicultural societies especially how they interact towards each other and other product category is still an under researched area in marketing. This conceptual paper investigates the complex interplay emphasizing a range of constructs including consumer racism, Consumer animosity, Consumer ethnocentrism, Anti-consumption, Brand hate, Consumer discrimination, Consumer alienation and Consumer Boycott. In multicultural environments, consumer bias manifests in various forms, influencing not only personal choices but also in-group and out-group dynamics. This study will conceptualize a holistic framework to analyze how these dimensions influence ethnic consumption decisions among diverse ethnic consumer groups. The paper will employ a conceptual framework to examine how different dimensions of these constructs interact by highlighting the overlaps among various dimensions of these constructs that shape consumer interactions in multicultural societies. This systematic literature review (SLR) will indicate the role and efficacy of these constructs in shaping consumer behavior for ethnic consumption. Ultimately, by critically reviewing the existing literature we have developed different tables of relevant studies on all these constructs and reviewed the models. This conceptual paper seeks to enhance the comprehension of marketing researches in relation to ethnic consumption and emphasize the importance of addressing these constructs in order to foster literary understanding of ethnic consumption. This conceptual paper will enable marketing researchers to set direction of future ethnic marketing research and will have implications for marketers and policy makers
The Impact of Stress Factors on Employee Performance
No full textThis study provides empirical insights into the relationship between stress factors and employee performance, contributing to the development of effective stress management strategies and human resource policies. The main objective is to analyze and evaluate the impact of stressors on employee performance across different work sectors. A quantitative research method was employed using a structured questionnaire distributed to 122 randomly selected participants from both public and private sectors. Data were collected online via Google Forms, ensuring anonymity and confidentiality, and analyzed using SPSS software. The findings indicate that the correlations between work-related stress factors and employee performance, as well as between stress management and performance, were weak and statistically insignificant. These results suggest that, within this sample, stress does not have a direct or measurable effect on professional performance. However, the relationship between stress, its management, and performance remains complex and influenced by various external and individual factors not fully captured in this study. The results align with the twodimensional theory of stress, which posits that moderate levels of stress can be motivating, while excessive stress negatively affects performance and well-being
Abusive Supervisors Make Me Quit: A Meta-Analytical Review Contribution Title
No full textThe purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between abusive supervision and turnover intention by using the meta-analysis method. Among the screened 1,323 studies, 18 studies providing 21 correlation values were chosen for this meta-analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) Software was used to analyze the collected data. The reliability analysis process included publication bias tests and heterogeneity tests were applied to the collected data. The data was suitable for the moderator analysis and it was not necessary to make an artifact correction according to the aforementioned test results. The effect size of the surveyed relationship between abusive supervision and turnover intention is moderate (r = .42366). The moderator analysis results showed that the industry is a moderator for this relationship. These results are significant for the top managers who monitor abusive supervisors and attempt to keep turnover intention under control. Moreover, the provided findings can also be used by future researchers
Study on The Use of Mechanized-Fired Clay Bricks as a Supplementary Cementitious Material
No full textThe current global tendency is to replace a portion of the cement in the concrete mix with materials of cementitious properties to mitigate the cement industry’s negative environmental impact. This study explores using finely milled Fired Clay Brick debris to replace cement in the production of mortars partially. The aim is to create a more cost-effective mortar while tackling the problem of disposing of waste bricks. Two samples of it were collected from two factories, pulverized into a powder, and added to the cement mortar mixtures in 10%, 15%, and 20% by cement mass. Mortars were examined for their chemical composition, fineness, consistency, and setting time. The compressive strength of the mortar specimens at 3, 7, and 28 days was tested. Results showed that the strength activity index of both samples reached nearly 100% in 28 Days. Thi
Assessment of Microbiological and Physicochemical Parameters in Ground Beef from Fast Food Outlets in the Prishtina Region
No full textFast food consumption has significantly increased, particularly in fast-paced cities like Prishtina. Hamburgers, one of the most consumed products in this industry, rely on ground beef, which poses notable food safety risks due to potential contamination and inadequate hygiene practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate selected microbiological and physicochemical parameters in ground beef from fast food outlets in the Prishtina region. The research involved analyzing 12 samples from various fast-food establishments in Prishtina, collected during June-July 2024. Microbiological analyses focused on total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and Escherichia coli, using standard cultivation methods on Plate Count Agar and TBX Agar media. Physicochemical parameters measured included pH (using a pH meter), water activity, nitrates, and nitrites (using a spectrophotometer). Total mesophilic aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 4.13 × 10⁵ to 5.01 × 10⁶ CFU/g, with sample 6 showing the highest load, possibly due to inadequate storage conditions. Escherichia coli was not detected in any of the samples. In accordance with Regulation (EC) 2073/2005, most samples were classified as acceptable, except for sample 6, which slightly exceeded the allowable limit for total mesophilic aerobic bacteria. The physicochemical analyses showed that pH values ranged from 7.28 to 8.75, water activity from 0.81 to 0.84, while nitrate levels ranged from 22.5 mg/kg to 108 mg/kg, and nitrite levels from 1.35 mg/kg to 3.61 mg/kg. These results highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of meat quality to ensure compliance with food safety standards, particularly in fast-paced environments like Prishtina