RFOS - Repository of Faculty of Organizational Sciences Univ. of Belgrade
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Neuroscience and CSR: Using EEG for Assessing the Effectiveness of Branded Videos Related to Environmental Issues
No full textThe majority of studies evaluating the effectiveness of branded CSR campaigns are concentrated and base their conclusions on data collection through self-reporting questionnaires. Although such studies provide insights for evaluating the effectiveness of CSR communication methods, analysing the message that is communicated, the communication channel used and the explicit brain responses of those for whom the message is intended, they lack the ability to fully encapsulate the problem of communicating environmental messages by not taking into consideration what the recipients' implicit brain reactions are presenting. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of CSR video communications relating to environmental issues through the lens of the recipients' implicit self, by employing neuroscience-based assessments. For the examination of implicit brain perception, an electroencephalogram (EEG) was used, and the collected data was analysed through three indicators identified as the most influential indicators on human behaviour. These three indicators are emotional valence, the level of brain engagement and cognitive load. The study is conducted on individuals from the millennial generation in Thessaloniki, Greece, whose implicit brain responses to seven branded commercial videos are recorded. The seven videos were a part of CSR campaigns addressing environmental issues. Simultaneously, the self-reporting results from the participants were gathered for a comparison between the explicit and implicit brain responses. One of the key findings of the study is that the explicit and implicit brain responses differ to the extent that the CSR video communications' brain friendliness has to be taken into account in the future, to ensure success. The results of the study provide an insight for the future creation process, conceptualisation, design and content of the effective CSR communication, in regard to environmental issues
Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries
No full textPeople across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending >10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives
Data driven analysis of lifecycle stages in Serbian SMEs
No full textIn this paper, the authors presented a concept design and prologue for a trend analysis software tool (entirely web based, in cloud environment), with an underlying machine learning model, incorporated with real time refresh of input data. Based on existing research, general architecture of the tool has been defined, as the foundation with its integral elements. The envisioned tool would enable SME business owners to perform trend analysis of their business indicators, to monitor essential outcome predictions, and to position themselves within wider macroeconomic situation, by aligning all similar SMEs into one universe. Plans for this research initiative include a full-scale crowdsourcing dataset population, training and deployment of a machine learning mode, with development of web application in parallel
Current Development Trends of the System of Public Administration
No full textThe economy is undergoing a radical transformation in all its structures, completely changing the methods of management. Changes are taking place on a global scale based on the digital technologies being implemented. The role of the state and executive authorities is being completely rethought. They are transforming themselves into “digital governments”, IT platforms, and forming their own digital structures with a list of services that are necessary for the population. In this study the following 4 directions of development of the public administration system were identified and reviewed in detail: digital reforms in the public administration system; long-term balance and sustainability of public administration; focusing on improving the quality and efficiency of public services; implementation of project management methods for the development and implementation of state programs. Based on the conducted research, current trends in public administration have been highlighted, and it was concluded that the trends in the development of modern economies include the mandatory participation of the state
Sustainable management of Serbian agricultural family holdings
No full textThe devastating impact tangibly felt by the entire humanity due to COVID-19 should not be a surprise since pandemics such as Spain flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Zika, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Ebola are becoming regular assurances (Oruma et al., 2021). Pandemics such as these are something that might be expected in the future as well, and as such are a threat for which human kind must be prepared in the future (Kumari et al., 2021; Pulighe & Lupia, 2020; Workie et al., 2020). This is additionally becoming true and evident within supply chains of farming products, including food processing and storing, distribution and logistics, which are already suffer from very low efficiency and effectiveness, sensitivity to market disruptions and other external factors (Lezoche et al., 2020). Sustainable management of agricultural family holdings (AFH) is in comparison to agricultural holdings held by big corporations, even more under threat. This is especially true in countries with less developed agricultural infrastructure, such as the Republic of Serbia. Agricultural production is not rationally organized, and labor productivity is low. Some of the problems identified within AFHs include: inability to respond to climate change challenges; lack of the data and records on their business activity; lack of the data and records on their natural, human and material resources; resource management; inability to respond to the disruption of distribution chain; lack of decision support systems and business monitoring and planning tools. Consequently, the paper aims to examine requirements of AFHs related to business information and to propose information system (IS) characteristics able to improve the system management. The IS proposal will be based on spreadsheet applications due to the price, availability, flexibility, ease and speed of the system development and modifications. Proposed solution should support sustainable management of AFHs in the Republic of Serbia
Lean approach to improving throughput in un-paced assembly line: action research report
No full textThe paper presents the results of the action research where lean approach was used to increase the throughput of an un-paced assembly line. A series of interventions were undertaken in a company that manufactures LED lighting solutions for a variety of customers. The interventions were in accordance with five lean principles: value, value stream, flow, pull, and perfection. The included, but were not limited to, assembly stations design, part supply and presentation, warehouse management, and good housekeeping. The results show that the throughput was increased from 30-50 units to 100-120 units per day, through hands-on approach and rational use of resources that were at hand.
Keywords:M3
Тhe BPM in service oriented companies: expirence of Serbia
No full textThe purpose of paper is to assess business process maturity in service companies in Serbia
(according to CMMI model), to identify main drivers and challenges for business process
management (BPM) practice in these companies and to propose further efforts in BPM
initiatives which can be useful for practitioners and researchers on this field. Questionnaire was
used as survey instrument for data collection. The research instrument was sent to 600
companies operating in Serbia Total of 61 used responses were received, out of which 34 were
from service companies. The data were statistically analyzed through SPSS statistical package.
Results show that for the most companies, process maturity is at the second level of CMMI
model, that the main business drivers for BPM practice are productivity/efficiency
improvement, and coordination and control improvement, and that the main challenges are
obstacles in new technology implementation. The results suggest that BPM is a viable option
for service companies to improve their operations, and paper proposes ways for companies to
streamline their efforts regarding BP
Examining students’ test anxiety and pre-university programming education in an undergraduate introductory programming course
No full textMany students encounter programming for the first time during undergraduate studies. Programming, in general, is very different from other subjects typically taught in elementary and middle school (like mathematics, history, languages, etc.) and may be a source of anxiety and frustration for these students. It is known that many introductory computer science courses suffer from high dropout rates. It also is known that high anxiety can lead to decreased performance during testing. With all that in mind, the question is whether students experience higher test anxiety (a specific form of anxiety) during exams in introductory programming courses, when compared to their general test anxiety. The second question is whether those students that have had pre-university programming education exhibit lower test anxiety during programming exams, when compared to the ones that haven’t had any programming education. The third question is whether those students that drop out of the course differ from other students with regards to test anxiety and/or pre-university programming education. And finally, are there gender differences regarding the previous research questions. In order to answer these questions, a small research based on an undergraduate introductory programming course in the C language was conducted. The participants were 318 first year students, and this introductory course in C programming had been their first programming course during undergraduate studies. The students were asked to fill out two questionnaires: one at the beginning of the course (during labs, N = 318), and second just after finishing the midterm exam (N = 199 due to 119 participating students dropping out of the course before the midterm exam). This midterm exam was paper-based in order to avoid inducing computer anxiety in students (a form of anxiety related to computer usage), but nevertheless contained programming problems in C, not just theoretical questions. The first questionnaire contained items related to students’ general test anxiety and their pre-university programming education. The second questionnaire only contained items related to test anxiety experienced during the midterm exam. The Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) developed by Spielberger, was used in both questionnaires, with the questions being translated into students’ native language. The results suggest that female students were more test anxious than male students, both in general and during the midterm exam - which was expected. Unexpectedly (and without gender differences), all students exhibited lower test anxiety regarding the midterm exam (when compared to their general test anxiety), and their pre-university programming education was not related to midterm exam test anxiety. No differences regarding general test anxiety were found between students that dropped out of the course before the midterm exam (N = 119) and students that didn’t drop out (N = 199). However, male students that dropped out of the course before the midterm exam had significantly lesser pre-university programming education than male students that didn’t drop out
An Approach to Assessing Shopper Acceptance of Beacon Triggered Promotions in Smart Retail
No full textThis paper studies shopper acceptance for using beacons in the purchase process. The main goal is to examine shopper response to beacon-triggered promotions and propose a model that would help retail practitioners plan the implementation of beacons in stores. The model was evaluated via an in-market test to examine the effects of beacon-triggered promotion on shopper attention, technology acceptance, and the decision to purchase. The test was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia in 10 representative stores where beacons were implemented with 10 twin control stores. The SimplyTastly mobile application was used for sending notifications. Furthermore, two more in-market beacon activations were analysed in Croatia and Bulgaria. The results showed that shoppers accepted beacon technology and that beacon-triggered promotion had a positive impact on shopper attention, purchase behaviour, and the decision to purchase. The results show that the proposed model could serve as a sound basis for the implementation of beacon technology in retail
Green Strategies in Mobility Planning Towards Climate Change Adaption of Urban Areas Using Fuzzy 2D Algorithm
No full textUrban mobility planning must urgently confront the challenges attendant to the low carbon transition and green transformation. The necessary paradigm shift from the traditional approaches to embracing environmental sustainability requires maintaining a firm and stable balancing act between opposing forces. The policy-making process in the transition period is complex and requires a detailed analysis that the academic literature lacks. This study analyzes the decision-making process for urban mobility planning to contribute the academic liter-ature on sustainable transitions. In order to illustrate the complexities in the decision-making process, we design an original case scenario. In the case, the planners are supposed to choose the best project from among four recent green strategies. In the process, they need to take the conflicting requirements on the social, economic, environmental and technical issues into account. Sixteen constraints reflect the available physical and financial conditions. Because the decision-making process includes complexities, a novel two-stages model is introduced in the method that is used to solve the problem. In the first stage, the fuzzy D PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA) algorithm is applied to determine the weights. In the second stage, the fuzzy D Dombi (fuzzy 2D) algorithm is proposed to evaluate the alternatives. The results show that societal dynamics are crucially important in choosing the best alternative. Among four alternatives, the one that is inclusive and makes the existing investments more efficient is highly prioritized. Our findings offer policy implications emphasizing the importance of green mobility projects that favors the social benefits as well as financial issues