Economics Working Papers 2025, 9(3):4-72 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2025.004278
The main aim of this paper is to evaluate whether the concept of Industry 4.0 influences current change management in small and medium-sized enterprises and what obstacles prevent its wider implementation. An online questionnaire survey was conducted in 2024 to collect data, with 203 respondents from small and medium-sized enterprises participating. The questionnaire focused primarily on topics related to the implementation of changes, awareness of Industry 4.0, and the identification of barriers to the further development of change management and modern technologies. The results show that systematic change management is often neglected in companies,...
Economics Working Papers 2025, 9(2):4-53 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2025.002366
This paper reviews the agricultural sector performance of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, specifically the efficiency of agricultural production and the overall competitiveness of their agricultural sectors. The study uses data spanning the period from 2001 to 2019 to assess agricultural production performance, and from 2001 to 2021 to investigate the competitiveness of the agricultural sectors. Using Malmquist productivity indices, the findings reveal that while overall productivity has increased in SADC, with 11 out of 15 countries recording an upward trajectory during the review period, technological progress has regressed....
Economics Working Papers 2025, 9(1):4-36 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2025.001427
This study explores the financial dynamics, strategic growth, and innovation within the sugar production sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) over the period 2013–2022. It focuses on six countries—Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and analyzes 14 major sugar-producing companies using a combined methodological approach based on time-series trend analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Key financial metrics such as capital structure, working capital, operating revenue, profitability, and employment are examined to assess differences in performance across firms and countries. The research...
Economics Working Papers 2024, 8(4):6-72 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2024.0041152
This research addresses the critical need to understand the role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in facing overtourism through an investigation into the practices employed by diverse DMOs. The aim of this paper is to identify the marketing strategies and tools used by DMOs in response to tourist destination congestion in the context of the available literature and the current state of knowledge and to suggest needs and directions for further research based on case studies focused on selected tourist destinations. Exploring the roles of DMOs in Vannes, Colmar, Melaka, and Český Krumlov has revealed a diverse spectrum of responsibilities...
Economics Working Papers 2024, 8(3):5-74 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2024.003692
Purpose: The aim of the paper is to define the concept of Industry 4.0 and to create a pilot study of the implemented research - to propose a methodological approach to assess the readi-ness of food enterprises in the Czech Republic for Industry 4.0.Methodology: The results are based on research that focused on the readiness of 102 companies in the areas of strategy, leadership, customers, product, culture, employees and technology. The research focused on food companies in the Czech Republic.Findings: Based on the results of our own research, a factor analysis was used to create an index of the readiness of food enterprises in the Czech Republic for...
Economics Working Papers 2024, 8(2):5-60 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2024.0021331
The purpose of this article is, through the process of qualitative research method, that of interviews, to gather and analyze the views of managers and other senior executives of businesses on the importance of the utilization and implementation of managerial accounting tools in their business. The article provides some time-honored definitions of managerial accounting, and provides extensive discussion of selected managerial accounting tools, with particular emphasis on the overall benefits of their use in the operation of the business. Through 26 highly targeted and selected interviews, the necessity of using managerial accounting tools is illustrated,...
Economics Working Papers 2024, 8(1):5-42 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2024.001848
Cooperatives today are facing difficulties resulting from the disruption of the cooperative system and the global economic crisis. Instead of a vibrant cooperative sector, cooperatives in Nepal are facing increasing financial difficulties that threaten their survival as businesses. Therefore, a study was conducted in the sub-metropolitan town of Tulsipur in Dang district of Nepal to explore practical economic models and types of cooperatives, to use the concept of bio-economy as a great opportunity for rural development, and to find a way to mitigate these negative impacts to restore the sustainable functioning of rural cooperatives in Nepal. Twenty-one...
