Search

Over the last decade, the dependence on fossil fuels and their prices has been increasingly discussed. This paper aimed to assess the development of fossil fuel prices and their relationship to GDP in the Czech Republic. To achieve this objective, a VAR model and Granger causality test were used. All fossil fuel prices peaked in 2022. The causal relationship with GDP in the Czech Republic was confirmed for natural gas and coal prices. On the other hand, the causal relationship between oil and GDP in the Czech Republic was not confirmed during the period under study. Weak correlations were found with the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and unemployment in the EU. The only exception is the correlation between coal and inflation in the EU, which was moderately strong. A limitation of the paper is the length of the period studied, with data collection taking place only once a month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the paper is to present the results of a qualitative research that mapped the situation in the field of institutional education in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. In the paper we will introduce the system of institutional education in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic and describe the most important legislation. At the end of the paper, we will discuss the findings that we have observed during our research. We will point out the common areas and the most significant differences. Our paper will offer an opportunity to better understand the specifics of each system of institutional education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a number of experts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are ceasing their activities. For many of them, the reason is mandatory examinations; in some other cases, it is, for example, the unclear liability of the expert witness along with large penalties for violation of given rules. The purpose of the paper is to define the fundamental parameters of expert witness liability in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the light of the global trends in the field. The primary method to achieve this goal was content analysis. The data source used was legal documents, as well as opinions published in scholarly and expert publications. The liability of expert witnesses lies not only in the compliance with the set rules and standards but also in the ability to adapt to new challenges and ensure that their wok is as relevant and accurate as possible. Expert witnesses thus bear liability at multiple levels, including ethics, professional standards, legal obligations, and practical considerations. Nevertheless, there is no established judicial practice in this area in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper focuses on the evaluation of the impact of the use of compensation bonuses during a pandemic on the economic situation of companies. Methods: In order to achieve this objective, a primary quantitative survey in the form of a questionnaire survey was conducted in Czech enterprises and two research questions were set. The research questions were answered by testing four hypotheses, which focused on testing the relationship between the use of compensation bonuses and the nature of the change in the economic situation of the enterprise in terms of sector, size and prevailing business relationship. The parametric two-sample onefactor ANOVA and Pearson's Chi-squared test were used to test the hypotheses. Main findings: The results showed that the use of compensation bonuses was associated with a negative change in the economic situation of the firms. Differences in the magnitude of the effect were observed in terms of the prevailing business relationship and the size of the enterprises. The business sector did not affect the strength of the association between bonus use and change in economic situation. Limitations of the paper: the paper focuses on observing the short-term trend and is limited to Czech enterprises during the pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspiracy theories spread through social and other media often bringing easy explanations of events that cannot be easily explained. Beliefs in conspiracy theories may lead to simplified and radical viewpoints that can negatively influence one's behavior and actions. The paper analyzes the association between beliefs in popular conspiracy theories spread through social media and work performance using the results of an authors' test of conspiracy theories applied to a sample of 178 students of the Faculty of Military Leadership, University of Defence in Brno, Czech Republic. The students were selected as representatives of high-profile professions that should be trained to deal with potential disinformation and conspiracy theories. The assumption was that the students would be generally immune to the impact of conspiracy theories. The analysis did not confirm a hypothesis that individuals with top work performance are less prone to beliefs in conspiracy theories than individuals with solid/poor work performance. The findings confirm the necessity to systematically train people working in high-profile professions to work with available information and deal with potential disinformation and conspiracy theories. The findings are useful in the HR management practice of organizations that care about the professional qualities of their people and encourage further research on the origin, spread, and impact of conspiracy theories in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the integration of the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) in England's social work education and its potential applicability in the Czech Republic. As England has advanced its social work training through holistic approaches and continuous professional development [1], this paper explores the feasibility of adapting such reforms to enhance the Czech educational system. By conducting a comparative analysis, the research identifies gaps in the Czech framework and suggests tailored adaptations from the English model. This streamlined examination not only furthers the international discourse on social work education but also proposes actionable strategies for cross-cultural educational enhancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the price development of electrical energy and inflation as a commodity in the course of the past 10 years. The production of electrical energy decreased from 83.7 TWh in 2010 to 70.6 TWh in 2020 in the Czech Republic in accordance with the results achieved by using the methods of descriptive statistics, time series, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The consumption of energy slightly increased. The proportion of production to consumption declined and consumption was higher than production in 2020. The prices of electricity reveal oscillations influenced by the conflict in the Ukraine. The use of the sources of energy changed, however, without specific trends. The dependence of prices on inflation is considerable and direct. Energy policy ought to deal with the dependence on import and support the domestic production of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones have become part of our everyday life. But what to do with our old device when we want a new one? Everyone will deal with this question differently and this paper aims to present the most used approaches and the reasoning behind them as well as pros and cons of each approach. The study is done by using an analysis of research conducted by the Czech Statistical Office on the topic of sustainability in ICT on respondents over the age of 16 in 4.5 million households. The results can help smartphone companies understand how their products are disposed of once replaced by another model and help us understand the effects and potential risks this might have on our environment. The targeted research area is the Czech Republic. By comparing age categories, we get the results that the most common option is to keep the old phone at home if the new one breaks, this option was chosen by 46,9 % of respondents. Other favorite options are sending it for recycling which chose 17,5 % or selling it with the results being 14,9 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to determine the actual cost of equity capital in the accommodation and food service activites sector in the Czech Republic between 2015 and 2019. The data was collected from the Albertina database and processed based on changes in retained earnings from previous years and the current financial year's profit. The results show the resulting cost of equity capital, which in the years under consideration averaged between 32.40 - 67.25% and the median values ranged between 11.78 - 22.72%. The contribution of this paper can be seen in bringing the resulting value of the actual cost of equity capital in the selected industry on which subsequent predictions for the future can be based. The limitation of the research can be seen in the use of older data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the difference between project and final prices of construction contracts in the public sector. The project price of construction contracts is usually created using price systems, while the final prices of contracts are based on the actual interest of construction companies in the implementation of a given contract, actual cost, and the state of the market for construction works and materials. The paper presents an analysis of a total of 1,021 construction contracts awarded by the public sector in the Czech Republic in 2019-2020. These contracts are divided according to the predominant nature of the work into three categories, namely demolition, reconstruction, and construction. The authors conclude that the project and final prices of construction contracts differ, both in terms of regional destination and the nature of the subject of the contract (construction, demolition, etc.). The biggest savings were found in contracts dealing with demolition work, where secondary income can be expected in the form of sales of secondary raw materials. Moderate savings are also achieved in the case of contracts concerning reconstruction or construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the paper was to assess safety of passenger cars sold in the Czech Republic in terms of the development of both active and passive safety features of cars sold between 2020-2022. Using content analysis aimed at collecting secondary data, the sales of passenger cars and their safety ratings were examined. Cluster analysis and neural networks were subsequently used to classify vehicles into selforganizing Kohonen maps, within which the movement between individual clusters was monitored. It was found that more than 25 % of vehicles sold between 2021 and 2022 changed their position compared to the year 2020. When taking into account vehicles newly introduced to the market, the average level of safety of vehicles sold compared to the year 2020. Further research could focus on a more detailed analysis of factors affecting safety on roads and their quantification for making better predictions and prevention of road accidents. It should be considered that vehicle safety ratings are based on a specific methodology and criteria and can vary significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global business literacy is generally considered one of the key competencies important for functioning in today's interconnected global business world. Despite some studies investigating its determinants carried out worldwide, findings related to Central Europe are rather scarce. The aim of this paper is to identify the effects especially of stay abroad experiences, but also other related factors on cultivation of global business literacy of university students. For this purpose, a total of 255 business students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia filled out the online questionnaire. The results of correlation and regression analysis showed that the most important factor for cultivating global business literacy is the completion of a course related to international business, followed by the intensity of interactions with foreigners. The stay abroad experiences significantly positively affect only the self-efficacy dimension of global business literacy. Overall, it appears that global business literacy can be well developed also through internalization activities at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of business risk in times of recession or growth is very topical in these times. The Czech Republic and its neighboring countries are currently struggling with the economic problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of the paper is to analyze the number of insolvency petitions in the Czech Republic from the years 2010-2020 and to compare them with each other. The data source are data from publicly available resources from the Creditreform group and also from the CRIF database of the Cribis platform. First were created tables for the Agriculture and Forestry, Manufacturing, Construction and Transport sectors. Data for the relevant years were added to them from the aforementioned resources. Then was created a line chart for each industry. Using time series analysis and comparison, we analyze and compare the development of insolvencies. At the same time, we use causal analysis to find out why there were high numbers of insolvencies in the given years. We are also looking at which sectors were hit hardest during the insolvency crisis, when they were hit hardest, how they did in times of economic growth and how they should adapt to the next possible crisis. During the Great Recession, the construction sector was hit the hardest, and then the transport sector also suffered greatly. The largest numbers of insolvencies can be observed in 2012. At a time of economic growth, which began in 2014, the numbers of insolvencies fell in all sectors analyzed, but mostly in agriculture and forestry and transport. Businesses in the sectors analyzed can adapt to the next crisis by creating larger cash reserves or changing, for example, crop production or transport by temporarily reducing fares to attract new customers. We see the benefit of this work in the analysis of the number of insolvencies in the given sectors, which has not been recorded in almost any academic papers. We also see a benefit in determining the conditions for how companies can prevent another crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares the development of agricultural and arable land in the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2020. It has been found that the area of agricultural and arable land had decreased. Obviously, the legal norms that are supposed to ensure its protection are not observed in practice and that there can always be found a reason to grant an exception. The paper also examines the development of the prices of agricultural and arable land in selected EU countries between the years 2000 and 2018. In all cases examined, price growth has been recorded. The area of vacant land is decreasing; therefore, the people interested in its purchase are willing to pay high prices. In the paper, the development of organic farming in the CR from the 1990s until present is addressed. There has been a massive development of this way of farming. This could be considered positive, since organic farming is beneficial for the environment, farm animals, and consumers, who can get quality food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the issue of measuring price elasticity of demand. Research has available a significant data sample on a daily basis in the segment of accommodation services since 2005 in the Czech Republic. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the development of consumer behaviour (measured by price elasticity) in the monitored segment from 2005 to the year 2017. For the calculation of price elasticity log-log regression analysis is used. The data is available daily, and therefore the resulting elasticity in the article is compared to several levels (working days, weekdays, summer months). One of the primary outputs in the research is that price elasticity is relatively stable in the monitored levels over time but has changed significantly over the long-term period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the current problem of factors influencing the reading of non-artistic texts and the development of reading strategies of pupils of secondary technical schools in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The paper aims to reflect, describe, analyse and evaluate which types of non-artistic texts, images, and depictions develop pupils' reading strategies. The text presents selected results of the quantitatively oriented questionnaire survey focusing on the identification of the relationship between the pupil's notion of a non-artistic text and course of work with the image as factors influencing their reading strategies. The partial goal of the pilot research is to point out the factors influencing student teachers at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ostrava in working with non-artistic text, an image in the text and their understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offer for counselling services at universities and colleges is nowadays their standard component. University counselling focuses on learning, psychological, social, special-pedagogical and career issues. The aim of the paper is to acquaint with the results of the demand analysis for counselling services among students of all grades of the selected university in the Czech Republic. The results identified specific areas where students would need guidance or their further development (e. g. soft skills) while gender and student preference differences at different stages of study were found for most indicators. The results of such investigations are the core basis for reflection, innovation and improvement of the university counselling services status quo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the transformative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development and implementation of advanced technologies in the Czech Republic's assisted retail sector. The pandemic accelerated digital transformation across industries, and retail was no exception. The enforced changes in shopping habits and safety measures have led to a surge in the demand for technology-driven solutions in retail, pushing businesses towards innovation to ensure continuity and resilience. The paper analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from various assisted retail businesses in the Czech Republic. The research employs a mixed-method approach, incorporating case studies, surveys, and statistical analysis to provide comprehensive insights into the swift technological transformations. The findings indicate a significant increase in the adoption of technologies such as contactless payments, augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) in retail operations. It further reveals the increased use of e-commerce platforms, digital marketing strategies, and mobile applications to promote contactless shopping. A notable aspect of the study is the rise of voice-assisted shopping, demonstrating a technological shift towards more personalized and efficient customer service. The implications of these findings suggest that the pandemic-induced circumstances have revolutionized retail technology in the Czech Republic. It also hints at the potential for other industries to learn from the strategies deployed in this sector. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to assess the sustainability and long-term impact of these new technologies post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance remuneration of managers using the balanced scorecard (BSC) method has two main advantages. The first is the motivational criteria derived directly corporate strategy, the second is the "balanced" nature of remuneration based on other performance targets in addition to “traditional” financial indicators. However, the prerequisite for the effectiveness of this method is its correct use, which assumes that the essence of the method and the individual components of its methodology are correctly understood and applied. The article deals with the extent of occurrence of this method as a tool for performance remuneration in Czech companies, and the extent to which its practical application corresponds to its methodological assumptions and requirements. The paper uses a qualitative survey carried out in mid-size and large enterprises in the Czech Republic to determine to what extent the prevailing way in which the method is used can be regarded as a tool increasing the value added of performance-based management compensation, what are the basic prerequisites for an effective use of this method, and what main modifications/adaptations leading to its higher effectiveness the method allows without losing its rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented paper focuses on the problem of using revenue management tools in the hospitality industry. The research uses a quantitative method based on the questionnaire (n = 254). The research locality is the Czech Republic, and the survey was done during the years 2017 - 2021. One of the results says that tools based on the price are more often used than tools based on the managing capacity. The most typical tool related to the price is discounts and the intuition of the responsible person. Based on the hypothesis testing, we can say that dynamic prices and tools that work with occupancy are used in the larger hotel more often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and social realia are in the 2nd grade of elementary schools being taught primarily as a part of the Elementary realia subject. This subject, not only in Slovakia but also in the Czech Republic, has in the last decade undergone several content changes. This research paper shows comparison of educational content of the Elementary realia subject in the two above mentioned countries, which had originally identical content. The authors conducted a research, in which they focused on comparing the current contents of the Elementary realia by utilizing in-depth analysis. In presented research paper, they present partial results of the research with an emphasis on topics, that can enhance pupils’ knowledge of forest environment. The core of teaching Elementary realia is the conceptual process. The concepts were discovered by the analysis, and these were related to the topics, which pupils are expected to adopt and understand. Authors were able to convert these concepts from theory into application, more specifically into the education construct, which essentially supports the educational contents of Elementary realia via aestheticeducational objects. This represents a strategy, of how to stimulate pupils’ relationship to the environment and their environmentally responsible behavior, as a part of sustainable development education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies the DEA to evaluate revenue efficiency using the traditional (TRE) and new (NRE) model. We show how to make the relevant calculations in RStudio and discuss application in the banking area. Using balanced panel data from 2008 to 2017, we compared the efficiency of Czech and Slovak banks. The results showed that the TRE ranged from 24.15% to 100%, and NRE ranged from 29.68% to 100%. The results showed that a higher efficiency was in the case of banks located in Czech Republic and pointed to the fact that large banks were the most efficient. The results of nonparametric test for equality of densities pointed to the fact that it depends on selected methodology, bank size and also the location of banks. The results were also verified by the GMM model, which signalized, that the level of efficiency depended mainly on the efficiency in the previous year, but also on the location of the bank in the new revenue model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI provides the concept of machine learning that helps to automate the decision-making process by analyzing data inputs. This paper is focused on the usage of AI mechanisms in the Czech Republic across business segments. The data from the Czech statistical office provided from 6 794 companies on the usage of mechanism as text mining, speech recognition and generation, image recognition, and machine learning robotic process automatization. The most used mechanism is image recognition, which used all of the sectors and the least are speech generation and machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the issues of the building amenities of panel buildings from the perspective of the realistic usability by the residents. To determine the weighted user comfort, the paper used, as general input methods of processing the issue, descriptive statistics, or more precisely put, qualitative research. This method was chosen for its best informative ability to arrive at certain results based on an in-depth comprehension of the details. The subject is very timely and necessary, with respect to the necessity of regeneration of the housing inventory in the Czech Republic. This is not just a theoretical problem, but must also be addressed in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the issue of motivation for military service in the Czech Armed Forces. It aims to map the Institutional-Occupational (I-O) motivations of the generation of Czech recruits currently starting their military career. The research sample consisted of 1557 recruits. Institutional preference was confirmed. The influence of gender, age, education, partner life and parenthood on these factors were also analyzed. From an institutional point of view, significant influence of age and education was found. From an occupational point of view, results showed, that again age, education and type of partnership cohabitation have a significant influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze how Czech car manufacturers have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Included are data on manufacturing companies taken from the Cribis database of the CRIF - Czech Credit Bureau a.s., specifically data on ŠKODA AUTO a.s., Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech s.r.o. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic s.r.o. Subsequently, the research comprises economic results, ROS (return on sales) and indebtedness calculated in relation to the aforementioned companies for the period of 2019-2020. The results show that the car manufacturers had greater losses during the COVID-19 pandemic than the year before. Additionally, they became more indebted in 2020 and had lower return on sales than in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integral part of the issue of terrorism is not only the consequences of committed terrorist acts which lead to subsequent security measures but also the causes of terrorist activities which determine the reasons why people are motivated for these activities. The paper focuses on the social factors (social inequality in society, citizen’s standards of living, level of citizens education, religion), economic factors (economic performance of state, unemployment, inflation) and security-political factors (corruption, criminality, political instability, government ineffectiveness, war conflicts) which potentially generate future terrorist activities. The main target is to analyze opinions of 98 Czech respondents on importance of individual factors. Experts from military, police and academic institutions in the Czech Republic were selected as respondents for the questionnaire. Based on this analysis we made summarized statement about possible causes of terrorism. According the respondents, security-political area is the most important (especially current national and international war conflict), followed by social area (Islam religion) and economic area (youth and adult unemployment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of funding of tertiary education is among the most discussed topics. The key issue is to determine the proportion of public budgets and private sector involvement (including the student himself). The paper is focused on the theoretical aspects of the financing of tertiary education, which are accompanied by a brief excursion into the existing system of higher education funding in the Czech Republic. The aim of the paper is to analyze current trends in financing higher education. When processing the data and drawing conclusions are applied method of comparison, analysis and synthesis and deduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employer brand management has become a growing necessity. For most companies, it does not mean the random short-term campaigns, but the crucial factor in successfully building the employer brand being the employees themselves. The aim of the paper is to present the findings from a questionnaire survey of selected factors that affect the employer brand image as a strategic tool for human resource management from the perspective of HR staff in the Czech Republic. The research was carried out from May 2019 to January 2020, 112 respondents (HR managers) taking part in it. The results show that systematic employer brand creation is conditional upon the company’s personnel strategy. Appropriate use of the brand helps retain the existing employees. Satisfied staff are more likely to become ambassadors for the company brand, engaging in its communication towards the external labour market. Being a matter for the competence of the personnel department, employer branding must be integrated into HR managerial strategies. The results of the survey also support the assumption that the requirements and expectations of both current and prospective employees are to be complied with, the company’s competitive advantage in the labour market thus being secured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with evaluating the influence of the tax and levy burden of wages on employment and tax revenue. The high tax and levy burden on wages is not favourable for the economy. The analysis results show that the increase in the tax and levy burden of wages has a negative effect on employment. When evaluating the effect of the tax and levy burden on tax revenue, the effect is different from the scope of used deductions. However, the long-term problem of the Czech Republic in comparison with other countries is not the tax burden on labour, but the related levy burden, which increases the price of labour and thus has a negative effect on the labour market from its transnational perspective. The analysis confirms that the Czech Republic remains among the countries with a high levy burden. To achieve the paper's objectives, methods of description, comparison, analysis, synthesis, and regression and correlation analyses are used. The added value and uniqueness of this article is, among other things, the fact that these indicators - effective, respectively, implicit tax rates on labour are calculated depending on the distribution of wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the paper is to introduce the recent findings of the motivation of secondary technical schools’ students in the field of engineering. Technological progress requires higher quality and quantity of human resources working in engineering field, however, the interest of youth in studying the field is falling steadily. A project “Education in engineering and its optimisation for the needs of the labour market” led by the Technical Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR), which is implemented by the Faculty of Education at the University of Ostrava together with the National Engineering Cluster is focused on discovering the factors influencing the choice of these fields, students´ satisfaction with their studies, study aspiration and manifestation of an in-depth interest in technical fields. The results of a pilot research confirm that almost one half of the students believe they possess aptitudes for engineering professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to define the key motives of non-profit organizations for cooperation with companies on socially responsible issues. The case study was conducted in two interrelated parts. Namely, using qualitative interviews with nonprofit organizations operating in the Czech Republic. Subsequently, focus groups were applied for a deeper analysis and evaluation of the attitudes of experts on the issue. The findings suggest that NGOs focus on the needs of local communities which is a key element for possible cooperation with companies that are also seeking to serve these areas. Another key point for collaboration is the desire of both NPOs and companies to address the issues of the community in which the organization is located, to this end companies are willing to sponsor NPOs to help them address these issues. This study fills a gap in the literature on collaboration between the nonprofit and forprofit sectors on socially responsible issues by applying the concept of integrative and community relations in the context of locally owned businesses and community-based nonprofit organizations, which distinguishes this study from the usually studied issue of multinational organizations and their collaboration with the nonprofit sector. The findings from this study offer key points for the leadership of community-based nonprofit organizations interested in establishing relationships with local businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic accidents remain a topical safety issue. The aim of this article is to use the statistical apparatus to describe a random variable, the daily number of accidents, and to model it. The data on traffic accidents for the period 2012-2021, including time and location information, came from the database of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. The study utilised an analysis of variance for statistical analysis with a count variable, following a Poisson distribution. One-factor and twofactor analyses are used to describe the dependence of the daily number of accidents involving the deployment of the fire rescue service on the day of the week, and month. The use of generalised linear model for count data to analyse the number of traffic accidents is unique in the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to map the situation of online education in the Czech Republic and compare it with the European one. The research was conducted based on data provided by the Czech Statistical Office and Eurostat. The evaluated data were subsequently compared with findings from the literature search. The findings show that the usage of online courses is 20,8% more than the average in the EU27. And the use of online education materials in the Czech Republic, like the EU27. Online learning is still evolving, it has issues due to the lack of experience, but the potential is growing over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted with the aim of analyzing the aspects that enter into the decision-making process of developers in the field of residential construction in the Czech Republic. To ensure the representativeness of a diverse range of companies active in the real estate market, a suitable group of respondents was carefully selected. The survey provided a sufficiently representative sample, based on which the key factors influencing the decision-making in the implementation of development projects were identified. The research found that developers primarily focus on seeking profitable opportunities, and their decision-making process is predominantly aimed at achieving financial gain. In this decision-making, they also consider other factors, such as mortgage interest rates, the quality of newly built homes with an emphasis on energy efficiency, and the use of modern technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying educational satisfaction is a crucial component in understanding the current state of affairs and forecasting future actions. The satisfaction experienced by students can influence their motivation to achieve educational and career goals. This article presents the results of a study on the level of satisfaction with education among students in the Czech Republic, conducted from November 2023 to April 2024. The study explored students' satisfaction with their education, the reasons for pursuing higher education, and the motives for choosing specific educational institutions. A total of 154 respondents participated in the study, utilizing diagnostic survey methods, questionnaire techniques, and an interview survey. The analysis of the results indicated that many of students reported a satisfaction level higher than average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our research was to investigate the actual level of digital skills and the level required to practise a profession, to identify significant differences and to suggest appropriate training methods. The research was conducted by questionnaire among respondents from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Spain. The results of the research show that employees do not reach the level of digital skills required by employers, the expectations of the highest level of skills were in the field of cyber security, where statistical significance between the desired and actual value was also demonstrated. There was no statistically significant dependence of respondents' skill level on education or job position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the issue of aggressive behaviour of pupils towards teachers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Its occurrence is confirmed by the results of objective research. Aggressive behaviour of pupils towards teachers is a serious educational problem. Such behaviour seriously undermines the well-being of teachers. The satisfaction and wellbeing of teachers and other school staff is not only important for their mental health, but also for the wellbeing of their pupils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the relationship between the effective tax rate, the nominal rate, and selected macroeconomic determinants. Correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the impact of individual determinants and the nominal tax rate on the effective rate in the Visegrad Group countries from 2004 to 2022. The results of the analysis suggest different development directions of the standard tax rate in the Visegrad Group countries. While it decreased in the Czech Republic, the decline in Hungary and Slovakia was followed by an increase. In Poland, the standard tax rate remained almost unchanged. The results of linear regression demonstrated that in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary the standard rate has a statistically significant impact on the effective tax rate. The result was not confirmed for Poland, where the standard rate was removed from the model due to the singularity problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the structure of the public investment aid within the Visegrád Group countries, i.e. in four Central European economies – the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary and the Republic of Poland (V4). The evaluation of the investment incentives is based on pre-selected criteria: the definition of the investment incentive and its legal regulation; the investment support structure and investment conditions. Based on a comparative analysis, it was found that Hungary uses the most different structure of investment incentives in an attempt to dynamically change the economy structure towards sectors with high added value. All countries strive to reduce regional disparities and support the development of peripheral areas, but the setting of investment incentives in the Czech Republic does not correspond to the current situation on the local labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of establishing a strategic partnership between the Czech Republic and the People's Republic of China was to increase investment activity between countries. The aim of the paper is to map the main Chinese capital holders and their investment activities that were boosted by the Czech system of investment incentives. The investigation is based on data from Czech National Bank and Czech national agency CzechInvest using case study approach. In the period 1993 - 2017, the investment amounted for 6.67 billion CZK. It counts for 29% of all Chinese investment representing supported projects by the Czech system of investment incentives. The rest two thirds of Chinese capital goes to core Czech regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of a communication strategy is an indicator of the subject's approach to communication with the public. The article, based on a sample of 160 municipalities of the Czech Republic, empirically demonstrates that an elaborated communication strategy enhances the public value of intangible assets particularly in the following areas: various segments of citizens are better targeted through a greater number of frequented communication channels, municipal employees are more frequently trained in communication issues, crisis communication plans are likely to be prepared. On the other hand, we confirmed that all these factors are limited to some extent by the size of the municipality and the financial resources allocated for communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological development plays an important role in the history of mankind, whether in development of economic production or society. Industrial revolutions are mentioned in connection with this development, with the one of the last stages called Industry 4.0. It is no different in the field of agriculture, where Agriculture 4.0 is taking shape. Vocational education and training, the role of which is to secure qualified workers for agricultural production, must also respond to these challenges. In this context, the article outlines the development of the agricultural sector in Czech Republic according to selected economic indicators, the development of agricultural vocational education and training, and finally, it provides examples of the enrichment of teaching with elements of Agriculture 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviewed the methods for assessing the risks of a terrorist attack against a soft target. Considering the number of factors affecting the choice of a target by a terrorist group or individual terrorists and the limited usability of historical data on previous terrorist attacks, the article further focuses on the possibility of using expert opinion on the importance of criteria for identifying soft targets. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted at the regional police directorates of the Police of the Czech Republic. Based on the survey results, the level of security, the number of persons, and its symbolic significance were identified as the most important criteria for selecting a soft target as a target of a terrorist attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objectives of organizational audits include critical and independent evaluations of the appropriateness/purposefulness of the companies' organizational layout and personnel organization with regard to their function and strategy, as well as identifying and eliminating possible performance weaknesses, mainly bottlenecks and overemployment, related to its organizational structure and work-flows. Their purpose, at the same time, is to provide an objective recommendation concerning the possibilities of a better alignment of company structure and strategy, simplifying the flow of main company processes, increasing the effectiveness of its management, and thus promote the overall company performance. The goal of the article is to survey the criteria and methods that organizational audits use for company structure evaluation and, using the method of a qualitative survey, conducted in mid-sized companies in the Czech Republic, analyse the results and recommendations of organizational audits carried out in these companies including their contribution to their performance and management efficiency. Also, the article seeks to identify the main preconditions for a successful organizational audit as well as the main requirements concerning the use of its results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This constructivist study aimed to explore how mental health social workers construct and reinterpret their professional identity by integrating psychotherapeutic practices into their practice in the Czech Republic. Respondents agree that social work with people with mental disorders is an area where social work and psychotherapy intersect, and the therapeutic action of the social worker is perceived as a given. Completing therapeutic training affects the construction of professional identity in different ways. Social workers with training think more broadly about their professional identity and either lean towards the identity of a therapist or feel themselves to be both social workers and therapists. The professional identity of social workers is shaped by many factors, including completing psychotherapeutic training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Company assets are classified into financial, tangible, and intangible. In particular, valuation of intangible assets is a demanding task for companies, although in certain cases, the obligation of assets valuation is imposed by law in the Czech Republic. Professional literature related to intangible assets valuation was analysed. The objective of the paper is to determine the carrying amount of intangible assetss through the application of modified method for its valuation with regard to the nature of the assets structure of the model association XYZ. The resulting value of intangible assets was determined based on the difference of assets-based and income-based valuation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of any organization depends on many factors. One of the most important factors are undoubtedly human resources and human capital. This paper deals with the holistic competences of the employees who were recruited to the position of managers mainly in the category of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The main aim was to determine and compare the level of holistic competence during the selection of recruits to managerial positions in small and medium-sized enterprises and in large enterprises. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey in enterprises executing their activities in the territory of the Czech Republic. The research results confirm the authors' assumptions that the selection of the employees at the managerial positions is assessed in their holistic competence to a greater extent in large enterprises than in small and medium-sized enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading motivation is incredibly important for both formal and informal lifelong learning. According to research studies such as PISA (2018) (Programme for International Student Assessment), PIRLS (2021) (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study), educating active readers is a key priority. A study was conducted using the content analysis method of documents "School Maturita reading lists" to determine the actual content of the current school reading lists of artistic texts in the reality of technically oriented secondary schools in the Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc regions of the Czech Republic. In addition, the researchers aimed to discover what kinds of non-cognitive aspects influence reading among students at technical secondary schools using the method of semi-structured interviews with 12 students. One of the most exciting findings of this research was that more than half (75%) of respondents believed that motivational reading recommendations from parents, family spending free time reading, and awareness of the value of reading for life were among the solid non-cognitive factors influencing their interest in reading, the joy of talking about what they have read, experience sharing. External and internal factors can shape pupils' attitudes and motivation to read. The majority (90%) of the respondents considered school Maturita reading lists a formal study obligation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Human capital" is not only an important part of a company's intangible assets, but also a value whose share in the structure of total company assets is growing over the long term. Professional management of human resources, which contributes to its formation, thus increasingly acquires the role of an important function capable of both directly and indirectly contributing to increasing the market value of the company. The prerequisite is his ability to focus investments in human resources in the right direction and guarantee their effectiveness, i.e., the return on human resource investment. The article deals with the growing importance of human capital and its reasons, its components and methods of its creation. Its main focus lies on factors promoting the effectiveness of human resource investments, its indicators as well as on conditions and circumstances contributing to its increase. Using the method of a qualitative survey, it aims to find out, to what extent is the issue of HR investments´ effectiveness taken into consideration by mid-sized and bigger companies in the Czech Republic in their HR capital formation and which methods do these companies use to promote these characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]