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The concept of strategy has become, in the past decades, a subject of interest for researchers and practitioners due to its contribution to a company’s survival and growth. The current business environment is extremely challenging and often, to some extent, uncertain. Therefore, companies are required to adapt quickly to changes, spot opportunities and exploit them in a unique manner in order to prosper. Organizations function based on objectives, short, medium or long-term. How firms manage to achieve their stated aims depends on the designed and applied strategies, in a certain moment. Moreover, strategy may be perceived as the intended plan of actions designed to address certain company needs. Additionally, strategies come in a variety of forms and sizes. Therefore, an understanding of the existing types of strategy is required. The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of how strategies can be classified, starting for the level of aggregation of an organization. The research methodology was based on the collection and analysis of relevant secondary data for the subject. The results present the umbrella types of strategies that can be used by a company, respectively the functional, business, corporate and global strategy, in a clear and concise manner.

Social media has changed the dynamics of the social and business environment by impacting the thinking, expressions, beliefs, behaviour, and motivation level of individuals. Young consumers spend more and more time on social media, becoming an ideal platform for companies to promote products and services. The purpose of this research is to gain a better understanding of social media in the Chinese context and to examine the marketing potential of these platforms among young chinese individuals, considering their online behaviour. The results show that Chinese aim to maintain a specific social class and reputation in their online communities and most of their purchasing decisions are influenced by peer pressure.

The digital economy has become a key issue for both theoreticians and practitioners worldwide, especially in the last decade. It is based on various forms of technology, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain. The aim of the paper is to briefly present and analyse the evolution of the digital economy in Romania in the period 2019-2022. In this respect, the authors used a qualitative research method. The results show that the period 2019-2022 witnessed a slight decrease in Romania’s performance related to the Digital Economy and Society Index. The paper indicates that despite its efforts, Romania has scored well below the other EU countries. However, the adoption of several measures in favor of digitalisation proved its clear commitment to building a functional digital economy.

To establish a responsible business environment, it is important to analyze the way corporate social responsibility (CSR) is implemented within the business world. In this respect, managers play a crucial role in designing and applying the CSR concept and practices. Therefore, this paper aims to identify and analyze the perceptions and attitudes of medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and multinational companies (MNCs) managers in the Romanian retail sector related to CSR implementation. A documentary research approach and a qualitative research methodology through the use of four focus groups were utilized to fulfill the above-mentioned purpose. Additionally, the authors employed content analysis and Nvivo 14 software to process the collected data. The findings indicate that the size of firms represents a key element of managers' perceptions and attitudes regarding CSR. Particularly, SME managers have a lower level of familiarity with the concept and the potential advantages for business compared to MNC managers. Furthermore, when it comes to CSR practices, MNCs use a comprehensive approach to meeting the demands of their stakeholders, whereas SMEs prioritize the requirements of their employees. One major obstacle in implementing the CSR concept continues to be the high expenses involved in the businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in society and among researchers regarding the significance of establishing sustainable business models. As organisations strive to adapt their business models to incorporate sustainability or establish new enterprises to tackle sustainability challenges, it becomes evident that there is no universally applicable model for sustainable business. As a result, companies frequently have difficulties in recognising and executing sustainable business models that are suitable for their needs. This article seeks to highlight the importance of incorporating sustainability into a business plan. Furthermore, it attempts to clarify techniques employed to accomplish this objective. The article is organised in multiple sections, such as a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, highlighting the most significant contributions to this matter. The following section discusses the methodology employed in the investigation. The fourth portion substantiates the study's results by presenting a case study, while the final section provides a summary of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 expands upon the advancements of the Third Industrial Revolution by integrating many innovations from the digital, tangible, and biological realms. Industry 4.0 is an all-encompassing idea that signifies the trajectory towards which manufacturing and industrial production are progressing. Several businesses are inadvertently moving towards Industry 4.0 by integrating specific components of its concepts into their operations. The article aims to emphasise several opportunities and consequences that have emerged since the inception of Industry 4.0. Moreover, it seeks to illustrate the ways in which certain companies have been adjusting to these novel circumstances. The essay is structured into various sections, including a thorough examination of existing literature, emphasising the most noteworthy contributions to this topic. The subsequent section delineates the methods utilised in the investigation. The fourth segment validates the outcomes of the study through the presentation of a case study, while the concluding section offers a concise overview of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and development of smart cities represent a significant challenge for the post-modern world. Generation Z members currently entering adult life will play an important role in the implementation of the concept of a smart city. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze Generation Z students' perceptions and attitudes towards the responsible management of smart cities. Following a quantitative approach, the authors designed and applied an online survey in order to reach the purpose of the study. The research sample comprised 468 representatives of Generation Z final-year undergraduate students at a university located in a smart city in the making, Bucharest (Romania). The data were statistically analyzed and interpreted using various tools and methods, such as Cronbach's alpha and correlational analysis. The results show that students are aware of the role played by the city government in ensuring responsible management of the economic, social, and environmental issues of a smart city. Also, they emphasize that most of them are involved in or would like to be involved in different projects specific to smart cities. These results may represent the starting point for understanding Generation Z students' expectations regarding responsible management in the context of smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decades have seen an increase in entrepreneurial development based on innovation. Having access to innovation and setting up a business in a country that can serve as an innovation-enabler can increase the degree of attractiveness of that respective country. Governments around the world have adopted innovation-centered views and implemented relevant policies to serve as a driver for reaching high competitiveness and to ensure a more rapid economic and, implicitly, social progress. The aim of the paper is to present the top ten countries in the world in their evolution specific to the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the 2021-2023 period. The research methodology is based on a qualitative method. The paper shows that the top ten ranked countries in the world using this specific index remained the same for the investigated period, also maintaining a fairly constant relative position for the three years subject to analysis, Switzerland being the acknowledged leader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has had a profoundly negative impact on society and the worldwide economy. Due to this severe health catastrophe, businesses and schools were closed, and the government issued lockdowns and "stay at home" advisories. As the illness spread, customers began to spend more time at home and make online purchases. The use of technology, media, and social media has increased as a result of this collective trauma. By spending more time on social media, many people attempted to overcome the effects of lockdown and social isolation. This paper aims to develop an understanding of how the social media communication strategy of companies has been changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research methodology was based on the collection of secondary data and qualitative analysis of several business practices in terms of social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results sustain that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, several companies managed to engage with their consumers through the use of social media platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram, in a creative and innovative manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation Z is expected to be one of the most vehement supporters of responsible businesses due to their early access to worldwide information. When analyzing the CSR perception of generation Z researchers tend to focus more on revealing the expectations of these individuals as future employees, rather than predicting some characteristics of their customer behavior. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to comprehend the perception of Romanian post-millennials as consumers regarding the topic of strategic CSR main practices adopted by companies. Thus, a qualitative approach has been used to collect and interpret primary data in order to provide a feasible answer to the established research questions. The results outline the fact that Generation Z, regardless of its origins, shares some common aspects related to the general perception of the CSR concept. Differences between potsmillennials for developed countries and those for developing ones occur when considering the responsibility practices of a company. Romanian Z individuals perceive brand designed CSR strategies more as nice-to-have assets, rather than factors that may influence their buying decisions. Moreover, Romanian Z individuals may not engage more with brands that support a social mission. In addition, neither the sustainability pillar would have a positive impact on their consumer behavior. The findings sustain that Romanian post-millennials tend to evaluate the responsibility of an organization based on the benefits they may receive as possible consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, banking has become an impressive global affair. This changing orientation of the big banks' activities has led to the expansion of their operations at a global scale but raised difficult issues related to their capacity to manage their liquidity and to face various financial shocks worldwide. The competition among global banks has become much more severe in recent years as customers expect higher confidence from them. This is why more and more banks should design and implement customer-centric business models, ensure a higher cybersecurity, and drive digitization across their whole organizations. The goal of the paper is to briefly analyze the competition among the largest banks of the world within the global banking system in the period 2020-2021 by taking into account their Tier 1 capital, assets and market capitalization. The paper concludes that the Chinese banks were the main actors in the global banking system in the period 2020-2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human resources are currently in the limelight for businesses. Employers are searching for individuals who can alter and sustain an organization's goals, in addition to having the necessary skills and expertise. Companies are on the lookout for allies, respectively employees who understand and support their mission. Moreover, these individuals should have the ability to train and eventually retain other employees. As a result, the formation of meaningful relationships has become a means of achieving loyalty. At first side, corporate social responsibility (CSR) leadership and a transformational leader appear to be an excellent match that might aid businesses within this matter. Therefore, the objective of the study was to identify if CSR leadership is a matter of transformational or transactional style in the current business environment, following a qualitative approach, respectively the collection and analyzation of secondary data such as scientific journals. The findings of the present study sustain that firms should strive for transactional leaders. Individuals nowadays are mostly concerned with obtaining personal benefits. As a result, they may view the variable of reward as a motivator to perform in accordance with expectations. Additionally, transformational leader are hard to find. Hence, promoting CSR leadership through transformational leaders has the potential to help the company achieve its goals while also increasing its credibility among diverse stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic corporate social responsibility has been used to attract and retain valuable stakeholders. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge how the youngest workforce, respectively the Z individual, perceives the ongoing responsible initiatives. The purpose of the current paper was to comprehend how a responsible employer among other factors may influence the perception of Romanian post-millennials from an employee perspective. Hence, this study has been conducted through the use of a qualitative research method, respectively the group-focused discussion technique. The collected data has been examined following a content analysis approach. Even though it is assumed that generation Z may be sensitive to responsible practices and more willing to priorities the common good, the results of the study sustain the contrary. Romanian post-millennials seem to evaluate the responsibility of an organization mostly based on the benefits a company may provide to them as workers, and rather less through social and sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the highly competitive and constantly changing business world that depicts today's global economy, companies that manage to succeed seem to be those that keep their core values and competitive grit whilst adapting to the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A successful company applies strategic thinking in order to compete for the future and manages to adhere to its healthy core values and efficient business practices in its pursuit to create and deliver the right products or services to its consumers. The aim of this paper is to display some key factors for business success and how it can be manifested and to present the situation specific to the Procter & Gamble company as an example of great success within the current economic context. The methodology was based on a qualitative research method. The paper shows that Procter & Gamble manages to adapt to market conditions, to strategically think about the future and to register excellent business results whilst placing the consumer in the center of its preoccupations. Also, it contributes to a better understanding of this successful global company facing the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporations, according to available strategy literature, have developed a distinct top-to-bottom style of communication. This has made it harder for companies to build a feasible strategic path that will result in success. We have only seen more open internal communication in the last few decades, which has resulted in an increase in efficiency. As a result, establishing the optimal strategic plan for achieving the objectives and goals requires a delicate balancing act between the corporation's and businesses' strategic objectives. The article suggests to define this same association between corporate and business strategies in order to obtain a good understanding of what needs to be done to ensure greater success. The existing literature review aided in the development of a more complete understanding of the topic, while still leaving possibilities for extra research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, organizations are required to acknowledge that their survival is no longer depending only on shareholders, but also on other stakeholders. Companies must identify all the legitimate parties of interest and manage them properly. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has proven to be an efficient tool that can be used in this regard, aiming to balance efficiently the interest of the economic entity and its stakeholders. The paper intends to provide a comprehensive framework of how corporate social responsability can be integrated in the management principles of stakeholders. The research methodology was based on the collection and analysis of secondary data, respectively scientific articles, and relevant books for the subject. The results outline the idea that businesses can no longer function properly without considering the needs of variuos stakeholders and fuflling them in a responsible manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of a significant increased number of companies, humans are witnessing a war where the main characters are represented by organizations. The relevance of the strategy concept in this competitive business environment can be narrowed down to actions taken by firms in order to survive and grow. Strategy may be perceived a company's move designed to achieve objectives. The aim of this study is to clarify which are the questions that a definiton of strategy should answer to in order to facilitate the understanding of the notion, starting for presenting several explanations of the concept provided by pioneers of strategic management. The methodology followed a quantitative approach; therefore it assumed the gathering and analysis of available data. The results present in a briefly manner what strategy and how it may be defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the available strategy literature, companies constantly adapt their business strategies in response to their ever-changing environment. This variation can make it difficult for businesses to choose the best strategic fit. When someone selects a business strategy, he/she must take several steps to achieve his/her aims. As a result, determining the best strategic framework for achieving the end goal is a critical first step. A strategic mindset and vision can help an organization determine its best strategic approach. The paper proposes a conceptual framework for developing a business strategy that will allow a company to meet its stated objectives. The existing literature review produced a synthesis of the required steps, leaving room for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, social entrepreneurship represents an ascendant topic of interest for academics, authorities and individuals. Thus, it may be perceived as a responsible business approach with significant contribution to a country's social and economic growth, especially for developing countries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the current stage of social entrepreneurship in Romania by presenting key aspects related to the notion and its evolution, emphasizing also on the positive steps made towards developing an applicability of the concept. The research methodology was based on the collection and analysis of secondary data, respectively scientific articles, and relevant websites and books for the subject. Findings revealed the fact that social entrepreneurship in Romania is still in a transitional period, struggling between its totalitarian communist past and the present guided by the partnership established with the European Union, to evolve, learn, develop and grow as a country. Furthermore, Romania currently presents mostly traditional form of social entrepreneurship such as associations and foundations. Moreover, even in this situation with several pressuring social issues, Romania manages to slowly progress, and three important Romanian social enterprises have been presented as best practices in this paper to sustain the progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, companies may benefit from the opportunity of developing and growing in a new business environment which is based on principles such as common wellbeing and welfare, sustainability and durability. Competitive advantage and economic and social growth may be perceived as benefits promised by a CSR business approach. The concept may be described as a trend from the economic sphere which may help organizations to survive and achieve objectives by doing good, being ethical, legal, philanthropic, willing to educate others, support and sustain the environment, society and next generations. The paper aims to present a conceptual framework that can be used to define CSR. The research methodology was based on the collection and analysis of secondary data, respectively scientific articles, and relevant books for the subject. The results outline the idea of what CSR is and how it can positively impact the business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When researching business models in the available literature, the concept of strategy comes up frequently. It is typically portrayed that these two concepts are intertwined and must be used in tandem to achieve a company's goals and objectives. This article proposes a conceptual analysis that can provide an overview of how business models and strategies interact and what the outcome of this union is. As a result, a synthesis of the most common characteristics associated with them was derived from the existing literature review and was analyzed in order to establish their relationship, leaving room for future research. The research methodology is quantitative in nature and helps establish the ground work for the research in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available academic literature on corporate strategy is extensive, with a century of history to back it up. When one chooses to delve deeper into the meaning of this term, it becomes clear that corporate strategies have evolved spectacularly as the economic context has expanded. Corporations have always been profit-driven, viewing their various business ventures as distinct opportunities for growth and expansion in their respective industries. One can see a clear shift over time from top-down communication, which only allowed employees to execute their tasks as assigned by upper management, to a bottom-up style, which allows the voice of lower-level staff to be heard in order to create a more cohesive strategic outcome. The ultimate goal is thus set on a more secure path that aligns all of the tactics used by the corporation's various departments and businesses. The article proposes a conceptual framework for examining how corporate strategies have been perceived over the last century. As a result of the existing literature review, a synthesis of the most prevalent characteristics and components associated with them was derived, leaving room for further analysis in future research. The results show that corporate strategy represents a broad topic that can be explored in a variety of ways.