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This study focuses on the supply chain actors’ QCD framework. The authors present an innovative tool that illustrates the operating system of different actors in the supply chain by combining virtual and physical reality. The study aims to present and “visualize” the QCD coherence system with the help of the PaTeNt© – QCD spatial model. The study, therefore, focuses on the supplier, the central company; the relationship between the supply chain actors and the QCD framework, which is suitable for the agile, proactive collaboration. The parts of the model, which is the result of the development: the elements of quality, the elements of cost, the elements of delivery. The development of the model was brought to life by the tasks which need to be solved and this model helps the understanding and transparency during the work.

Securing the high level of performance of the supply chains is a difficult task. The harmonization of different interests, the coordination of the raw material supply and information flow, the cooperation of the partners, forging and maintaining a relationship of trust are challenging even in an ideal world in order to meet the customer demands. The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 presents the members of the supply chains with extreme challenges. Because of the epidemic, the value added activities of the supply chains are getting even more importance. It became clear that the different supply chains connect the whole economy in a global and local scale as well. The choice of the inventory and organizational strategy is a key aspect in a crisis like this. The aim of this study is to present the current challenges and their viable solutions in order to check the possibilities to maintain the operation of the supply chains even in this difficult economic and social period using an automotive case study as an example.

In the last few years, there have been several big changes in the automotive industry, and global automotive supply chains have faced many challenges, mainly due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The virus had several huge impacts on the global market, with different risk management approaches companies and global supply chains needed to adapt to the altered situation. During the second and third wave of the epidemic, several regions and countries were under lockdown for different intervals in order to stop the spread of the virus. Some countries entered lockdown for the first time, and many of them entered lockdown again, as when the first wave occurred. The economy of the Philippines is dependent on electronics-related industries, which faced extraordinary risks from different sources, and these industries suffered severe consequences because of COVID-19. Crucial automotive suppliers outsource their production facilities to the Philippines region, and the dominant semiconductor segments were heavily impaired due to the lockdowns. Electrification in the automotive industry and the spread of electric vehicles is becoming increasingly important due to rapid technological development. The economic shock caused by COVID-19 forced companies in this sector to diversify their supply chain activities in order to stay competitive, minimize the supply chain-related risks and to start recovery processes. The authors analysed the risks, position, opportunities, challenges, difficulties, reactions and solutions of a certain automotive supplier, which was heavily reliant on the Philippines, and Chinese suppliers.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the possibilities of formal and structural appearances of a job description, with correct content, through corporate examples and the result of a research. Design/methodology/approach The author in this paper aims to demonstrate the possibilities of the design of job descriptions, based on more than ten-year-long, intense, empirical research of job descriptions (cca. 1,200 examined and analyzed items). Findings During the research work, a 2D job description sample has been created, mapped from a 3D job description, based on an earlier research. This 2D sample can serve as a good starting point for companies in the creation of new documents. Furthermore, the process of the formal visualization of job descriptions has been described, and structured and semi-structured formal visualization have been illustrated, with corporate examples. Research limitations/implications A well-visualized job description can lead the employee, the employer and the company as well to comprehension and competence, thus job descriptions become one of the tools of HRD visual management. Practical implications The aim is to support the job description writing process, which therefore will lead to a well-formed and well-structured, attractive, “living” document. Originality/value The form and content of a job description, the aims that it serves and the message it conveys really make a difference. 3D job descriptions are under patent design protection in Hungary (Registration Number: 90 806 D0500121).

There are many ways to define and to describe jobs and assigning to people. This is a key issue in both blue collar and in white collar jobs. This analysis focuses on the work content of jobs in logistics. However, the methodology allows the exploration of closely related issues to determine competence requirements as well. Jobs can be seen to have bearing on many areas including effectiveness, efficiency of individual and organizational level, social and political issues. The purpose of the research carried out by authors was to identify the necessary competencies in logistics jobs. It included the analysis of the tasks using company document (job description) analysis in order to identify the tasks and required competencies. Researchers extracted and then standardized the verb - noun pairs which described the tasks. The frequency of these pairs gave the weight of the task in a job. This method allowed the researchers to determine the overlapping rate of activities in different fields (trade, transport, comprehensive activities). It was found that the most different/independent field in the terms of similarities is warehousing. Results suggest the rethinking of the training content in order to find the right balance between the general and specific competencies. They also help organizations to optimize the composition of cross-functional staff. Key words: analysis of the tasks, supply chain, generalist logistics jobs, job descriptions, necessary competencies, cross-functional staff.

Today’s business world is affected by the 21st century’s processes, like globalization, fluent online attendance, digitalization and their direct consequence depersonalisation. The authors are motivated by these facts and want to vivify the „old fashioned” correct business models and find the indispensable parameter of the well-functioning economy, in one word today’s equivalent of „honorable gentlemen”. The assumed key to success could be useful for the for-profit sector because not only profit can be the impelling in the professional life of a corporation. The human value added is one of the most important keystones of thrift. The aim to establish a balance between economic and ethical behaviour of corporations has been enounced serving the interest of all participants, consumers, corporations and society. The before natural thought values seem nowadays to turn into something different or to be neglected. As a consequence the question has been raised, if society has the force to establish and improve Ethics, will it be able to destroy it as well?! The main focus of the research is therefore the mapping of criteria and marks which belong to on the competitive market successful enterprises whose procurement decisions are ethical as well. These marks can be formal or informal. The results of the research show well that there are parameters of a company, for example, a code of conduct within guidelines concerning the procurement or procedure manuals in which also ethical issues appear in a formal way. From another point of view there are informal signs like customs arising from the corporate culture, daily routine or just human behaviour and convincement of the management and procurement employees that also support the ethical performance of the company. The results of the research can serve as best practice for the other enterprises too in their daily appearance on the market. Particularly in that area the company’s most important goal is “gaining profit” which can have next to itself another value added the “fair work”. Its role is to lead the attention to the statement that next to fair working on the market profit can be produced as well. The researchers consider it important that the companies who have already kept in mind the ethical procurement could gain a feedback, an inspiration or even new ideas to follow their work. Key words: business ethics, procurement issues, corporation’s behaviour, sustainable procurement.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the necessary accessories for creating a job description, through a model. The model concentrates on the person and a job description document, which is capable of connecting and synchronising the organizational goals. The author introduces a tool that assists in creating job descriptions. Design/methodology/approach – In the present paper the author integrates the conclusions of the authors on the subject and her own research results, on the basis of which she creates a three dimensional (3D) job description model. This 3D model could be used as a resource in the human resource development field. Findings – The elements of the resulting job description document: the method specific accessories of the job descriptions. The content specific accessories of the job descriptions. The person specific accessories of the job descriptions. Research limitations/implications – The 3D job description, which is presented in the study, was preceded by the development of a general model. The very first application of the general model was in connection with competence tests, which have gained popularity lately. Competences can be classified in different ways. Each aspect of classification corresponds to a face of a tetrahedron, five of which comprise the model. This model is also adaptable for other kinds of research used at research centres, educational institutions and companies. Practical implications – The 3D job description being presented was developed as a special, multi-dimensional data model. The model allows us to discover and present the causal relationships and the connections between the parts and the whole of job description elements. It demonstrates the interacting factors clearly due to the fact that the tetrahedrons can be rolled over one another, and it is adaptable for the mapping of the connections between these factors. Social implications – The model is capable of defining the central elements. In this case, the people and the organization of work are in the centre. The 3D job description is adaptable for modelling by the exploration of logical links, so it can show what kind of “whole” is generated by the given elements and what parts it consists of. Therefore the model can be interpreted as a network of connections, which is capable of illustrating the vertical and horizontal structure, due to the special form of tetrahedrons. The model is perfect for the demonstration of the connections between contents on the faces of the tetrahedrons, due to their form and movability. Originality/value – The elaboration and presentation of the general model, protected by design patent (90 806 D0500121) in Hungary, was stimulated by the fact that during different kinds of research and analyses it is an important task to explore the influencing factors, elements and their connections. This is of primary importance especially at the early stage of research and analysis, because the negligence of these in the early stages results in the fact that those particular factors can be taken into account only during a repeated analysis.

Activities in supply chains are becoming to be more complex, diversified. It results in managers’ and operatives’ work requiring more competencies than before. This paper focuses two issues in supply chains: (1) Redefinition of jobs in supply chains; and (2) competency requirements and training need analysis. There is a European project called CENTRAL, which deals with job classification and creating a common European training framework for selected jobs. They found that there are many differences in the existing qualification and exam requirements in European countries. Authors present the result of the international research consortium: titles and short definitions of jobs, competence requirement, framework of training modules. The framework is compatible with European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training system (ECVET).