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The article attempts to combine Alfred Eichner’s institutionalist theory of the megacorp and a corresponding definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with transaction cost theory (TCT) based on firms’ asset specificity. We have identified three types of SMEs: subcontracting SMEs as “spokes” within hub-megacorp network, independent SMEs as local competitors of megacorps, and SMEs as partners in cluster networks. The article outlines some distinctive features of the three types and then concentrates on subcontracting SMEs, presenting their submission to megacorp’s power through mark-down pricing and their consequent inability to grow. We mention some illustrative examples from Slovenia, a small transition economy, in which many SMEs have been part of international megacorps’ supply chains. We conclude that TCT, in spite of its neoclassical paradigmatic background, enriches the institutionalist approach to SMEs without changing its evolutionary character, inherited from old institutionalism.

Nowadays, a rising number of evaluations investigates a multifaceted concept of the policy mix. Our study specifcally focuses on the mix of two most frequently used supply-side instruments–R&D subsidies and R&D tax credits. Drawing on the longitudinal sample of Spanish manufacturing frms, we investigate whether there is a complementary interaction between these policy instruments with respect to product and process innovations. Moreover, by employing a dynamic random-efects probit estimator, we account for the persistence of innovation and endogeneity of public support. The results, that are separately estimated for SMEs and large frms, uniformly show evidence of no interplay between two policy instruments either in SMEs or large frms. However, among factors that infuence the propensity to product and process innovations, by far, the largest efect is generated by true state dependence. These fndings provide some policy implications for fostering product and process innovations in the long run.

In most developing countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an essential segment of the economic composition and crucial players for fostering innovation, growth and prosperity. Despite wide agreement among researchers in entrepreneurship and SME management that entrepreneurial and general self-efficacy can positively impact business formation and growth, one aspect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, i.e., financial self-efficacy, has not been linked to SME performance in terms of SME profitability and growth, or satisfaction of the entrepreneur with their company. This study fills this research gap by uncovering new knowledge about the relationship between the financial self-efficacy of the entrepreneur and elements of SME performance. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire in one European country. Hypotheses were conceptually developed and checked using regression analysis. The results of this research reveal new knowledge about the relationship between financial self-efficacy and performance. The entrepreneur’s financial self-efficacy can matter for the profitability of SMEs, as well as for the growth and satisfaction of micro-SMEs and certain differently defined groups of entrepreneurs or companies.

Sodeč po podatkih na statističnem uradu, predstavljajo majhna in srednje velika podjetja (MSP) 99 % vseh podjetij v Sloveniji. Kljub temu lahko v strokovni literaturi zasledimo pomanjkanje v razlagi odnosa MSP do družbene odgovornosti (DO), ki z leti le pridobiva na pomenu. Zato smo v enem delu magistrskega dela ugotavljali, ali MSP v Sloveniji razumejo koncept DO in v kolikšni meri izvajajo DO aktivnosti. Razbrali smo, da je tematika DO jasna vsem intervjuvancem, hkrati so vsi do neke mere aktivni na tem področju. Razliko smo opazili pri podjetnikih, ki nosijo DO v jedru znamke in tistimi, pri katerih je DO na stranskem tiru. Prvi so koncept bolje opisali in so zavestno bolj aktivni pri izvajanju DO aktivnosti. Ugotovili smo tudi, da igra pomanjkanje financ veliko vlogo pri odločanju, do kakšne mere MSP izvajajo DO. Ker je zadnje leto svet zaznamovala pandemija (Covid-19), smo raziskavo postavili tudi v okvir virusa in raziskali, kako oz. če sploh je ta vplival na odnos MSP do DO ter na njihovo izvajanje aktivnosti. Ugotovili smo, da Covid-19 ni vplival na razumevanje DO, je pa pandemija osvetlila določene vidike, kot je npr. skrb za okolje zaradi odvečne odvržene embalaže. Zaradi pomanjkanja finančne zaloge, ki jo je Covid-19 še oslabil, nas je tudi zanimalo, ali bi kdaj žrtvovali DO dejavnosti na račun finančne stabilnosti. Ponovno se je pokazala razlika med podjetji, ki nosijo DO v jedru in tistimi ki ne, saj prvi nebi opustili DO dejavnosti zaradi finančne stabilnosti, slednji pa bi se odločili ravno obratno. According to the statistic data, there are 99 % of small and medium size enterprises (SME) in Slovenia. Nevertheless there is a lack of literature that explains the relationship between SME and corporate social responsibility (CSR). That is why we tried to research whether SMEs in Slovenia understand the concept of CSR and if they implement CSR activities in their business. We found out, that all of our interviewees understand the concept and they also practice CSR activities to some extent. There is also the difference in SMEs that have CSR in their core and those who don’t. The ones that do, managed to describe the concept better and are more consciously active in carrying out CSR activities. We also realised, that the lack of finances plays a big role in deciding the extent to which SMEs implement CSR. Because the pandemic last year (Covid-19), we also investigated how or if it influenced the SMEs understanding of CSR and their implementations of activities. We found out, that Covid-19 did not influence the understanding of CSR, but it did highlight some aspects like the impact on the environment due to excess discarded packaging. Because of the lack of finances, we were also interested in whether SME in our research would ever sacrifice CSR activities at the expense of financial stability. Once again, there is the difference between the SMEs who have CSR in their core ant those who don’t, because the first ones wouldn’t sacrifice their CSR activities due to finances.

This paper looks at psychological contracts in small and medium-sized enterprises, an underrepresented topic in the psychological contract literature. Adopting a multi-perspective approach, we explore what employers and young professionals expect regarding their employment obligations. The results of a qualitative research design and interviews conducted in four European countries reveal the importance of competence and performance-enhancing behaviours on one side and support for performance and development, good working conditions, autonomy, flexibility, workelife balance, and relationships on the other. Moreover, we identify what is offered and expected by both members of the dyad and shed light on the changing dynamics of today's psychological contracts. Our findings hold implications for both employers wishing to retain their best young professionals and individuals interested in understanding what small and medium-sized enterprises are offering prospective candidates.

The author justifies the right of business entities to free economic initiative on the basis of the human right (hereinafter ‘HR’ or ‘HRs’) to liberty, and the right to positive discrimination of small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter ‘SMEs’) on the HR to equality, which is in the legal sense implemented by the HR to equal protection. Such positive discrimination ensures the equal protection of SMEs in the conditions of a free market (hereinafter ‘FM’) competition. Taking HRs as his starting points, the author discusses legal policy reasons that impose the duty to enact special measures in favour of SMEs on the legislature, and evaluates the legal sources in the Republic of Slovenia that regulate such measures. By means of the results obtained from a survey conducted with SMEs, the author examines the effects of measures to ensure the equal market position of SMEs, which in the conditions of economic globalisation enables a fair market game between SMEs and large enterprises, to ensure SMEs their existence and further development.

Siva ekonomija je zelo razširjen pojav, ki je prisoten tako v Sloveniji kot tudi v vseh drugih državah sveta. V diplomski nalogi predstavljam kompleksnost in problematiko sive ekonomije v podjetjih. V prvem delu naloge opisujem samo definicijo sive ekonomije, metode merjenja kot tudi same vzroke za njen razvoj v podjetjih. V drugem delu naloge ločim neformalno ekonomijo na več vrst, hkrati pa opisujem tudi izzive za njihovo preprečevanje in omejevanje v podjetjih ter primerjam statistiko in ukrepe zoper sive ekonomije v drugih državah. Namen diplomske naloge je pokazati samo kompleksnost sive ekonomije v podjetjih, saj obstaja mnogo dejavnosti, ki spadajo v to področje in s katerimi nekateri ljudje sploh niso seznanjeni, hkrati pa želim prikazati tudi negativen vpliv, ki ga ima siva ekonomija na državni proračun in posledično na vsakega posameznika. Na podlagi podatkov in informacij so končne ugotovitve diplomske naloge pokazale, da je obseg sive ekonomije v Sloveniji najbolj razširjen v manjših in srednjih podjetjih z majhnim številom zaposlenih. Slovenija z 24,9 odstotnim deležem sive ekonomije v zadnjih desetih letih precej presega evropsko povprečje. Shadow economy is a wide spread phenomenon and is present in Slovenia as well as in other countries around the world. Complexity and problems regarding shadow economy in companies are discussed in this diploma paper. In first part of my work I discuss definition of shadow economy itself, methods of measurement as well as causes for its development in companies. In the second part of this work the different kinds of informal economy are presented. At the same time I describe challenges for its prevention and restriction in companies. I also compare statistics and measures against shadow economy in other countries. The purpose of my project is to show complexity of grey economy in companies, because there are many activities that fall within this area and which many people are not informed about. On the other hand I also want to show negative effect, which shadow economy has on state budget and consequently on each individual. Based on data and information the final conclusions of my diploma work show that shadow economy in Slovenia is expanded mostly in small and medium-sized companies with small number of employees. Slovenia, with 24, 9 percent share of informal economy in the last ten years, has pretty much exceeded the European average.

V današnjih ekonomskih razmerah pridobivajo majhna in srednja podjetja čedalje več pozornosti v nacionalnih ekonomijah, kot pomemben dejavnik razvoja. Za učinkovito informacijsko podporo svojemu delovanju potrebujejo ERP sisteme. V diplomskem delu je obravnavana tematika uvedbe ERP sistemov za majhna in srednja podjetja. Predstavljene so tudi nekatere najbolj pogoste strategije uvajanja ERP sistemov. Kot predlagana rešitev je opredeljena metodologija uvedbe ERP sistema za majhna in srednja podjetja. Predlagana metodologija opredeljuje celoten proces uvajanja od analize začetnega stanja do prehoda v produkcijo in nadaljnjega dela ter vzdrževanja uvedenega ERP sistema. V vsaki fazi procesa so opredeljene tudi ključne vloge te faze, njihove odgovornosti ter izdelki zaključene faze. V zaključnem delu diplomske naloge je podanih nekaj ključnih faktorjev uspeha uvedbe ERP sistema. Uporaba opredeljene metodologije pripomore njegovi uspešni uvedbi v segmentu majhnih in srednjih podjetij. In today's economic situation, small and medium-sized enterprises acquire more attention in national economies, as an important development factor. They need ERP systems as efficient IT support for its operations. The thesis describes implementation process of ERP systems in small and medium-sized enterprises. It also presents some of the most common implementation strategies. The methodology for implementation of ERP systems in small and medium-sized enterprises is defined as a proposed solution. The proposed methodology defines the whole implementation process, from the initial state analysis to transition into production and further work and maintenance of ERP system. The key roles, responsibilities and products are defined for each stage of the process. In the final part of the thesis, some of the key success factors of ERP system implementation were provided. The usage of defined methodology leads to successful ERP implementation into small and medium-sized enterprises segment.