Browsing by Author "Rusu, Mihaela"

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Contrasting traditional and virtual teams within the context of COVID-19 pandemic : from team culture towards objectives achievement
(MDPI, 2022-04-11) Stratone, Mădălina Elena; Vătămănescu, Elena Mădălina; Treapăt, Laurențiu Mihai; Rusu, Mihaela; Vidu, Cristian Mihai
The current paper aimed to comparatively scrutinize some key dimensions apposite for the dynamics of traditional versus virtual teams in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emphasis was laid on the positive leadership perception, communication effectiveness among team members, objectives achievement, diversity approach, and the perception of team culture strength. Invitations to fill in an online questionnaire consisting of paired items were sent in January 2022 via email to over 200 potential respondents working in both traditional and virtual teams, using a snowball sampling technique; 137 subjects completed the entire questionnaire, hence allowing a reasonable research sample for conducting relevant statistical analyses (i.e., paired t-test given that the aim was to investigate the difference between paired sets of variables for the same issues). The empirical exploration brought to the fore significant differences among the considered dimensions, thus underscoring the benefits and drawbacks of working in traditional versus virtual teams in the context of the new normal. Evidence was brought forward that teamwork in traditional teams (i.e., based on face-to-face interaction) is preferable to that in virtual teams (i.e., based on online interaction). Meaningful differences were observed regarding the perception of team culture strength, communication effectiveness, positive leadership perception, and diversity approach in favor of traditional teams, the questioned respondents opting for the offline coordination and collaboration processes.
An exploratory study linking intellectual capital and technology management towards innovative performance in KIBS
(MDPI, 2023-01-11) Dinu, Elena; Vătămănescu, Elena Mădălina; Stăneiu, Roxana Maria; Rusu, Mihaela
This study aims to fill a gap in the sparse literature that empirically investigates the relationships between intellectual capital (IC), technology management, and innovative performance in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). Semi-structured interviews with middle and senior managers from KIBS have been conducted with the purpose of exploring the various strategies, policies, and practices in managing the organisational intellectual capital and technology to enhance innovation performance. Several themes related to the development of intellectual capital in KIBS have been analysed (i.e., key dimensions of human, structural, and relational capital). The findings show that all KIBS investigated place importance on either recruiting the most qualified staff or building up their competencies and skills. Moreover, KIBS allot sizable resources for creating an organisational culture that encourages employee empowerment and knowledge sharing. Technology forward KIBS have strategies for developing dynamic technological capabilities for knowledge management, business process flexibility and efficiency, and sustaining innovation. The unfolded investigation has both theoretical and managerial implications, pointing to the noteworthiness of sustainable and strategic approaches of intellectual capital management on purpose to support innovation.
Strategically managing the budget of higher education institutions in Romania : an experts’ perspective
(Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 2023-03) Chirica, Oana; Rusu, Mihaela; Stratone, Mădălina Elena
The present study approaches the main performance criteria that underpin the rationale and execution of the budget within the public higher education system. The subsumed research objective is to survey the opinion of Romanian experts in the field of education - representatives of the Ministry of National Education - on the budget foundation and execution within the public higher education system in accordance to the organizational and managerial strategies. Consequently, the following research question was formulated: What are in the opinion of education experts the main issues that should be taken into account in the budgeting and execution of the public higher education system? Six subjects were interviewed (directors and advisors from the ministry, three women and three men) having specific expertise on different components of budget formulation and execution within the public higher education system. The use of interviews in the study aimed to explore in-depth expert opinions on the issues at hand. According to the findings, respondents mainly advocate the application of objective criteria, in accordance with European and national legal provisions, in the approach to budgeting and execution in the public higher education system. As regards performance-based remuneration and the orientation towards a culture of quality, experts in the field consider them to be viable criteria, but at the same time point out that various inadequacies may arise in practice (e.g., the problem of uniform evaluation of the quality of teaching).
Value-based management : a case study of visegrad four countries
(University of Zilina, 2021) Mitan, Andreea; Siekelova, Anna; Rusu, Mihaela; Rovnak, Martin
Research background: As companies evolve over time, so do their goals. In the past, the main goals of companies were profit and goals (as market share), are no longer relevant or effective. These goals are outdated, and companies have replaced them with goals that are consistent with the current changing times of competition. Worldwide, most large companies are using, or planning to use, a new approach called value-based management that focuses on value creation. Therefore, the main goal of companies using a value-based management approach is value creation. Purpose: This study aims to validate the existence of a statistically significant relationship between the economic value added (EVA) indicator, which represents the successful implementation of the value creation process in companies, and selected value generators. Method: For this study, information about 14,313 companies operating in the Visegrad Four countries were collected from their respective financial statements. The research period was 2019–2020. Twenty value generators were selected for this study. The hypotheses were tested using the correlation coefficient. The strength of the relationship between the observed variables is described by using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Findings and value added: A trivial or small dependence was observed between the EVA indicator and non-current assets, current financial assets, and income tax. A moderate dependence was observed between the EVA indicator and stocks, receivables, interest expenses, and other liabilities. A large dependence was observed between the EVA indicator and bank loans, profit and loss (P/L) statement, and the cost of capital. The survey results can be a useful tool for businesses in their efforts to focus on a suitable value generator in the process of value-based management implementation, focusing on the process of value creation.