Business and Administration

This paper makes an attempt to contribute to the analysis of the globalization effects over higher education system (HES) by using the Viable Systems Approach (VSA) for the adoption of Bologna Process in Albania. Through the VSA framework we exploit a conceptual-analytical model of implementation of the BP by using the vital parameters of consonance and resonance, useful for understanding the compatibility degree between supranational standards and national ones.

Many questions arise about capitalism, its forms, and how to transform it in a more sustainable system. Many contradictions are faced when scholars have attempted conceptually to abolish capitalism as an economic philosophy. In fact, capitalism is like energy; you cannot deny the existence of energy, but you can try to transform it in the most appropriate and productive way. On the other hand, we should be also aware that relying on phenomena like philanthropy or not-for-profit organizations, we are not helping society and environment in the real sense; we are only shifting the attention from deep solutions to superficial ones. For example, history has shown that many philanthropic people have been aggressive capitalists and business-men prior of being philanthropist. Like there are many non-profit organizations that use only the appealing label “non-profit” for making huge profits for their own benefit. Therefore, the question is how to transform positively capitalism through innovations, entrepreneurship, and social business. The first part of this book makes an analysis about capitalism, innovation, and entrepreneurship, trying to show what capitalism can learn from innovators and entrepreneurs. The main issue is: can innovation be a financial asset of the capitalist or an “intellectual property” of the entrepreneur? This part of the study explores through a thorough literature review the figures of the capitalist and entrepreneur. Many scholars still believe that innovations are generated by the capitalist. They think according to this perspective because they are rooted in the classical economy mindset, where the key production factor for initiating a new business activity was the capital. As a consequence, associating the capital with the capitalist, and the capital with the innovation (i.e. a new business activity), and then innovation automatically becomes an asset of the capitalist. It seems a logic based on the mathematical transitive property. But actually, in the era of knowledge economy and society, the core production factor is the knowledge background of the entrepreneur (i.e. entrepreneurial skills). Without his initiative there is no capital that can be transformed into a novelty. The authors expose the first part of this study in a logical sequence. First, they introduce historical basis of innovation in order to metabolize the concepts beginning from its roots. Then, they confront the capitalist and the entrepreneur by distinguishing their features. Finally, the authors emphasize the necessity to create a total culture for innovation to be distributed in every organizational level. The second part of this monograph unfolds a social perspective of the capitalism. Even though there have passed many centuries since the introduction of Capitalism to the world economy, the problems faced by the current population are very serious. Some of the biggest challenges and problems we have to face are poverty, disease, hunger and environment destruction, some get worse every year. The main reasons of the failure to solve these problems have to do with the ideology of the current economical system, which has failed to merge the economic values with the social values. In order to counter this failure, there are new innovative business models which have been created with a goal to integrate the social values with the economic profits. These businesses are referred as Social Businesses. The suggestion is to argue that Social Business model is a great opportunity to go beyond the dominant idea that social and economical developments are mutually exclusive objectives. In order to demonstrate such claim, it has questioned the ideological and structural boundaries, which limits the interaction between the private, nonprofit and public sectors. Initially are given some definitions of the social business as a new promoter of innovations and entrepreneurship intentions. Then the social business philosophy, by considering the actual capitalism “sick”, tries to offer different prospective solutions. Again here, history of social business is introduced, accompanied by its organizational structure and other comparative approaches. Furthermore, the social business is put face-to-face with the non-profit ideology, overcoming limits and barriers of not-for-profit organizations. Very interesting from the capitalistic standpoint is the role of social business in promoting entrepreneurship, engaging talents, and contributing in society by reducing “social pains” caused by macroeconomic variables like unemployment. The final section of the 2nd part is concluded with some challenges and recommendations regarding sensitive topics such as equality, empowerment and local participation, social development, cultural relativism, and sustainability. Finally, the third part exposes more concretely the power of Yunus Social Business (YSB) to solve social problems through social businesses. Initially, the authors make an introduction of the concept of “social pain”, its causes and possible solutions. Then, it is emphasized the role of young entrepreneurs for transforming social pains into social opportunities by producing innovations. Thus, the social pain becomes a source of social grouping, from which entrepreneurs emerge as group leaders and careful opportunities' observers. Through their syntropic vision, they create social business in accordance to unsatisfied social needs in order to fulfill them. In addition, the third part of this study considers also the social business as a relevant mechanism for capacity building of young generations, in support of grouping people, branding local products/services, and engaging talents. Therefore, with the last part of the current study it is reinforced the social dimension of capitalism, going towards the social capitalism. In synthesis, this multidimensional study about capitalism opens up new inquiries related with innovation, entrepreneurship, and social businesses that strive for a social capitalism mentality. In accordance to this mentality, entrepreneurs can collaborate with capitalists in order to finance their innovations for making profits by satisfying societal and environmental needs.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate, in the light of new technologies, the importance of the “long tail” of events for the development of local communities from the economic and tourism standpoint. From the management perspective, an event represents a relevant touristic driver, especially when oriented to small communities. The methodology used, albeit referring to the positive method, incorporates the concept of Chris Anderson's “long tail” and recent conceptualizations of the Viable Systems Approach. Thus, it refers to literature review method and theory development. Findings of this study emphasize a new perspective of creating value for the development of local communities, based on the evolution of the concept of event (from the mass event to the mass of events). The existing literature on the subject has generally deepened the organizational implications arising from the standardization of events rather than those of customization. Therefore, referring to the originality and value of the present research, it considers the pure customization, which provides even a custom design of the event, a decisive factor for the economic and touristic development of local communities. The study presents also practical implications related with the possibility, thanks to new technologies, to convey to the user/citizen an event that is differentiated and personalized.

One of the main problems why students and also other categories of stakeholders within various organizations are not productive and satisfied with their jobs and organizations is because there is a lack of group cohesiveness. Since the latter influence directly the performance and job satisfac- tion, then there are strong reasons to find effective and efficient ways to stimulate social and task cohesion. The aim of this study is to model student cohesiveness by using simultaneously the Soci- ometric Test (ST) for group formation and Picture Apperception Value Test (PAVT) for consonance or social cohesion. The study is based on the method of literature review, theory development, and simulation modeling of students' behavior. Findings of the study shows the way how can be inte- grated a sociometric test with a psychometric test for a common purpose (i.e. student cohesiveness referring to their values system). During simulation modeling a relevant point to be emphasized is the role of images during PAVT that serve as a substitute mechanism of questions to be answered. They activate emotions through the brain visual cortex and in them are anchored values. There- fore, through the mention procedure it is possible to understand social cohesion of different small groups of students. Regarding originality, value, and practical applications, this framework is novel and is supposed to increase students' productivity/performance in terms of perception, learning, and task execution. Furthermore, it is supposed also to increase student satisfaction during project works.

Corporate sustainability (CS), as an evolutionary concept, covers better many open questions and scientific confusion of corporate social responsibility (CSR). While CSR has not well defined the concept of environment, CS has recovered this gap ignoring at the same time the fundamental passage from environment to context and the context's architect/ designer (i.e., the governing body, GB). Therefore, this study, after reviewing the barriers of a corporate-context sustainability, shows how the GB, influenced by the components of information variety (i.e., information units, interpretation schemes and categorical values), contextualises the sustainability. A service-system conceptual model, based on viable systems approach (VSA) and service-dominant logic, constructs the foundations for consonance and value cocreation between the GB, context's suprasystems, general environment (e.g., other stakeholders) and international standards (e.g., GRI, Global Compact, etc.). The model integrates also the GRI-G4 report with subjective elements of the GB. {\textcopyright} 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

The recent events of high migration flows from Albania, Kosovo, and generally from the whole Western Balkans toward EU, recall a deep economic crisis characterized by high levels of unemployment, corruption, and ample social problems. Consequently, social perceptions related with future generations are presumed to be high rated in uncertainty and low rated in hope and some kind in optimism also. Another problematic is also the brain drain and loss of talent. In order to restructure unemployment, social pains, and talent lost, we propose in this study the perspective of Yunus Social Business (YSB) as a new way of dealing with capitalism and economic problems by underlying the concepts of social pain, sustainability, entrepreneurship and, talent engagement. For fulfilling the main aim, this study relies on the interpretivist paradigm and the method of literature review and theory development. Therefore it uses the qualitative methodology since it is a conceptual research. In accordance to the originality and value of the present study, this is the first time that social business is used as a conceptual and practical framework for reducing labor migration by increasing local employment and talent engagement. Regarding practical implications, for instance, through the “Accelerator Program”, YSB Balkans seeks to support social business in Western Balkans by empowering local entrepreneurs, providing business development services and increased access to capital, and ultimately creating jobs.

The purpose of this study is to identify the specific subjects that deal with innovation, in order to understand if the innovation " belongs " more to the capitalist or to the entrepreneur, and if there is any difference between the capitalist and the entrepreneur in terms of commitment, risk, and expectations. In this study a literature review methodology is used for classifying the capitalist and the entrepreneur form different profiles and in relation with the innovation process. Data are obtained mainly from books and articles, relying on an interdisciplinary perspective. Research findings show that the figure of the capitalist is distinguished from that of the entrepreneur in front of business activities. Thus, the capitalist is financially committed by offering the capital, expecting as a return the financial interest rate, and assuming a financial risk. Instead, the entrepreneur is committed with innovation and change, expecting the profit as remuneration for the assumed organizational risk.

The purpose of this research is to model, measure and explain group cohesiveness through consonance. For this aim, we propose a holistic framework that combines the so-ciometric test with the novel Picture Apperception Value Test for defining group cohesive-ness by assessing interpersonal attraction of group members through categorical values. The research approach is quantitative, classified both as inferential and quasi-experimental. Findings indicate that the holistic framework serves as an effective model for measuring group cohesiveness, much more that it can be the sociometric test alone. Research originality and value derives from the fact of combining one existing and consolidated tool like the sociometric test, with an innovative tool like Picture Apperception Value Test for the measurement of group cohesiveness. Regarding practical implications, through the first instrument it is possible to create groups; with the second, it is possible to measure in a new way the interpersonal attraction based on individual's value system.