This paper considers and presents a model of the use of an exhaustive search algorithm in solving problems of a salesman on the example of the transportation network optimization of Primorsko Goranska County. By identifying the suboptimal solutions of transportation network, that enable insight into more transportation routes and can be significantly influenced by the reduction of transportation costs and creating increased opportunities for the carrier in the context of flexible designing the structure of the commodity flows, greater utilization of transport capacity, and thus achieve greater profit. In the analyzed example, transportation network of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGC) is divided into two sets (segment): 1) a set of cities (nodes) that are located (placed) on the same traffic direction (transportation route) that represents the optimal transportation route, and 2) a set of cities (nodes) that connect through a variety of transport relationships and that are included in the calculation by using the exhaustive search algorithm. In the example are also defined nodes that are common to both the two sets and that are connecting by the virtual transportation route in the spreadsheet optimization model.

In contemporary business environment, in which learning and knowledge are considered as the only sustainable competitive advantage of modern organizations, and there is a trend of growing reliance on project type of teams’ and organizations’ functioning, competencies of project team members are becoming more important than ever. By integrating competencies of fundamental managerial functions and competencies of project management’s knowledge areas, this paper investigates the nature of competency profile of project team members, as well as its main effects on project. Established competency profile of project team members is analyzed in relation to project team dynamics and project success. The mediating role of project team dynamics in the effect of competency profile of project team members on project success also investigated in the paper. Cross-sectoral empirical research was conducted during the spring of 2018, through which data from 83 project team members was collected via questionnaire. Collected data was enrolled and processed in SPSS 23.0, with addition of Hayes’ (2018) PROCESS Macro for SPSS - v3.2. Results obtained through descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses led to very interesting insights and inferences, especially when considering the cluster analysis’ and mediation effects’ results related to the interplay of project team members’ competency profile, project team dynamics and project success.

The idea of this paper is to align the business decision-making process with detected product competitiveness characteristics of the domestic company on the domestic market. For this paper was designed "proposal of the operational steps of a simple market and product research methodology", for the existing product in the existing market. These operational steps should be a small contribution for the development of rules and procedures for managing marketing functions in business activities. According to literature, for this paper available and explored, there is a room to research the impact of such procedures and rules in order to increase the selling efficiency of products in terms of detected market circumstances and comparative advantages. Therefore, an indicative question was set down for this paper: "How much domestic product is competitive on the domestic market?" Through an example of geotextile, the competitiveness of domestic products was investigated in compare with foreign products by determining certain characteristics that affect purchasing decisions. An analysis of the Croatian geotextile market was conducted, competitive products were compared and consumer preferences were explored when deciding on purchases. The research results indicate the necessity of applying, even simple, product and market research methodologies. Namely, the analysis of the results showed that the qualitative competitiveness of domestic products in relation to the foreign products is not satisfactory, the price is not the most important deciding factor and the domestic origin of the product as a decision making factor is not important.

This paper aims to provide the empirical evidence of the interaction mechanism in the open innovation system with particular attention to aesthetic and rational innovation in an Italian creative sector. Factors including rapid technological development, the advent of innovative openness processes involving sub-sectors belonging to diversified supply chains, shorter product life cycles, more diversified and customized, demande and fierce marketing competition, make today’s business model increasingly unpredictable and risky. Building on relational based view, resource-based view and network analysis the purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the relationships among supply chain integration (SCI) and inter-company performance in global diversified supply chain. This is an exploratory study and the qualitative research method has been employed. This research has founded its context in the Italian knitwear sector which is part of the creative industries of the Italian fashion system. The data were collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with workers belonging to various areas of activity and with external actors such as yarn suppliers, buyers, institutional and non-institutional lenders. The purpose of this research is also to promote research methodological approaches to analyse different uncertainty scenarios for the future.

Our aim with this study is to delve into the perception of Maltese nationals on bancassurance to establish the drivers which are influencing the purchase of bancassurance and whether these factors can be used by banks to positively impact Maltese nationals’ perception of bancassurance and hence increase their sales and revenues. In order to establish the perception of Maltese nationals on bancassurance, we applied three areas of Customer Perception Theory namely 1) self-perception 2) price perception and 3) benefit/risk perception. To establish the perception of Maltese nationals on bancassurance, the whole population of Maltese nationals was taken into consideration from which a sample of 384 people was taken. In order to carry out the survey, the authors used questionnaires which included a number of demographic questions. The authors also included a number of statements which were divided into the three sections of the Customer Perception Theory. For these statements, the authors used a five point Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree where the participants had to rate the statements according to their level of agreement. The authors also included a comment box to allow the participants to express themselves. The study revealed that various factors are stopping Maltese nationals from purchasing insurance products from banks. Advertisements are not motivating Maltese nationals to purchase insurance products from banks, however they do trust banks and hence they might decide to purchase insurance products from them. The uncertainty of Maltese nationals on the premium charged and whether the costs are reduced when purchasing insurance products from banks shows the lack of knowledge amongst Maltese nationals on bancassurance. On the other hand, the idea of a ‘one-stop-shop’ motivates Maltese nationals to purchase insurance products from banks. This study can serve as guidance for local banks, which are engaged in bancassurance as well as to those banks who intend to engage in bancassurance in the future. This is because this study highlights the factors, which are stopping Maltese nationals from purchasing insurance products from banks. The two main sectors in the financial services industry, which play an important role in the Maltese economy, are the banking and the insurance sectors (Finance Malta, 2018). As far as the authors are aware, this study of the perception of Maltese nationals on bancassurance is the first of its kind conducted in Malta. Hence, other researchers may use Malta as a case study to act as a model to transpose the findings to larger countries.