Dynamika nadlokálneho a lokálneho v každodennosti života na hranici (na príklade regiónu Kysuce)

Border studies (currently also cross-border cooperation issues) is an interdisciplinary research specialization. The aim of the article is to present the spatial proximity influence of the state border on the everyday life reality of inhabitants of the Kysuce region in the 20th Century (overlapping with the present day) in both the local and supra-local context. With reference to the theory of the Irish sociologist Liam O'Dowd, it focuses on the Slovak state borders with Poland and the Czech Republic as a possible barrier, but also a bridge, a source of opportunities and a symbol of identity. It points out that in the villages bordering the Polish and Czech territories there has always been a relatively intensive mutual cultural transfer and contact of populations and therefore the borders cannot be perceived as an exclusively geopolitical phenomenon; their social and cultural dimension must be taken into account.

A Review of Static Behavior Research

By using the methods of literature and logical analysis, this paper expounds the related research of static behavior and analyzes the development trend of static behavior research. The related research on static behavior includes the research on the epidemic situation, influencing factors, measurement methods, epidemiological relationship and intervention means of static behavior. The key is to study the influence of static behavior on human health, many studies show that static behavior is closely related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, bone density, vision, neuroendocrine, depression and happiness. Most of them use questionnaires to measure static behaviors, while only a few use objective instruments to measure static behaviors. At the same time, it puts forward several development trends of static behavior research: comprehensive investigation and research, specialization of measurement tools, deepening of health impact research and diversification of intervention means. It provides a reference for further study of static behavior.

La recherche en Management du Sport en « francophonie » : L’avènement d’un écosystème

This paper aims to synthesize research on the Management of Sports Organizations (MOS) in France. Three parts structure this voluntarily simplifying contribution, very personal and collective at the same time through the direct and indirect contributions of many researchers. First of all, two historical parts between the 1960s and the 2000s provide a first disciplinary and then thematic perspective in order to make a French-speaking retrospective of the dynamics of scientific production. A last part in the form of a conclusion and an opening seeks to characterize the recent dynamics of MOS research (specialization, interaction, diversification) according to disciplines and/or objects of study. From this point of view, it constitutes a call for contributions that could be added progressively through the electronic format of the S2MS journal: Management & Organisations du Sport.

Dale Alan Russell (1937-2019): Voyageur of a Vanished World

We review the distinguished and varied career of our friend and colleague, palaeontologist Dr. Dale A. Russell, following the recent news of his death. Dale relished his work, and approached his research—whether it be on mosasaur systematics, dinosaur extinction, or the evolution of animal intelligence—with great gusto. A deep and contextual thinker, Dale had a penchant for metanarrative rarely equaled in these times of increased research specialization. This quality, combined with his outgoing and collaborative nature, allowed Dale to make friends and colleagues with highly varied research interests throughout the world. We remember Dale fondly, and cherish the opportunity to share the stories of his adventures (and misadventures) across the globe.

Non-Parametric Analysis of Efficiency: An Application to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Increases in the cost of research, specialization and reductions in public expenditure in health are changing the economic environment for the pharmaceutical industry. Gains in productivity and efficiency are increasingly important in order for firms to succeed in this environment. We analyze empirically the performance of efficiency in the pharmaceutical industry over the period 2010–2018. We work with microdata from a large sample of European firms of different characteristics regarding size, main activity, country of origin and other idiosyncratic features. We compute efficiency scores for the firms in the sample on a yearly basis by means of non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) techniques. Basic results show a moderate average level of efficiency for the firms which encompass the sample. Efficiency is higher for companies which engage in manufacturing and distribution than for firms focusing on research and development (R&D) activities. Large firms display higher levels of efficiency than medium-size and small firms. Our estimates point to a decreasing pattern of average efficiency over the years 2010–2018. Furthermore, we explore the potential correlation of efficiency with particular aspects of the firms’ performance. Profit margins and financial solvency are positively correlated with efficiency, whereas employee costs display a negative correlation. Institutional aspects of the countries of origin also influence efficiency levels.

Global Value Chain Research: The Role of International Organisations

Recent years the phenomenon of global value chains (GVCs) has attracted great attention of international organizations. Many of them are involved in the study of GVCs, primarily the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UN Commission on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the World Intellectual Property Organization and others, including regional international organizations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Asia, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, African Development Bank, etc. The purpose of this article is to identify how the role and position of international organizations in the global market for GVC research has changed, both in terms of specific content and in terms of interaction with individual scientists and other international and national institutions. GVC research by international organizations makes an important contribution to the understanding the contradictory features of international fragmentation, the participation of countries, regions, industries and individual firms in it. The publications of international organizations have a common research paradigm: they all recognize the importance of GVCs for national economic development. A similar conceptual framework for the study of GVCs is combined with the research specialization of international organizations, which reflects the main focus of the activity of one or another organization. The availability of research specialization is accompanied by continuity and coordination of research; the conclusions of international organizations do not contradict, but rather complement each other. The most important feature of all publications of international organizations is also their practical orientation, the focus on elaborating recommendations for national policies aimed at maximizing the benefits of participation in GVCs and minimizing the risks of such integration. A key feature of the research of international organizations is their generalizing nature, which allows highlighting the key trends in the development of GVCs and perspective areas for future research. Conducting large-scale research and the development of expert estimates in the field of GVCs became possible due to the availability of significant financial, intellectual and statistical resources of international organizations, including databases (TiVA, EORA, AMNE). The availability of such resources allows not only to conduct generalizing and comparative studies on a large array of macro and micro data, but also to carry out “pioneering” studies, which are a real increment of scientific knowledge in the field of GVC. Obtaining important generalizing or “pioneering” conclusions became possible due to the development of multilateral research cooperation of international organizations with individual researchers, universities, other international institutes and “think tanks”.

Organizational structure as a predictor of the supply chain management efficiency

The organizational structure elements are an important predictor of developing an efficient supply chain management, which is the subject of analysis in this paper. The empirical study that was conducted included a sample of 51 companies in the territory of Western Serbia. Their business practices identified the existence of a statistically significant and strong correlation between organizational structure and the determinants of supply chain management efficiency. Within the conducted research, specialization and decentralization stand out as the elements with the greatest impact on improving the quality of products/services, shortening delivery times, resolving complaints more efficiently and reducing costs of the supply chain. The results of the study indicate that delegating competencies and responsibilities within a company, along with motivating staff to become more committed to and influence the activities they perform, is a key organizational prerequisite for establishing an efficient supply chain management, which is one of the key qualitative indicators of any company's market and business success.