Research on Enterprise in Modern Economy

FROM PROCESS DRIFT TO SHARED OWNERSHIP IN A BPM CASE STUDY OF PRESALES TRANSFORMATION IN AN IT CONSULTING SME

2026-05-02T10:44:10+02:00

Background and Objective: Business Process Management (BPM) research has predominantly focused on large organisations, while its adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains underexplored. Many SMEs in IT consulting operate with informal, drift-prone processes that limit coordination, transparency, and scalability. This study examines how lightweight BPM interventions can stabilise a presales process in a low-maturity SME, with particular attention to organisational dynamics such as resistance, adaptation, and the emergence of shared process ownership.
Study Design/Materials and Methods: An explanatory single-case study was conducted in a medium-sized Polish IT consulting firm, following the full BPM lifecycle: process identification, discovery, analysis, redesign, implementation, and monitoring. Empirical data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews and two cross-departmental workshops involving the Sales, Technical, Finance, and Delivery Center teams. The as-is process was modelled in ARIS using BPMN 2.0, while value stream mapping and root cause analysis were applied to diagnose inefficiencies. In the absence of prior performance data, baseline presales KPIs were estimated through data triangulation.
Results: The intervention resulted in the establishment of a dedicated Presales Department, more explicit role definitions, and the systematic early involvement of technical expertise. Lightweight BPM artifacts—including BPMN-based process models, Project Barrier forms, and Win/Loss Analysis forms—supported coordination, learning, and monitoring. Baseline performance indicators were formalised, revealing a win rate of approximately 25%, an average response time of 14 days, and an average margin of 25%, with targets set at ≥35% and ≤10 days, respectively. Early outcomes indicate reduced process drift, improved cross-functional collaboration, and increased managerial visibility.
Practical Implications and Conclusion: The study demonstrates that even in low-maturity SME contexts, incremental, lightweight BPM practices can yield meaningful structural and cultural improvements without advanced technologies. By clarifying ownership, enabling basic measurement, and fostering shared responsibility, BPM can serve as a pragmatic pathway for SMEs seeking to stabilise core processes and build readiness for continuous improvement.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT ON ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE AT A RESEARCH INSTITUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

2026-05-03T20:42:02+02:00

Background and Objective: The battle against discrimination in the South African workspace led to the establishment of the Employment Equity Act (EEA), which advocates for equality and the inclusion of marginalised groups. This study examined how the adoption of the act has affected organisational performance and perception.

Study Design/Materials and Methods: The search followed a qualitative approach to answer the research questions through a social-constructionism paradigm to capture the perceived influence of the EEA. To collect the data, the study utilised semi-structured individual interviews from participants sampled through a non-probability technique of purposive sampling. Thematic analysis through ATLAS.ti was utilised for data analysis. The sample composed of 30 employees from senior to entry-level positions. Using a theoretical lens, the study followed the Structural Injustice framework from Iris Marion Young.

Results: Beyond the primarily observed influence of the EEA to have a political, social and economic effect, the legislation is understood to influence the quality of the workforce negatively. A high performing organisation experiences a decline in performance through structural change; delayed employee acquisition due to specific role requirements such as gender, race and educational background; and on a vital point, the findings suggest that the EEA has created immense employment opportunities for marginalised groups.

Practical implications: Within the context of high performing workspaces, the EEA hampers effective practice, while it offers socio-economic inclusion for marginalised groups. The results emphasise the need for a diversified sectoral application of the EEA to allow organisations to perform effectively.

Conclusion and summary: The adoption of the EEA hinders performance but positively
brings balance to a workplace through the eradication of structural injustice.

INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION ACTIVITIES OF ENTERPRISES IN THE MODERN CONDITIONS: THEORETICAL APPROACH

2026-05-03T21:00:25+02:00

Background and Objective: Enterprises operate under increasing economic uncertainty, which affects the stability of investment processes and limits opportunities for innovation development. The purpose of this article is to conduct an in-depth study of the theoretical, methodological, and applied foundations of investment and innovation activities of enterprises under the current economic challenges, particularly during wartime and the post-crisis recovery of Ukraine’s economy.

Study Design / Materials and Methods: The research is based on a systemic approach, which enables a comprehensive assessment of the interrelationship between investment processes, innovation mechanisms, and external factors. Dialectical and comparative methods are applied to examine the structure of investment flows, sources of financing, the level of innovation activity, and the influence of macroeconomic conditions.

Results: The study identifies the main directions of investment and innovation activities of enterprises under martial law and highlights systemic and emerging threats to investment security. It demonstrates that effective investment and innovation activity during wartime requires the integration of financial support, scientific and technical potential, modern project management methods, and active adaptation to unstable conditions.

Practical Implications: The obtained results can be used to optimize enterprise investment policies, improve project management efficiency, develop partnership strategies, and support the creation of a favorable regulatory and institutional environment for innovative business development.

Conclusion and Summary: Comprehensive management of investment and innovation activities enhances enterprise resilience under crisis conditions, strengthens competitiveness, and prepares businesses for the recovery period.

MAPPING AIRPORT COMPETITIVENESS RESEARCH: A COMBINED BIBLIOMETRIC AND STRUCTURAL TOPIC MODELING ANALYSIS

2026-05-03T21:12:59+02:00

Background and Objective: Airport competitiveness has become an increasingly important issue in air transport economics, yet the literature remains fragmented across efficiency studies, market-access analyses, sustainability debates, and operational research. This study maps the contemporary knowledge base on airport competitiveness and clarifies how the field conceptualizes the phenomenon.
Study Design/Materials and Methods: The analysis is based on 303 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection for 2015–2025, derived from an initial set of 433 records. The study combines descriptive bibliometrics, cited-reference co-citation analysis, document-level bibliographic coupling, and Structural Topic Modeling applied to titles, abstracts, and keywords.

Results: The results show a field that has moved from a relatively specialized niche toward a broader and more differentiated research domain. Co-citation mapping reveals an established intellectual core organized around performance measurement, efficiency, governance, and competition. Bibliographic coupling identifies active research fronts linked to benchmarking, connectivity and intermodality, sustainability transition, and digitally enabled airport operations. The STM results recover six topics and indicate a gradual shift from narrow benchmarking concerns toward wider agendas of regional development, resilience, sustainability, and operational intelligence.

Practical implications: For airport managers and public authorities, the findings suggest that competitiveness should be treated as a multidimensional capability shaped jointly by governance arrangements, infrastructure and investment decisions, network positioning, and transition readiness.

Conclusion and summary: The article shows that airport competitiveness is best understood not as a single performance indicator, but as the relative ability of airports to attract, coordinate, and sustain traffic and economic value under changing technological, environmental, and spatial conditions.

Potential Application of Lean Management Tools within the Green Project Management Framework: A Systematic Literature Review

2026-05-03T21:19:33+02:00

Background and objective: Sustainability requirements increasingly affect the way projects are planned and delivered. Green Project Management (GPM) extends classical project management by incorporating environmental and social considerations. The objective of this study is to assess whether selected Lean Management (LM) tools can be applied within the GPM framework.
Study design: The study is based on a systematic literature review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2000 to 2022 were analysed. Following the screening and eligibility assessment, 21 peer-reviewed studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The analysis focused on identifying Lean Management tools and examining their conceptual consistency with GPM elements.
Results: The review shows that tools such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen routines, pull-based planning, Poka-Yoke and Jidoka are conceptually compatible with selected aspects of GPM, particularly those related to waste reduction and process transparency. In contrast, tools designed for high-volume manufacturing, including Heijunka, Andon and SMED, show limited applicability in project-based environments without significant adaptation.
Practical implications: Selected Lean tools may support sustainability-oriented project practices, provided that their application is adapted to project conditions.
Conclusion and summary: Lean Management tools can complement Green Project Management in a selective and context-dependent manner. Further empirical research is required to validate these relationships in practice.

EDUCATING AGAINST CYBERCRIME THROUGH BPMN-BASED PROCESSES

2026-05-03T21:25:52+02:00

Background and Objective: Cybercrime is rapidly expanding in both scale and sophistication, posing significant risks to users with limited technical knowledge, particularly older adults and individuals new to digital technologies. Traditional cybersecurity education often relies on technical explanations that may be difficult for these groups to understand. This paper aims to investigate whether Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) can serve as an effective visual educational tool to enhance cybersecurity awareness by clearly illustrating how cyberattacks commonly unfold and where preventive actions can mitigate them.
Study Design/Materials and Methods: The study adopts a design-oriented, model-based research approach grounded in visual process representation. BPMN was applied to develop illustrative models of three prevalent online threats: phishing, smishing, and online shopping fraud. Each model represents the sequence of attacker and victim actions, key decision points, and critical moments where informed user behaviour can prevent or mitigate an attack. The models were designed to be adaptable for different age groups and levels of digital literacy. As the study is conceptual and focuses on model development rather than empirical validation, no statistical analysis was performed; therefore, confidence intervals and levels of statistical significance are not applicable.
Results: The resulting BPMN diagrams provide a structured and transparent visualisation of cyberattack progression, enabling clearer understanding of manipulation techniques and risk points. The models highlight actionable prevention steps and support comprehension of the human-factor vulnerabilities exploited in common cybercrime scenarios. BPMN proved suitable for representing cybersecurity threats in a way that is intuitive, process-oriented, and accessible to non-technical users.
Practical Implications: The proposed BPMN-based models can be directly applied in cybersecurity awareness programmes, educational workshops, and organisational training initiatives. They offer a standardised yet flexible framework for communicating cyber threats and preventive behaviours across diverse user groups. In practice, this approach may strengthen user awareness, reduce susceptibility to social engineering attacks, and support the development of age-appropriate and inclusive cybersecurity education materials.
Conclusion and Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of BPMN as a visual and educational tool for improving cybersecurity awareness among users with varying levels of digital competence. By translating complex cyberattack mechanisms into clear, process-based diagrams, BPMN can bridge the gap between technical cybersecurity knowledge and everyday user understanding. While the findings are conceptual, they provide a foundation for future empirical research to evaluate the educational effectiveness of BPMN-based cybersecurity training in real-world contexts.