Sustainability

Research

42 pages, 45910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Business Policy Measures in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic to Be Equally Valued? An Exploration According to SMEs Owners’ Business Expectations

by Charlie Tchinda and Marcus Dejardin

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111576 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2435

Abstract

A variety of public economic policy measures have been designed and implemented in an effort to enable SMEs to limit damages resulting from the adverse sanitary and economic shocks associated with COVID-19. The originality of our study is to propose a rating of [...] Read more.

A variety of public economic policy measures have been designed and implemented in an effort to enable SMEs to limit damages resulting from the adverse sanitary and economic shocks associated with COVID-19. The originality of our study is to propose a rating of the various economic policy measures, the rating being expressed by SMEs owners conditional to their business expectations. In so doing, our contribution is to highlight the policy measures to be implemented in order to support resilient and ambitious ventures with the most positive prospects, which are likely to contribute the most to economic recovery. We exploit an original and rich dataset derived from a survey conducted in May 2020 among a representative sample of more than 2100 Belgian (Walloon) SMEs. The Belgian experience is remarkable because the wide variety of measures it undertook echoes many of the measures taken by OECD countries. Our results suggest that the respondents have an overall positive evaluation of the various economic and social policy measures implemented by the Belgian authorities. More importantly, the rating by SME owners with the most favorable expectations are, however, significantly different than their counterpart. Measures helping firms to maintain their workforce are particularly highly rated by firms with the best prospects. It also appears that those firms prefer short-term and transitory measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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20 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of Financial Performance in Relation to Gender Diverse Boards: A Comparative Analysis of French and Romanian Listed Companies on Stock Exchanges

by Anda Adelina Suciu, Dragoș Păun and Florin Sebastian Duma

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810282 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3166

Abstract

While the moral argument for gender diversity has already been made and is incontestable, and more and more economical arguments have been brought to support the business case for the presence of women on the boards of directors of publicly listed companies, the [...] Read more.

While the moral argument for gender diversity has already been made and is incontestable, and more and more economical arguments have been brought to support the business case for the presence of women on the boards of directors of publicly listed companies, the bottom-line issue of what kind of impact gender diverse boards have on firm financial performance is still unclear. The aim of this paper is to deliver a comparative analysis of the impact of gender diverse boards on firm financial performance in France and Romania. Our results do not to provide any evidence of a link between boards’ gender diversity and companies’ financial performance, but while the analysis has failed to find a positive link between female presence and firm financial performance, it has not outlined a negative one. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

15 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development Economics of Enterprises in the Services Sector Based on Effective Management of Value Streams

by Jarmila Straková, Antonín Korauš, Jan Váchal, František Pollák, Filip Černák, Milan Talíř and Jaroslav Kollmann

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168978 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2368

Abstract

The world’s economy has been significantly affected by the ongoing pandemic crisis. Its logical reflection is a deteriorating condition of national and regional economies and their vehicles—enterprises. Negative effects of the crisis have influenced both the manufacturing sector and the services sector, where [...] Read more.

The world’s economy has been significantly affected by the ongoing pandemic crisis. Its logical reflection is a deteriorating condition of national and regional economies and their vehicles—enterprises. Negative effects of the crisis have influenced both the manufacturing sector and the services sector, where some segments have been hit fatally. In the corporate sphere in general, including in the services sector, there has been a growing need to change the approach to corporate strategy. The strategy should be generated based on management of value-creating processes with the objective to maximize satisfaction of customers while minimizing costs. This is also the topic of this paper. A representative sample of small and medium enterprises from the services sector have been surveyed about their size, using mathematical statistics and models that have been proposed to maximize profit probability. The objective was to propose models that maximize probability of profit and, at the same time, minimize costs for each combination of value chain activities (input logistics, provision of services, output logistics, marketing and sale, servicing, and other accompanying activities, purchasing material management, science-technical development, human resources management and company infrastructure). The main outcome of this paper is the fact that we have been able to prove the functionality of the tested model, which has demonstrated the growing importance of value stream management in relation to the size of enterprises. Such a universal and structured model provides a practical tool for the definition of economic-financial, investment and personnel policies in enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

18 pages, 3486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Research and Development Financing Based on the Strategies in EU: Case of Sweden, Slovakia and Romania

by Emília Duľová Spišáková, Barbora Gontkovičová and Emil Spišák

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8628; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158628 - 2 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

Research and development have been of interest to the European Union for a long time. This topic is also underlined in economic reform agendas and plans that have the form of strategies with clearly set targets. The article deals with the issue of [...] Read more.

Research and development have been of interest to the European Union for a long time. This topic is also underlined in economic reform agendas and plans that have the form of strategies with clearly set targets. The article deals with the issue of financing R&D activities from the perspective of the share of expenditure to GDP, the total amount of funds spent on R&D, the share of expenditure per capita, and the structure of expenditure. The aim is to analyze and compare development in the field of R&D financing in selected countries of the European Union with emphasis on achieving the Europe 2020 target and to point out the expected development of the indicator for the first years of the validity of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. During the processing of the article, mathematical and statistical methods (regression and correlation analysis) were used in addition to standard logic methods intended for processing data and drawing conclusions (synthesis, induction). The final evaluates the achievement of the target in the field of R&D financing in accordance with the target of the Europe 2020 strategy and, using regression, predicts the development of the given indicator for coming years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Kept the Boat Afloat? Sustainability of Employment in Knowledge-Intensive Sectors Due to Government Measures during COVID-19 Pandemic

by Michal Hrivnák, Peter Moritz and Marcela Chreneková

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8441; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158441 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3456

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed new aspects of sustainable entrepreneurship and the resilience of SMEs in the conditions of individual countries. This empirical study contributes to entrepreneurship sustainability literature and business resilience literature by estimating the impact of various utilized internal crisis management [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed new aspects of sustainable entrepreneurship and the resilience of SMEs in the conditions of individual countries. This empirical study contributes to entrepreneurship sustainability literature and business resilience literature by estimating the impact of various utilized internal crisis management tools and state compensation measures on retaining the pre-crisis levels of employment after two waves of the pandemic on the conditions of a V4 country. The study adopts an econometric approach towards assessing the influence of key factors of mitigating the problems caused by the pandemic, and the results suggest a crucial role of digitalization, internal policies optimizing variable costs, and utilization of direct governmental supportive measures to compensate for restrictions in force for employment retention in knowledge-intensive SMEs. According to the results, knowledge-intensive SMEs appears to have increased resilience towards economic shocks due to the capability to swiftly change the management of ventures to adapt to a crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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25 pages, 714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Family Business as a Bearer of Social Sustainability in Multinationals-Case of Slovakia

by Boris Rumanko, Jana Kozáková, Mária Urbánová and Monika Hudáková

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7747; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147747 - 12 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3852

Abstract

Social sustainability is slowly becoming a more important aspect of a company’s management, particularly in the case of multinational companies with an international network of subsidiaries placed in diverse cultural and social environments. The concept of social sustainability is strongly connected with a [...] Read more.

Social sustainability is slowly becoming a more important aspect of a company’s management, particularly in the case of multinational companies with an international network of subsidiaries placed in diverse cultural and social environments. The concept of social sustainability is strongly connected with a considerable number of stakeholders, compared to the environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. The nature of activities under the social pillar of corporate responsibility connects social sustainability with family business, which aims at the principles of social solidarity, equality and ethics. This article uniquely analyzes selected aspects of social sustainability on a sample of 201 Slovak subsidiaries of foreign multinationals and finds differences between family and nonfamily ones. Surprisingly, the conducted research proved that the examined family businesses cannot be considered as bearers of social sustainability in Slovakia, since, in many aspects, the nonfamily businesses implemented the monitored aspects in larger measures, and there were only two factors that turned out to be significant, according to the type of business ownership. Equal opportunities in the workplace were the only variable, due to which significant differences were seen, according to the factor of a family business and the factor of employees’ gender simultaneously, which makes it a crucial variable. The conducted study fills the gap in explanation of interconnections between social sustainability, family business and equal gender opportunities, which makes it unique not just in Slovak conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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23 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Decision to Survival—Shifting the Paradigm in Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Anca Elena Lungu, Ioana Andreea Bogoslov, Eduard Alexandru Stoica and Mircea Radu Georgescu

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147674 - 9 Jul 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4901

Abstract

(1) Purpose: The main objective of this research was to determine if and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted new entrepreneurial opportunities. The study also focused on finding the means of actions that can positively affect the future entrepreneurial field. (2) Methodology: Initially, the [...] Read more.

(1) Purpose: The main objective of this research was to determine if and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted new entrepreneurial opportunities. The study also focused on finding the means of actions that can positively affect the future entrepreneurial field. (2) Methodology: Initially, the literature review was approached, the complementary evaluation of the researchers’ interest sustaining the timeliness of the analyzed topic. The empirical analysis implied conducting a multiple statistical regression on how the new entrepreneurial opportunities can be affected by relevant variables. (3) Findings: The obtained results highlighted a potential beneficial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on entrepreneurship, namely determining new entrepreneurial opportunities. The need to consider new directions of action in entrepreneurship was also outlined, the online migration and the adaption to new market configurations being considered essential promoters of change. (4) Practical Implications/Originality/Value: Although existing research focused, to a large extent, on analyzing the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on entrepreneurship, few of them highlighted a future perspective that would ensure the continuity of entrepreneurial processes in extreme conditions, such as those under study. The present research could contribute to the specialty literature enrichment while serving as guidance to the entrepreneurship practitioners towards the implementation of long-term visions and processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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19 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of the DEA Model in Tourism SMEs: An Empirical Study from Slovakia in the Context of Business Sustainability

by Ján Dobrovič, Veronika Čabinová, Peter Gallo, Petra Partlová, Jan Váchal, Beáta Balogová and Jozef Orgonáš

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7422; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137422 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3538

Abstract

Slovak spa services are not given sufficient attention directly following the support and sustainable development. The paper focuses on the evaluation of the overall development and current level of efficiency of the Slovak spas in 2013–2018, through the application of DEA models. Input [...] Read more.

Slovak spa services are not given sufficient attention directly following the support and sustainable development. The paper focuses on the evaluation of the overall development and current level of efficiency of the Slovak spas in 2013–2018, through the application of DEA models. Input variables (total number of beds, employees, medical staff) and output variables (use of bed capacity, number of treated clients) within the structure of DEA models analyzed (CCR-I, CCR-O, BCC-I, BCC-O) are determined by results of the correlation analysis. The data were obtained from the annual reports of the spa enterprises. By the results, the average efficiency score for all enterprises reached 0.7527, i.e., the average spa enterprise would need only 75.27% of currently used inputs for a given output production to move to the efficiency frontier. The development of the average efficiency score confirmed a positive growing trend until 2015; however, the efficiency decreased by 1.84% in a year-to-year comparison in 2016–2018. In each year of the analyzed period, the number of inefficient enterprises (66.67%) exceeded that of the efficient ones (33.33%). Through research carried out in spa facilities, the authors contributed to expanding the application of the DEA method in another tourism sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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14 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovation Capabilities and the Performance of Start-Ups in Korea: The Role of Government Support Policies

by Se-Kyoung Choi, Sangyun Han and Kyu-Tae Kwak

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116009 - 26 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5233

Abstract

What kind of capacity is needed to improve the performance of start-ups? How effective are government support policies in improving start-up performance? Start-ups are critical firm group for ensuring the prospective and sustainable growth of an economy, and thus many countries’ governments have [...] Read more.

What kind of capacity is needed to improve the performance of start-ups? How effective are government support policies in improving start-up performance? Start-ups are critical firm group for ensuring the prospective and sustainable growth of an economy, and thus many countries’ governments have established support policies and they are likely to engage more widely in forward-looking political support activities to ensure further growth and expansion. In this paper, the effect of innovation capabilities and government support policies on start-up performance is examined. We used an unbalanced panel data analysis with a random effect generalized least squares. We investigated the effect of government support policies on 4368 Korean start-ups. The findings indicated that technology and knowledge capabilities had positive effects on the sales performance of start-ups, and government financial support positively affected the relationship between knowledge capability and firm performance. However, when government financial support increased, marketing capability was negatively associated with firm performance. These results demonstrate the significant role of government financial support, including its crowding in but also its crowding out effect. Practical implications: To be more effective, governments should employ innovation-driven entrepreneurship policy approaches to support start-ups. To improve their performance, start-ups need to increase their technology and knowledge capabilities. This study extends recent efforts to understand more fully the effect of government support policies on start-ups differing in their technology, knowledge, and marketing capabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

24 pages, 2628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Study on the Relationship between Effective Following Behavior and Derived Creative Work Behavior: A Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support and Sustainable Leadership

by Xiaoyan Wang, Liren An, Nosheena Yasir, Nasir Mahmood and Ying Gu

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105693 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2488

Abstract

The leader of an organization and its members together constitute a binary structure of the main body of the organization and achievement of their goals. The existing literature mainly focuses on the characteristics and following behavior of members. Although the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) [...] Read more.

The leader of an organization and its members together constitute a binary structure of the main body of the organization and achievement of their goals. The existing literature mainly focuses on the characteristics and following behavior of members. Although the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory uniquely explains the relationship between sustainable leaders and followers, it cannot as easily explain the creative work behavior of followers. This paper proposes that effective following behavior can stimulate the intrinsic motivation of followers and make this consistent with their work motivation, thereby producing creative work behavior and leading to the more effective achievement of organizational goals. Moreover, it demonstrates the internal relationships and mechanisms of action between effective following behavior and creative work behavior. Taking the two dimensions of effective following behavior as independent variables and the three dimensions of creative work behavior as dependent variables, a group of hypotheses were presented. The moderating role of the perceived organizational support and sustainable leadership in the relationship between effective following behavior and creative work behavior was demonstrated, and two groups of hypotheses were proposed. Data from 409 surveys, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to test the hypotheses. The empirical results show that in the organization the radical and incremental creative work behavior of the followers correlates positively with their active, participatory following behavior and the non-blind following behavior. The followers’ non-creative routine work behavior correlates negatively with their active participatory following behavior and has no significant correlation with the non-blind following behavior. In conclusion, sustainable leadership and perceived organizational support can therefore strengthen the relationship between actively participating in following behavior and creative work behavior and weaken the relationship between non-blind following behavior and creative work behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Industry 4.0 Concept on Slovak Business Sustainability within the Issue of the Pandemic Outbreak

by Adriana Grenčíková, Marcel Kordoš, Jozef Bartek and Vladislav Berkovič

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4975; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094975 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

Many studies have found that the most significant job structure changes in the Slovak business environment can be expected in production and logistics. The biggest manpower shortages are in the fields of mechanical engineering, production, construction, information sciences and communication technologies, and medical [...] Read more.

Many studies have found that the most significant job structure changes in the Slovak business environment can be expected in production and logistics. The biggest manpower shortages are in the fields of mechanical engineering, production, construction, information sciences and communication technologies, and medical sciences. The smallest manpower shortage can be found in the humanities and social science areas. The main objective of this research was to assess the trends within the Slovak labor market from the perspective of the companies that participated in a survey focused on their assumptions on job structure changes in the context of the implementation of the elements of Industry 4.0. The estimation was based on a questionnaire conducted during the spring months of 2020 with the participation of 175 companies and institutions. The results showed that one third of companies anticipate job cuts in the implementation of smart industry. Along with the job position disposal and the qualified staffs’ need for new jobs, the demands of employers regarding the level of education are growing. On the other hand, three quarters of companies are not only willing but also ready to participate in human resource vocational training and requalification focused mainly on technical skills. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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16 pages, 498 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Approach to Social Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Alejandro García-Jurado, José Javier Pérez-Barea and Rodrigo J. Nova

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052754 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 12087

Abstract

All social entrepreneurship experts state that the issue of definition is the main problem affecting research in this field. Although there is no single definition, this is clearly a new domain in the field of research on entrepreneurship. The main objective of this [...] Read more.

All social entrepreneurship experts state that the issue of definition is the main problem affecting research in this field. Although there is no single definition, this is clearly a new domain in the field of research on entrepreneurship. The main objective of this study is to further knowledge in this area by means of a systematic review of scientific literature to determine the conceptual development of social entrepreneurship and to identify the most interesting research trends. This study uses a research method, known as latent semantic analysis (LSA), which has been applied to a database of keywords collected from a rigorous selection of academic articles. The results show that this phenomenon has emerged from two parallel currents within the organization management field; on the one hand, the non-governmental organization (NGO) and voluntary tradition and, on the other, the world of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The main lines of future research highlighted in the analysis include the measurement of social impact, venture philanthropy, and hybrid organizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Environmental, Social Values and the Consideration of Future Consequences for the Development of a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention

by Nosheena Yasir, Nasir Mahmood, Hafiz Shakir Mehmood, Muhammad Babar, Muhammad Irfan and An Liren

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2648; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052648 - 2 Mar 2021

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 5966

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship focuses on finding ways to monetize future products, nature conservation, life support, and communities. Therefore, the intention has been identified as one of the key drivers to perceive business opportunities and ultimately leverage them, which increases interest in investigating it, especially [...] Read more.

Sustainable entrepreneurship focuses on finding ways to monetize future products, nature conservation, life support, and communities. Therefore, the intention has been identified as one of the key drivers to perceive business opportunities and ultimately leverage them, which increases interest in investigating it, especially from a sustainability perspective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the intention of sustainable entrepreneurship through a modified version of the theory of planned behavior based on survey data of 520 university students studying in Punjab, Pakistan and using structural equation modeling for quantitative analysis. The study sought to incorporate three additional constructs (environmental values, social values, and consideration of future consequences) to explain the relationship between the antecedents of sustainable entrepreneurial intention. This study shows that sustainable entrepreneurship, social norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control praise students’ sustainable intentions. Environmental values, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and consideration of future consequences (CFC-F and CFC-I) indirectly influence sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. The study also highlights the contradictory roles of CFC-I in reversing the pursuit of sustainable entrepreneurship. Indeed, the finding proposed that educational and other practitioners can improve attitudes and behaviors by promoting sustainable entrepreneurship through value creation and forward-looking activation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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20 pages, 476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Built to Sustain: The Effect of Entrepreneurial Decision-Making Logic on New Venture Sustainability

by Dan Long, Houhong Wang and Peili Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2170; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042170 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3310

Abstract

How entrepreneurs make entrepreneurial decisions to improve entrepreneurial performance is a popular concern in both theoretical and practical circles. Existing studies mostly analyze the effect of entrepreneurial decision-making logic on the survival and growth of new ventures from the perspective of financial performance, [...] Read more.

How entrepreneurs make entrepreneurial decisions to improve entrepreneurial performance is a popular concern in both theoretical and practical circles. Existing studies mostly analyze the effect of entrepreneurial decision-making logic on the survival and growth of new ventures from the perspective of financial performance, but few studies focus on new venture sustainability. Based on datasets from the first two survey rounds of CPSED (Chinese Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics), this paper selects a group of 259 entrepreneurs as a sample and uses logistic regression analysis as a research method. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of entrepreneurial decision-making logic on new venture sustainability. There are two main entrepreneurial logics, namely effectuation and causation. The paper discusses causation in terms of four dimensions, namely goal orientation, expected returns, competitive analysis, and avoiding contingencies. It examines effectuation in terms of the dimensions of means orientation, affordable loss, partnerships, and leveraging contingencies. The empirical results show that goal orientation plays a negative role in promoting new venture sustainability, while avoiding contingencies has a positive influence on it. Partnerships are conducive to new venture sustainability, while means orientation and leveraging contingencies have a negative effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Methods for the Strategic Management of Web Projects

by Solomiia Fedushko, Tomáš Peráček, Yuriy Syerov and Olha Trach

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020742 - 14 Jan 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5426

Abstract

In this article, we have explored methods for the strategic management of web projects. By introducing a long-term web project development strategy into the operation of a web project, mechanisms can be developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the web project. [...] Read more.

In this article, we have explored methods for the strategic management of web projects. By introducing a long-term web project development strategy into the operation of a web project, mechanisms can be developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the web project. An important factor is to develop a strategy taking into account all possible crisis situations and ways out of these situations. The authors analyzed and simulated the web project structure, working out methods of web project strategy realization and implementation in a crisis situation. Additionally, in this article, the authors have presented the model for the strategic map of the balanced scorecard of a web project. The authors tested the developed methods on six web projects of university departments. The received results confirmed the appropriateness and necessity of the development and implementation of methods of the strategic management of web projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When Fact-Checking and ‘BBC Standards’ Are Helpless: ‘Fake Newsworthy Event’ Manipulation and the Reaction of the ‘High-Quality Media’ on It

by Artem Zakharchenko, Tomáš Peráček, Solomiia Fedushko, Yuriy Syerov and Olha Trach

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020573 - 9 Jan 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4209

Abstract

Fact-checking and journalists professional standards usually are considered to be the best fail-safe against manipulations in media. However, we found that newsmakers are able to manipulate even the audience of so-called ‘high-quality media’ who practice all mentioned approaches. To prove this we have [...] Read more.

Fact-checking and journalists professional standards usually are considered to be the best fail-safe against manipulations in media. However, we found that newsmakers are able to manipulate even the audience of so-called ‘high-quality media’ who practice all mentioned approaches. To prove this we have refined the concept of ‘pseudo-event’, introduced by D.J. Boorstin, by defining the term ‘fake newsworthy event’ as an event created by newsmakers, that is high-profile and attractive for media, but the only or particular aim of these actions is an agenda-setting, and this aim is not obvious from the origin of the action. Namely, the member of parliament may file some bill realizing that it cannot be adopted and trying just to shape the public opinion. Or some person may claim against a celebrity or businessman having no chance to win at trial. On the example of Ukrainian ‘high-quality media’ we showed that journalists usually do not take into account whether some topics are launched just for manipulating agenda-setting. To prove that we gathered the data about publications focused on such topics in Ukrainian ‘high-quality media’, we provided their discourse analysis, and compared the result with experts’ evaluations of ‘media quality’ and ‘artificiality rate’ of the topic. We have not found correlations between ‘artificiality’ of the topic and the number of publications. Recommendations were elaborated for the media workers if they want to avoid this type of manipulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability)

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