Showing papers in "Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues in 2022"

Contemporary Challenges for the Economic Security of Enterprises in Poland

Abstract: The article presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of the exchange rates of five currencies: dollar, euro, franc, pound and ruble in zlotys and crude oil in dollars per barrel from 2005 to 2022. The research was conducted in terms of the identification of contemporary challenges for the economic security of enterprises in Poland. Grouping was used as part of multidimensional comparative analyzes. In the categorized line charts, in order to observe the trends in dynamic terms as a decrease and an increase in the rates of the analyzed data, a separate Y-axis scale was assigned to each of the analyzed dependent variables.

The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Impact of Passenger air Transport in Europe on Crude Oil Prices in Terms of Economic Security

Abstract: The study presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of two dependent variables: the number of passengers transported by air in 28 European countries and the price of one barrel of crude oil in dollars. The conducted analysis shows that in the historical data concerning the identical periods (months) in both tested series, dependencies can be found. This allowed for the construction of a zero-one multiple regression model in order to confirm the impact of the number of passengers travelling by air on the price of one barrel of crude oil and describe this phenomenon with an analytical function.

Assessment of it Systems Architecture in the Context of Big Data Processing for Smart Cities Development

Abstract: Effective use of Big Data can significantly support the development of smart cities and the new digital economy. The aim of the article is a multi-criteria evaluation of IT systems in terms of Big Data processing, taking into account the support for the development of smart cities. The article includes theoretical and empirical research. The adopted criteria for assessing the architecture of IT systems relate to barriers to the implementation of the digital economy in smart cities and the guidelines of international data strategies. The evaluation covered, among other things, cybersecurity and the effectiveness of organizing, storing, and producing new information. The research results allowed us to identify the key factors of Big Data processing efficiency. Based on the research results, an effective model of Big Data processing in organizations was developed. In particular, various data models were analyzed as one of the main elements of software architecture of information systems. The research also focused on data processing techniques such as data warehousing, machine learning, and distributed computing. The efficiency factors of IT systems identified in the research reduce barriers to developing global data strategies and smart cities.

Public-Private Partnership in the Context of Sustainable Development on the Example of the Water and Wastewater Sector

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the implementation of investments in the water and sewage sector in Poland and other European countries using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) formula. The paper identifies the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats arising from the use of this formula for local government public tasks for the delivery and treatment of domestic wastewater, in the context of EU legislation. It also examines the validity of the use of PPP in the context of the implementation of the principle of sustainable development in water management. PPPs are commonly used to deliver strategic public services under financial limitations. Countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland, based on years of experience and good practices, are effectively implementing PPP projects, including those in the water and sewerage sector. The provision of treated drinking water and the treatment of municipal wastewater is a fundamental task ensuring an adequate quality of life for people by maintaining public health at an appropriate level. The fact that water and sanitation infrastructure and service provision in this sector is expensive, both at the construction and operational stages, has led countries at different levels of development to turn to public-private partnerships. Properly managed PPP projects secure the interests of both the private and public partner and the end user of the services. The analysis of data and examples of European PPPs in the water and wastewater sector shows that PPPs have been successful for most public entities that have chosen them. Good practices from Scotland, Ireland and Poland, as well as projects that have experienced difficulties, show that stable and friendly legislation, thorough pre-feasibility studies and an appropriate allocation of risk make PPPs successful. In the context of the conducted analysis, PPP is a tool enabling the realization of tasks in the water and sewage sector, where the public party’s budget possibilities are limited. Moreover, PPP is a component of the realization of the sustainable development principle. The idea that the use of natural resources, including water, which is fundamental to the biological and cultural needs of humankind, should be met in such a way as to save them for future generations, is realized in PPP projects. This paper demonstrates that the use of financial assembly opportunities in PPPs makes it possible to significantly intensify the construction of new and upgrading of existing water and wastewater infrastructure. It contributes to the protection of aquatic ecosystems and securing public health associated with living in direct proximity to surface water and discharging wastewater without affecting the natural environment and human habitats.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Enterprises in Poland in View of Economic Safety

Abstract: The article presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of the number of employees in the enterprise sector in Poland on a quarterly basis between 2010-2021 and new and withdrawn jobs dynamically in terms of economic security. The volume of employment and salary for work in Poland in the enterprise sector by type of activity was analyzed. The last stage of the research was the analysis and evaluation of the time series of salaries in Poland and its forecasting for the future.

Managing the New Wave of Migration With Biometric Identification

Abstract: Due to the geopolitical situation, the scarcity of raw materials, the foreign policy actions of the major powers, the excessive use of resources worldwide and the struggle for them, as well as the inequalities caused by the demographic explosion of developing countries, europe and thus Hungary from the wider Middle East region have been under considerable migratory pressure for a long time, and this has increased further in 2021 on the basis of statistical data. (Frontex). Europe is trying to provide more answers to the problem. It is trying to keep refugees as far away as possible by developing and improving living conditions in the countries where migration flows originate, as well as by establishing migration zones beyond the EU’s borders and financing them, because these problems need to start to be addressed and solved at local level. Despite all this, refugees are constantly reaching Europe, and unfortunately among them are not only those who fear for their lives and lose everything, fleeing war, but also economic migrants who join the wave of migration and are probably members of organisations that pose a threat to European values and public security. (Kotzur, Moya, Sözen, Romano 2020). By building physical border closures, several EU countries have closed certain migration routes, but this has not eliminated the problem, only the routes have been reorthled. The registration and clear identification of immigrants in the attempt to cross the border and their identification within the EU pose a number of unresolved problems for the authorities. (Beňuška, T., Nečas, 2021). We are reviewing and comparing the methods of identification used in border policing with modern biometric identification methods in order to draw attention to the fact that technology has long been ready to be used to protect our security in the service of European values and security. But at the same time, a significant deterrent is the difficult transition from entrenched solutions to the fear of misuse of biometric data. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to consider trade-offs in use and technology and to think more effectively together at EU level as a common solution on the regulatory side. (EU Regulation 399/2016).

The Leadership Competences of Soldiers in Poland – the Z Generation Perspective

Abstract: Leadership competence is a unique set of qualities, skills, knowledge and abilities attributed to specific social and professional groups. Cultural circumstances mean that societies in different countries may have different views on the nature, development opportunities and scope of leadership competences. There are also more and more differences occurring in the views resulting from generational differences. In addition, existing stereotypes in societies are constantly fuelled by media messages, which determines how the image of different formations, including soldiers, is assessed. Bearing in mind the complexity of the nature of leadership, different views of both theoreticians, practitioners and laymen in terms of leadership competence, or even the natural attribution of leadership competence to soldiers and the essence of leadership in the military environment, the author of the article has made efforts to show what kind of leadership competence is held by the soldiers in Poland in the opinion of representatives of the youngest generation (generation Z). This article is based on an in-depth analysis of the source literature (Polish and foreign) and the results of empirical research. Ascertainments and conclusions presented in the article confirm the conviction about the complexity of the nature of leadership, leadership competences, as well as the functioning of stereotypes in the society, which in a certain natural way determine the ways of thinking and the course of cognitive processes.

Corporate Bankruptcy, a Spatial and Temporal Perspective – the Case of Poland

Abstract: Progressive changes in many areas of the business environment and internal processes in business entities are increasingly the cause of crises occurring in them, in extreme cases resulting in the need to declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcies can be considered, on the one hand, as a manifestation of maladaptation to the requirements and transformations of the market, but more and more often they become a derivative of phenomena over which entrepreneurs have absolutely no influence. The paper attempts to analyze the scale of business bankruptcies in Poland in 2009-2021, which was based on data from the Central Statistical Office and the Central Economic Information Center. Exploratory research was carried out on a time sample of 12,960 entities for the years 2009-2021, which declared bankruptcy in the analyzed period and represented all enterprises of the Polish market from the time period adopted for the research. The analyzed sample took into account the number of bankruptcies of enterprises falling on particular years. The purpose of the article is to analyze the scale of the bankruptcy phenomenon in Poland over the period 2009-2021 and to try to identify the existing dependencies.

Social Distancing and Organisational Learning of Institutions in the Post-Pandemic Crisis. A Sociological and Philosophical Approach

Abstract: This paper focuses on social distancing and organisational learning of institutions in the post-pandemic crisis. The empirical material consists of in-depth interviews with cultural managers. Data analysis was framed within a qualitative grounded theory methodology as a dynamic, intuitive and creative process of inductive reasoning, thinking and theorizing. The data were subsequently assigned into categories of identified themes or topics compiled in the study. The coding process yielded over 160 concepts, of which 140 relevant ones were eventually used, creating a total of 6 categories: (1) privacy and security; (2) social distancing; (3) identity; (4) learning and support; (5) digitalization; (6) initiative and autonomy. The core category that emerged from these six categories is security, social networks and organisational sustainability. So as to analyse the chosen problems authors use a philosophical and sociological approach, that is based mainly on criticism of writing and the analytical and synthetic method. This study describes the phases of organisational learning and reveals turning points in understanding the future implications of events critical to the creation of new context-specific knowledge initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by research that has demonstrated the positive effects of focus on employees’ wellbeing and cognitive performance in change management, the current research aims to explore the social background of structural changes. This reasoning is rooted in the analysis of several mediating concepts such as social distancing, experience, language, social interaction and perspective taking. The outcomes of the research are significant as they provide recommendations that target crucial issues of organisational changes and barriers during the crisis situation understood in terms of disaster management.

Multidimensional Comparative Analysis of Passenger Rail Transport in Selected European Countries in Terms of Economic Security

Abstract: The study comprises a multidimensional comparative analysis of the number of passengers transported by rail in twelve European countries between 2019-2021; the considered data were grouped and analyzed. The dynamics indices with a constant base were used in the study. The aim of the article was a comparative analysis of the number of passengers transported by rail in the European countries under consideration between 2019-2021. The result of the research is the observation of an increase in the number of passengers transported by rail in twelve European countries in 2021 compared to 2020 by 374 965 people. It was visible in nine out of the twelve countries considered. The largest one was observed in France, with around 170 544 passengers. Considering the percentage increase between 2020 and 2021 in respective countries in rail passenger transport, it was observed that the most significant increase was in Italy, which amounted to 25,61%.

Multidimensional Comparative Analysis of the House Price Index in Europe Between 2021-2022 in the Aspect of Economic Security

Abstract: The article presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of the impact of crude oil and liquefied petroleum gasses (LPG) prices on the housing price index in 28 European countries. Research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic and the attack of Russia on Ukraine have led to similar large fluctuations in crude oil and LPG prices. This, in turn, contributed to an increase in inflation and house price indices in the 28 analyzed European countries. Such an increase was driven by higher total construction costs, including higher prices for materials, energy and charges for building services. Housing prices in respective European countries vary. The study examines the dynamics of their changes and compares them with the use of ranking.

Changes and Transformations of Wars and Armed Conflicts. Theoretical Approach

Abstract: Wars and armed conflicts have accompanied mankind from the beginning of history and belong to the category of social phenomena. They became a permanent part of the historical process and are changing with it. Throughout history, wars have changed, as have views on the phenomenon of war, on war theories and strategic concepts. These views were and are a derivative of the progress of civilization. Since the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, societies and nations have been the cause and target of wars to the larger extent than countries. Territory and power are no longer the primary causes and goals of armed conflicts. The analysis of these changes allows us to call these phenomena “new wars”. The article presents the issues of changes and transformations of wars and armed conflicts. It was stated that defining war as a political act was no longer sufficient. It was also established that in a changing world, new forms of war existed and would continue to emerge. The classic war, however, is not yet gone.

Methodology of Road Transport Planning with the use of IT Software in Terms of Military Security Maintenance

Abstract: The study focuses on the generalization of the methodology of transport planning with the use of the LOGFAS IT system. The main activities that must be performed in order to plan the transport correctly in the IT software were presented. This process requires a lot of experience and work in many program modules and the implementation of a lot of different information without which planning is impossible.

Multidimensional Analysis of Real Estate Prices in Seventeen Cities in Poland in Terms of Economic Security

Abstract: The article presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of apartment prices in seventeen cities in Poland from the first quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2021 in terms of the maintenance of economic security. Prices were analyzed in two aspects: value and dynamics of changes, referring to the first period under consideration in spatial terms (in each of the seventeen cities). The research used multidimensional comparative analyzes, such as: Chernoff faces and normalization with the use of stimulants. This, in turn, made it possible to examine the similarities and differences in the prices of 1 m2 of residential real estate in respective cities in Poland in a dynamic approach.

The Forecasting of Salaries in European Countries in Terms of Economic Security

Abstract: The multidimensional comparative analysis and the forecasting of minimum salaries in 21 European countries were conducted in the study. The research began with the ranking of the data, the amount of salary rates taken as a basis, the rise expressed in euro and the values of dynamics indices on a constant base. Then the data was aggregated. The time series of the lowest salaries in 21 European countries was analyzed and evaluated. Thus, regularities were observed that were used to select the Holt-Winters’ exponential smoothing method for the forecasting of these salaries. The obtained forecasts were analyzed and evaluated with the use of indices, such as forecasting errors.

Customs Smuggling of Goods Infringing the Intellectual Property Rights in the European Union

Abstract: This research article aims to investigate the customs smuggling of intellectual property rights infringing goods in the EU. There is no doubt that it is a phenomenon that has accompanied humanity from the beginning of the development of trade, it cannot be eliminated, but its scale can be limited (D. Matthews, P. Žikovska, 2013). The analysis used data taken from reports on intellectual property right enforcement in the EU in 2009-2020. The results show the scale and new trends in customs smuggling of goods on the EU market, but the analyses carried out do not provide a clear basis lo conclude [hat the EU customs authorities are winning the fight against customs smuggling, despite the observed decrease in confiscated goods or the number of opened proceedings, as these drops are largely related to the lockdown due lo Covid-19 and the placing of goods with high customs risk under customs control.

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Economic Security - Multidimensional Analysis of Real Estate Market Across Poland

Abstract: Economic security of any state is multifaceted. Affordability of basics, required for living serves are precondition for economic security of any state. The study presents a multidimensional comparative analysis of apartment sales in respective voivodships in Poland. The following dependent variables concerning apartments in sixteen voivodships were analyzed: price per \( m^2 \), number of sales and its value. The dynamics indices on a constant basis and the normalization for stimulants were used for the analyzes. The results of the research were compiled on categorized bar charts, conducting the ranking, as well as indicating and outlining the level of deviation of the analyzed data adopted by the author. The conducted research clearly showed how much of an impact on the state’s economy, with particular emphasis on the subject of research presented in the article, which is the apartment trade market, has a random incident, such as a pandemic, and how difficult it is to return to the conditions before Covid-19.