Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

This study examined the contagion effects of social media on different parties, such as producers, retailers, and consumer. Further, we empirically investigate the contagion effects of the social media and their ultimate impact on multiple performance measures. The findings give new insights into the contagion effects of social media usage across the distribution channel and important social influence mechanisms that enhance these effects. In line with the hypothesis, efficient use of social media contributes to retailer and brand performance, and consumer–retailer loyalty. In light with the advancement of technologies and growth in social media applications, this study provides a framework to promote usage by supply channel, which ultimately influences performance-related outcomes.

One of the most essential strategic resources of the company is the knowledge that is used and developed within the company, creating innovations, and can be transferred among other companies, organizations, industrial sectors, and countries. The key reason for this spill over is the vulnerability of knowledge transfer channels. Knowledge is quickly transmitted through the media, scientific publications, reverse engineering, R&D cooperation, interaction between staff of various firms, companies, and organizations. In addition, knowledge cannot fully belong to the organization. R&D spillovers have a positive impact on innovation development; promote access to knowledge and its dissemination on a non-profit basis which enhances R&D cooperation between different economic entities, organizations, countries in the field of innovation diffusion. The contribution of R&D spillovers to achieving innovation development, the relationship between knowledge spillovers, innovation and R&D cooperation have been thoroughly examined. Differences between knowledge spillovers, knowledge transfers, and knowledge externalities have been identified. Types of R&D spillovers and levels of knowledge spillovers have been considered. Mechanism and theories of knowledge spillovers and local competition have been analysed. Comparative, systematic and critical analysis of scientific literature has been used in order to create the theoretical background for research of R&D spillovers and their impact on innovation development and economic growth.

The aim of the present study is to consider a range of problems that are to be solved during the implementation of projects that are aimed at increasing the access to healthcare and based on the achievements of the new technological order on the example of Latvia, primarily the e-health project. Since January 1, 2018, the use of the e-health system in Latvia is mandatory, but so far only the “Digital Prescription (e-prescription)” project has been functioning at full capacity. The experience with the introduction and use of digital medicine in Latvia indicates a large range of problems faced by state institutions and local self-government institutions, medical establishments, medical personnel, and patients. A systematic vision of the problems of implementing digital medicine requires a necessity at least to take into account and solve seven relatively independent tasks: technical and technological, economic, legal, organizational, managerial, social, psychological, and cultural ones. In terms of systemic vision, the assessment of these aspects of the e-health programme implementation is presented by means of an extensive use of data retrieved from international organizations, Latvian state statistics, scientific research studies, including the ones carried out by the authors. The main conclusion of the study is the need for the theory and the practice of the increasing access to healthcare based on digital medicine, taking into account a more complete variety of factors that stimulate and constrain this process, and involving specialists from the sphere of social sciences.

The article discusses the current state and prospects for the further development (modernization) in the area of information security (IS) in Kazakhstan. Special attention is paid to the challenges that may arise when taking cyber security measures in relation to special requirements of standards to security and an independent IS audit at essential objects of the information and communication infrastructure (EOICI). The purpose of the study is to analyze the challenges on introducing modern standards of IS in the context of forming the national cyber security system in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study has determined that the current challenges on introducing modern IS standards to maintain a high level of cyber security are related to the underdevelopment of the regulatory framework for the list of EOICI, the creation of an IS audit system and an information and analytical system to form national IS indicators. Recommendations have been given, and areas for the further study have been identified.

The article deals with the analysis of the Czech company Linet in an effort to reveal a sustainable business model. It describes the company in the historical context (birth and gradual development), the organizational context (infrastructure) and the innovation context (sources of innovation). The main aim of the article is to find out answers to questions how the company´s journey looked like from zero to the position of European leader in the hospital beds production and what prerequisites the company had to fulfil in order to create a creative culture and what are the imaginary seeds from which its innovations are growing. Fulfilling this goal required to search for literature sources dealing with innovation, innovation sources (opportunities windows), innovation process and innovation companies and also to create a case study that focused on the company´s innovation practice in years 1990-2016. The Linet study is based on six structured interviews with both the founder of the company as well as its current CEO. Research has shown that the company achieved rocket growth thanks to two basic principles, namely constant improvement and respect to people and market focus (openness to the outside world). These principles were applied in practice through controversial thinking, staff inexperience, learning infrastructure, learning and learnership. Openness to the outside world has been identified as an important source of innovation. This openness was ensured by systematic monitoring of the internal and external environment which consisted of staff testing, centres of excellence, patent scanning and the Academy of Productivity and Innovations. The results of the study have led to the conclusion that the company has achieved high innovative performance through ability of absorbing theoretical knowledge, applying it to its processes and principles and integrate it into a comprehensive system that responds to its needs (adapt).

This paper aims to describe and analyse the innovations in the promotion of home-produced products in the market in Latvia. To do this, the authors have carried out a survey of 50 home producers that makes up a 4.5% of home producers and reviewed research studies about marketing strategies of small farmers and home producers. The obtained results reveal that the most important factor in the marketing of home-produced products is the quality and taste of the products. It can be noticed that the market requires not a combination of traditional and often cultural heritage technologies in the development of the product itself, but an open mind and innovative approaches in the marketing and promotion of products in the market. The authors also conclude mainly the products are sold directly to the end user and therefore the communication with the client and mutual cooperation are highly significant.

In contemporary economy innovations by the scientists are seen as a driving force of the economic development. Innovation performance is vital to achieve sustainable country’s competition and to stay in pace with other developed economies (Grossmann 2009).