Author: Gheorghe Popescu

Introduction. The paper Japanese miracle versus thirty-six years of excellence in American searching groping presents the way in which a country which can ensure the necessary from own resources only to the limestone and sulfur, having a hardworking population, highly disciplined, proud and persevering has managed to install in the consciousness of the world an undeniable phenomenon called Japanese miracle.

Aim of the study. In this paper the authors tried to decipher some of the mechanisms that have made the great achievements of Japanese. The authors believe that being forced to start from scratch, the availability and openness that they had in order to learn from others, especially from the best managers of the moment, but also from their mistakes enhanced by the consistency and perseverance of not doing sacrificing quality, represented the main factors of success.

Introduction. Achieving excellence requires continuous improvement of quality management system in any organization are essential leadership, commitment and active involvement of management at the highest level. In turn, the management at the highest level within the organization has a duty to define models of excellence and performance measurement methods both individual and organizational structure of each part, in order to monitor and periodically determine to what as planned objectives within each structure have been met.

Aim of the study. The authors present the basic features of the assessment methodology RADAR that is designed to coordinate the efforts to improve the organizational processes in order to achieve excellence.
Keywords: business process management, assessment methodologies, RADAR methodology, organizational processes, quality, performance, excellence

Introduction.The basic function of money is to be exchanged by means of payment depending on the requirements and characteristics of trade. Conducting payments must be made in optimal conditions, thus ensuring fluency and safety of the entire payment process. Currency must react to modern means of payment, being influenced by external economic environment, society, contemporary civilization, conducting more frequent payments through banks and evolving to sign electronic monetary impulse, breaking total real value of the currency of contents constituting challenges and responses of the coin.

Aim of the study. Our research focuses on issues related to the payments sector, the Smartcard, the Electronic Banking, payment systems based on bank cards, the Cyber cash, and the electronic payment systems (1) Net Cash and (2) E-Cash, Micro-payment systems with (1) Millicent and (2) Cyber Coin, as well as the electronic check payments.
Keywords: electronic payment system, payments sector, smartcard, electronic banking, bank cards, cyber cash, net cash, e-cash, micro-payment systems, Millicent, cyber coin, electronic check payments, development, economic and a managerial perspective

Introduction. Electronic commerce or e-commerce is the electronic transaction performed using any computer. Such trade means, specifically, any exchange between a seller and a buyer who visits a web site that is performed after a commercial transaction.

Aim of the study. This paper aims to presents the electronic commerce with its definitions, historical evolution and importance, it’s the main forms, the advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce, the electronic commerce versus traditional commerce as well as the electronic commerce in Romania. In this research we have emphasised the role and the importance of the e-commerce in comparison with the traditional commerce, stressing the fact that it has many advantages that underpin the on-going development and success of this trade: time; the availability of virtual stores: program almost non-stop, every day of the year; the possibility of free decision; the possibility of purchasing products even outside the borders of the country the buyer; communication, particularly internationally, low cost, the relations with suppliers and customers and its importance for small businesses using e-commerce which can compete with large companies.
Keywords: electronic commerce, traditional commerce, development, supply chain management, customer relationship, economic and a managerial perspective, Romania’s experience.

Introduction. The macro environment refers to that side of the external environment that has the capacity to influence the companies’ activity, while acting indirectly through their microenvironment. Additionally, the macro environment’s influence can be remarked especially on a long-term perspective, being sometimes weak and somewhat uncontrollable. In this regard, some examples can be offered, such as: the unexpected activity of the volcanoes (especially after being “asleep” for a longer period of time or even after declared “inactive”); the unexpected devastating and destructive natural phenomena, such as, typhoons, hurricanes, tornados, or even floods;the unpredicted droughts; and economic phenomenon having the capacity of spreading world-wide a high and unexpected pace, such as the global financial crises.

Aim of the study. This paper focuses on the companies’ economic, social and research – development – innovation potential in terms of the macro environment. Moreover, the study takes into considerations the nowadays key elements, perspectives and challenges concerning this subject. Furthermore, this approach is a theoretical one, chosen due to the necessity of presenting the essential macro environment’s elements influencing and affecting the companies’ economic, social, cultural, technical, political and legal evolution in the marketplace, while taking into consideration elements such as competitiveness, open market, consumers’ behaviour, needs, wishes and desires, infrastructure and research – development – innovation potential. The first part of the paper focuses upon the main characteristics of the key components of the macro environment, such as, the economic, socio-cultural, technologic, demographic, natural, political and legal elements. The second part of the scientific study tackles the aspects related to the companies’ potential, in terms of their economic, social and research – development – innovation perspectives. The conclusions, limitations as well as future implications section presents the basic ideas that result from this study, as well as the elements that could be improved or even further addressed into the near future.
Keywords: macro environment; companies; economic, socio-cultural, technical, natural, demographic, political and legal elements, research – development – innovation potential, Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P.), infrastructure, financial and monetary factors, economic perspectives and challenges.

Introduction. The study acknowledges business environment’s role in the context of economic integration and points out to a few correlation that exist at present in the marketplace: competition, globalization, economic growth and sustainable development.

Aim of the study. This paper is focused on presenting: business environment’s role in the context of economic integration, in correlation with competition, globalization, economic growth and sustainable development, the economic integration and the role of the European Union at an international level, Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and sustainable development and Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) future with predictions and perspectives for 2020 and 2030.
Keywords: Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Business Environment, Economic Integration, competition, globalization, economic growth, sustainable development

Introduction. The human resources management is extremely important today due to the fact that it offers each and every company the opportunity to evaluate its most important asset, the personal, based on the past and present evolution, while using the appropriate policies, measurements and instruments, as well as by taking into consideration its general rules and regulations.

Aim of the study. This paper aims to highlight the following key aspects: first of all, the notions of human resources management and strategic personnel planning are defined and analysed; second of all, the necessity and the importance of creating and using comprehensive human resources management policies and instruments is taken into account; third of all, a case study done in a Romanian organization is presented, in terms of a quantitative and qualitative analysis; fourth of all, the results of the case study are presented and future predictions are made concerning the situation of similar organizations in Romania as well as in other countries worldwide; fifth of all, the concussions of this research paper are drawn, the limitations are presented and justified and the future research plans are presented.
Keywords: human resources management, policies, instruments, strategic personnel planning, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, Romania’s situation.
JEL Classification: J24, M00, M50, M51, M53, M54, O15, O20

Introduction. Today the financial market system, as a whole, and the financial market, in particular, are both facing numerous challenges. The elements addressed in our research come to present in a broad and accurate manner these challenges, in an attempt to forecast the financial market’s next steps and figures, and to make light on the nearest provocations that the social, political and economic environment are all bringing.

Aim of the study. In the first part of this research paper, elements such as monetary, fiscal, financial, business, investment, labour, economic, property and political freedom features are being presented, starting from the complex definitions of these concepts, continuing with an in-depth analysis of these concepts and their roles and importance in today’s society structure. In this regard, numerous valuable examples of successful economic and political structures are being presented, in order to emphasize the nations’ potential in terms of monetary, fiscal, financial, business, investment, labour, economic, property and political freedom. In the second part of this scientific work, the role and the importance given to the financial markets nowadays is being presented, starting from the definitions of the financial markets, continuing with the challenges that these types of markets are facing today, given the monetary challenges, the fragility of the economic systems world-wide, the insecurities brought by the continuously changing public policies, the financial “game” that is “played” between the banks and the capital markets, as well as the investments’ role at the level of the economy. In the third part of this paper, Romania’s situation is being addressed taking into consideration the latest data and analysis provided by the National Bank of Romania (September 2016) based on the discoveries and the general conclusions of the document named “Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (D.S.G.E.) model estimated for Romania”.
Keywords: financial markets, capital markets, monetary freedom, fiscal freedom, financial freedom, business freedom, investment freedom, labour freedom, economic freedom, property freedom, political freedom, economic and political features, money, banks, investments, Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (D.S.G.E.) Model, National Bank of Romania (N.B.R.), Romania’s situation
JEL Classification: D53, E00, E44, E50, E58, F21, F38, F43, G00, G01, G10, G17, G18, G32

Introduction. Although tobacco products and tobacco crelated products have been described in numerous occasions by different worldwide known researchers, health specialists, political and public figures, as well as health associations as being extremely dangerous and harmful for individuals’ heath (being reported that “smoking causes many kinds of cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses which are fatal for many sufferers”), due to the physiologically and psychologically addictive nature (and not only) of their key ingredients (among which especially nicotine, which according to the specialists can be associated more with the effects induced by “heroin and cocaine – rather than shopping, chocolate or the Internet”), the tobacco industry seems to flourish year by year, although “it never claimed any health benefits”, gaining more and more market share and brand share by attracting more and more customers.

Aim of the study. This paper aims to addresses the following key aspects: first of all, the article is keen on providing an answer to the following question: “What is the place of the tobacco market and tobacco companies worldwide?” in order to show the importance of tobacco and tobacco related products worldwide and to stress the importance of this continuously growing market worldwide (despite its controversial nature); second of all, this paper is focused on providing an answer to the following question: “What is the evolution of the land devoted to growing tobacco and its importance for the tobacco companies worldwide?” in order to show connection that exists between the following elements: the land devoted to growing tobacco has known a continuous growth between 2000 and 2012 (and, of course, until today), due to the role played by tobacco and tobacco related products in the lives of the consumers worldwide; the tobacco companies become more and more powerful and more and more reach with each year; the lands devoted to growing tobacco are especially found in less developed countries and statistics have shown that a significant number of children are used in the tobacco industry; third of all, this work focuses itself on providing an answer to the following question: “Which are the biggest tobacco companies in the world?” in order to present the world’s tobacco industry leaders, as well as the latest trends and future predictions concerning this strong and competitive industry; and fourth of all, this research paper intends to provide an answer to the following question: “What are the latest tobacco market trends and hidden opportunities in Romania?” in order to show the latest tobacco market trends and hidden opportunities in Romania.
Keywords: tobacco market, tobacco companies’ worldwide, growing tobacco, tobacco related products, enterprise value, nicotine and tar addiction, market trends, market share, product revenue, profit, brand, hidden opportunities, sustainable economic growth, waste, Romania’s situation.
JEL Classification: D40, L66, Q18, P45, I00, O00

Introduction. Today the shifts in global economic, social, demographic and political trends will continue to put a tremendous pressure both on food supplies and on oil supplies, creating new challenges for food and oil manufacturers and consumers

Aim of the study. This paper aims to tackles the following key aspects: the economic and social perspectives of the world’s frozen food industry; the work done towards a sustainable, secure and healthy food supply; the need to ensure fair prices and a wide range of food and food access solutions; the need to implement a more environmentally sustainable, more resilient, profitable and competitive food chains; the need to deliver wholesome, healthy, safe and ethical and healthy food products; the solutions needed to support the retail frozen marketplace on long run; the need to create a balance between the costs of the retail frozen products and the prices of these products; the perspectives offered by the freezing technology and the quality of the products; the key developments to date concerning the world’s frozen food market, the countries where these types of products are mostly used and the world’s biggest frozen food producers and consumers.
Keywords: world’s frozen food market, frozen food industry, retail, foodservice, food safety and quality, freezing systems and technologies, key developments, sustainability, social responsibility opportunities, an economic and social perspective
JEL Classification: F63, I15, O00, O10, O14, Q01, Q55