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Muath Asmar
2018; 33(3): 5-24; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.01

Aim/purpose – The main purpose of the study is to investigate the bank-specific factors that influence the net interest margin of banks in Palestine.
Design/methodology/approach – An econometric model using random effect panel regression was used to estimate data for all 17 working banks from 2006 to 2016.
Findings – Result indicates that several factors, including credit risk, risk aversion, bank orientation, and foreign banks, have statistically significant effects on the net interest margin. However, results also show that such factors as operating expenses, management efficiency, Islamic bank, and time trend are not statistically significant.
Research implications/limitations – The main policy lesson drawn from this study is that the net interest margin of working banks in Palestine could be further enhanced by formulating regulatory policies regarding bank-specific factors, such as credit risk, risk aversion, bank orientation, and foreign banks. The most significant limitation of the study was the availability of data. Despite the fact that several bank-specific factors were identified in the literature as a determinant of the net interest margin, only the factors that have an available data were used in the study.
Originality/value/contribution – The results of research introduced in the study make theoretical and practical contributions to the body of knowledge. It fills the gap related to the bank-specific factors that influence the net interest margin of banks in Palestine, which have specific conditions and atypical situation.

Keywords: net interest margin, financial intermediation, banking sector, panel regression analysis, Palestine.
JEL Classification: G21, G32.

Oluwayemisi Bolaji Bello, Abayomi Olarewaju Adeoye
2018; 33(3): 25-38; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.02

Aim/purpose – The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between organizational learning, organizational innovation and organizational performance in Nigerian environment. The three hypotheses tested were consonant with the objectives of the study.
Design/methodology/approach – Descriptive survey research method was used, purposive sampling method was used to select participants for the study and questionnaire administration engaged as instrument to elicit information from the participants. Kendall’s tau b correlation coefficient statistical technique adopted.
Findings – The study confirmed that organizational learning had a positive correlation with organizational innovation; organization innovation in turn had positive correlation with organizational performance and organizational learning also had positive correlation with organizational performances.
Research implications – The study looked at relationship between organizational learning, organizational innovation and organizational performance in relation to manufacturing industry in Nigeria.
Originality/value/contribution – The study used non-financial perspectives, product, process, technology and non-technological innovations to establish may be relationships exist between the three constructs.

Keywords: innovation, learning, manufacturing industry, organization, performance.
JEL Classification: O31, D80, L60, L20, P47.

Paweł Kaczmarczyk
2018; 33(3): 39-62; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.03

Aim/purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyze and compare the development of voivodships in terms of social media usage in enterprises in the period from 2014 to 2017. The aim has been formulated because of the increasingly greater significance of social media in post-industrial enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach – The two types of linear ordering methods were applied, i.e., the method based on the pattern of development (Hellwig’s method) and the methods that were non-based on the pattern of development were used. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient ρ and Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient τ were used to verify correlations between various rankings. Analysis of the dynamics, spatial visualizations, box plots and polar plots were used in relation to the aggregated measures. In conducted analyses, data from the period 2014-2017 (provided by the Central Statistical Office of Poland) was used. The each year for the period from 2014 to 2017 was analyzed.
Findings – In all rankings (with the use of all types of applied measures and also in all analyzed years) the 1st place was taken by Masovian Voivodship. The distance between Masovian Voivodship and other voivodships was still significant during the analyzed period. The created rankings were similar in terms of statistical significance of computed correlation coefficients in all analyses. The research study results do not indicate a clear dispersion of the level of the analyzed phenomenon between eastern and western voivodships. It was also found that the higher is ICT usage by enterprises in a voivodship, the more common is social media usage by them. There is a clear overall tendency of increase in the phenomenon during the period from 2014 to 2017.
Research implications/limitations – The main implications is that the identified differ-ences between areas can be a basis to assess the social media usage as a specific factor of business development. The research results indicate voivodships that should employ social media more and the highest placed voivodships as well. The results can be regard as support for the policy of digitization and building a knowledge-based economy.
Originality/value/contribution – The originality of this paper is based on: the created rankings of voivodships in terms of social media usage in enterprises in the period 2014-2017, the comparison and assessment of voivodships in this context, and the identifica-tion of change of the social media usage in individual voivodships and in Poland as a whole.

Keywords: social media, integrated marketing communications, voivodships, ordering methods.
JEL Classification: C38, C43, O33.

Karolina Muszyńska
2018; 33(3): 63-79; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.04

Aim/purpose – The aim of the paper is to introduce a concept for measuring effective-ness of communication in project teams, taking into account 19 effectiveness aspects which enables to evaluate individual communication effectiveness of each team member, the overall communication effectiveness of a team or organization and to compare teams or organizations for communication effectiveness. The results of a small scale study serve as a proof of the proposed concept comprising the questionnaire and the way of presenting its results.
Design/methodology/approach – First, a list of communication effectiveness aspects is proposed, based on a literature review. They are additionally grouped into aspects de-pendent on the sender, the recipient, and both. On the basis of the identified communication effectiveness aspects a questionnaire for measuring the level of communication effectiveness is prepared and the way of presenting its results is demonstrated on a small scale research sample. The case study is used to validate the presented concept.
Findings – The developed questionnaire, based on the identified communication effectiveness aspects, together with the proposed form of presenting its results can be success-fully applied to evaluate individual communication effectiveness of specific team members, the overall communication effectiveness of a team or organization and to compare teams or organizations for communication effectiveness.
Research implications/limitations – The presented concept enables a graphically enriched assessment of communication effectiveness of individual team members, whole teams or organizations and also brings to the attention of the respondents the various aspects which influence communication effectiveness. It should be, however, noted that the results of the questionnaire base on the declarations of the respondents, which makes them subjective.
Originality/value/contribution – The proposed concept of measuring communication effectiveness can be used as a tool for enhancing the communication effectiveness in project teams where some flaws or infirmities are observed. It constitutes a comprehensive way of tackling this problem by addressing an extensive list of communication effectiveness aspects and provides clear and meaningful tools of presenting the results.

Keywords: communication effectiveness, project team, measuring communication effectiveness, evaluation of communication effectiveness.
JEL Classification: D38, M14, M15.

Piotr Sliż
2018; 33(3): 80-95; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.05

Aim/purpose – The aim of this article is to present the concept of a multicriteria model of process maturity assessment (MMPM), which allows to assess the degree of implementation of process solutions with respect to three dimensions: short-term, long-term and systemic.
Design/methodology/approach – The characteristics of the model presented in the article was preceded by a review of the literature and the analysis of secondary research related to the assessment of the degree of implementation of elements of the process approach in management.
Findings – As a result of the review of the literature and the analysis of secondary re-search, a thesis was formulated that quantitative research using the existing methodologies for identifying the implementation of a process approach in management is insufficient in the precise assessment of the organization’s process maturity. This means that they should be extended to include qualitative research. The solution to this problem may be the use of a multi-dimensional model of process maturity assessment of the organization.
Research implications/limitations – The application of MMPM makes it possible to assess the degree of implementation of the process approach elements using the opinion poll method. This means that the results may be subject to random or non-random errors, depending on the selection technique of the research sample. At this point, it should also be emphasized that in order to provide a precision assessment of process maturity using the MMPM, the questions in the questionnaire should be adapted to the specifics of the area under examination.
Originality/value/contribution – The scope of this article fills in the research gap that exists in terms of assessing the process maturity of the organization in the long run, understood as defining the direction of development, stagnation or atrophy of implementation of process solutions in the organization. The concept of the MMPM presented in the article makes it possible to assess process maturity in three dimensions: short-term, long-term and system-based. In addition, the structure of the model enables the reconfiguration of the research questionnaire with questions of a self-reinforcing character by the respondent to questions, enabling the assessment of the level of maturity on the basis of symptoms.

Keywords: process management, process approach, process maturity, evaluation of process maturity, MMPM.
JEL Classification: M21, O3.

Marcin Świtała, Wojciech Gamrot, Beata Reformat, Katarzyna Bilińska-Reformat
2018; 33(3): 96-119; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.06

Aim/purpose – This article presents the results of research referring to Keller’s brand equity concept. The fundamental objective of the research was to examine the influence of brand awareness and brand image on brand equity. We were also interested which force of influence is greater.
Design/methodology/approach – The research was based on secondary and primary sources of information. The primary research was carried out on a sample of 100 enterprises ordering logistics services. Data obtained in such a way was subject to statistical analysis using modelling of structural equations.
Findings – Based on the analysis of paths in the model of structural equations, the existence of positive, but weak dependencies between brand awareness, brand image and brand equity was observed. While the results of bootstrap simulations conducted to estimate confidence intervals indicated that differences in the strength of this influence are not statistically significant.
Research implications/limitations – The obtained results did not bring sufficient basis to accept or reject hypotheses assuming an essentially positive relationship between brand awareness and brand image and its equity. Simultaneously, the conducted research led to the rejection of the hypothesis in accordance to which the influence of brand awareness on brand equity is smaller than the influence of brand image on brand equity.
Originality/value/contribution – Potential causes of differences between the results of our own research and the research presented by Davis, Golicic, & Marquardt (2008) were indicated.

Keywords: brand awareness, brand image, brand equity, logistics service providers.
JEL Classification: L1, M31, M37.

Anna Tatarczak
2018; 33(3): 120-135; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.07

Aim/purpose – The paper analyses how game theory can be exploited to provide the implementation of profit allocations among the members of the fourth party logistics supply chain coalition system.
Design/methodology/approach – The study compares four allocation rules from cooperative game theory in order to explore fair and reasonable sharing of revenue among the partners in the venture.
Findings – As a result, more practical situations can be modelled and more supply chain efficiency can be obtained throughout the several steps carried out by decision makers. Our computational analysis establishes that the proposed methods are computationally efficient and can be implemented to solve real-life problems.
Research implications/limitations – Our business process simulation of the 4PL supply chain coalition including a simulation of the profit allocation concept allowed us to develop a broad understanding of the management process of the 4PL supply chain coalition approach.
Originality/value/contribution – A comparison of the different methods based on game theory provided an opportunity for reaching the prefect collaboration. These views enrich our understanding of the 4PL supply chain coalition and help us to implement an innovative development for the sector.

Keywords: logistics collaboration, fourth-party logistics, game theory, profit allocation.
JEL Classification: C71, J51, L91.

Tomasz Zalega
2018; 33(3): 136-163; doi.org/10.22367/jem.2018.33.08

Aim/purpose – On the basis of a critical analysis of related literature, the article attempts to explain the concept and essence of collaborative consumption, a dynamically developing consumer trend. The principal goal is to demonstrate that young people in Poland are distrustful of sharing goods with strangers, and thus are much more willing to engage in collaborative consumption when they know the people with whom they make transactions. Following the analysis of the research material, it was also possible to confirm that a key reason for young people to participate in collaborative consumption lies in financial benefits and access to a wide range of goods and services.
Design/methodology/approach – The tool used to conduct the research was my original questionnaire comprising 50 closed-ended questions regarding alternative consumer trends, including collaborative consumption. The survey was carried out from 10th May to 10th June 2017. The participants were recruited via the ankietka.pl website and social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and e-mail. In order to partake in the survey, those interested had to visit a specific website containing the questionnaire. It was also distributed across special forums, university and private school fanpages. 240 people aged 18-34, belonging to Generations Y and Z, took part in the survey.
Findings – The research shows that the higher the value of goods, the less likely younger consumers are to share them. Respondents most frequently exchange goods such as books, clothing and games. Their disposable income is a crucial factor influencing their interest in collaborative consumption. The most important advantages of collaborative consumption include the possibility of earning money and unhampered access to a wide range of goods and services. On the other hand, the central disadvantages are distrust and possible fraudulent transactions on the part of strangers.
Research implications/limitations – Given the limited financial capacity, the study of collaborative consumption in consumer behavior of young people was confined to an online survey.
Originality/value/contribution – This article is one of few publications in Poland that seek to provide some insight into collaborative consumption in the purchasing behavior of young people living in Poland and into the most important factors influencing respondents’ participation in the examined consumer trend.

Keywords: young people, collaborative consumption, sharing, consumer behavior.
JEL Classification: D19, Q01.

The Review of Emerging Europe and the Great Recession by Daniel Dăianu, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Cambridge 2018, pp. 332.
Reviewed by Dániel Palotai