Keeping in mind the fact that organizations in the region of Vojvodina are moving from a negotiated to market economy, this study aims to analyze how the dimensions of collaborative climate affect the various activities of knowledge management. The degree to which collaborative climate influences knowledge work is investigated on 190 participants in the region of the Province of Vojvodina (Serbia). Two standardized questionnaires were used to collect data: a knowledge management questionnaire, which included 32 questions, and a collaborative climate questionnaire of 20 questions. To test the hypothesis of the study, the technique used was descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The results show that only the organizational culture as a dimension of collaborative climate contributes to the explanation of all the activities of knowledge management, except the activity of leaving knowledge, which fails to achieve a statistical relationship with any dimension of collaborative climate. This study provides useful insights for practitioners wanting to improve an organization’s performance and to increase organizational sustainability and learning. It is a useful base to expand further research in a way of better understanding the impact that collaborative climate has on the implementation of knowledge management in a transition towards a knowledge economy.

This study investigates how leadership, more precisely leader–member exchange (LMX), affects innovative behavior through an innovative climate as well as, indirectly, through organizational commitment and internal trust. A total of 1114 samples were collected from employees working in firms in Slovenia and Serbia. The quantitative data and the proposed model were analyzed with the partial least squares—SEM technique. The results indicate that an innovative climate is a mediator in the relationship between leadership and innovative behavior, and this relationship is also further mediated by internal trust and organizational commitment. These results reveal serial mediation or the complex role of an innovative climate in the process of influencing innovative work behavior. Implications for theory and recommendations for practice are discussed.

Entrepreneurial ecosystems are the main driver of the widespread trend of digitalization, and they open opportunities for the advancement of the digital economy. The digital economy makes its progress through innovative enterprises that can ensure global progress. In order to effectively use the opportunities that open up the process of digitalization, information is needed on how much the Republic of Serbia is able to support the process of discovering entrepreneurship, which is stimulated by digitalization, which is the subject of this paper. The aim of this paper is to analyze the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia, as well as to identify indicators that hinder the development of this system, using appropriate instruments and methods that will be presented in detail in the paper. The results have demonstrated that the starting point for improvement of the digital entrepreneurial system is in the field of finance, with a particular focus on companies in the startup and stand-up phases. Furthermore, a comparative analysis will showcase the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia and the member states of the European Union, where it will be seen that the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia is lagging behind the member states of the European Union in its growth and development. The results will serve as the starting point for policymakers to improve the process of digitalization and the digital entrepreneurial system as a whole. The results show the starting point for the improvement of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Serbia, that is, how small, and medium-sized enterprises can be encouraged on the path to their successful management.

This study investigates the factors influencing the acceptance and implementation of smart city solutions, with a particular focus on smart mobility and digital services in Novi Sad, one of the leading urban centers in Serbia. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research encompasses citizens’ perceptions of the benefits of smart technologies, their level of awareness regarding smart solutions, the degree of engagement in using digital services, and their interest in smart mobility. The results indicate that these factors are crucial for the successful integration of smart technologies. Notably, awareness of smart city initiatives and the perceived benefits, such as improved mobility, reduced traffic congestion, increased energy efficiency, and enhanced quality of life, are highlighted as key prerequisites for the adoption of these solutions. Novi Sad, as the European Capital of Culture in 2022, presents a unique opportunity for the implementation of these technologies. Our findings point to the need for strategic campaigns aimed at educating and raising public awareness. The practical implications of this study could contribute to shaping policies that encourage the development of smart cities, not only in Novi Sad but also in other urban areas across Serbia and the region. This study confirms the importance of citizen engagement and technological literacy in the transformation of urban environments through smart solutions, underscoring the potential of these technologies to improve everyday life and achieve sustainable urban development.

Understanding the relationship between work stress and job satisfaction is crucial for promoting employee well-being and also for sustainable organizational performance. This study proposes and validates, within the population of employees in Serbia, the Stress Symptoms Survey (SSS), an 18-item instrument for measuring physical and psychological symptoms of work-related stress. The scale shows strong internal consistency where a general factor is highly saturated with all survey items. Regression analysis indicated that lack of organizational support was the strongest predictor of lowered job satisfaction, followed by stress symptoms and general job stress; job pressure showed a positive association with job satisfaction when other stressors were controlled. These results highlight the practical value of the SSS and underscore the crucial role of supportive work environments in mitigating stress, enhancing satisfaction and achieving sustainable work performance.

Value chains are facing different challenges, caused by emerging technologies as well as Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 principles. In order to successfully deliver valuable products to their customers, firms have to adapt, transform, and continuously improve their operational processes. Digital technologies will enable digital supply chains which will be decentralized and composed of autonomous modules. Although the elements of the value chain are independent, this paper shows how they affect each other’s performance. In this study, a model which shows how human resources management impacts customers’ satisfaction is presented. Additionally, this model reveals direct and indirect relations between human resources management, processes, supply chain actors, and customers. The conducted study was based on the variance-based method, while the model was constructed using the “PLSPM” package in R software. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis was applied for assessing the construct constitution. Taking into account that “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link”, firms can use these findings to seek for performance indicators and problem causes across the whole value chain and not only in one of its elements.