First-year students undergo several transformations like the transition from high school to university schedules, teaching methods, and discipline specificities to social changes that come with meeting new colleagues or moving to other locations far from family and friends. The COVID-19 outbreak brought additional concerns and uncertainties once educational systems implemented distance learning schemes for public health management. Nevertheless, higher educational organizations preferred to implement hybrid approaches for student engagement motivation and high dropout rate avoidance. In Romania, such an educational system has been applied with caution. Since the pandemic needs to be understood as an opportunity for adaptation and education improvements, the purpose of the present paper is to uncover lessons learned and to develop a systematized model based on students’ perception regarding face-to-face, online and hybrid systems. For this reason, a grounded theory approach has been preferred. Thus, 149 Romanian students enrolled in the first year in engineering specialities with ages between 18–26 years both male (50.3%) and female (49.7%) have answered the research questions in an online environment due to pandemic restrictions. Based on the online asynchronous student interviews, 220 codes and a further 13 categories have been developed. After a pertinent analysis of the relationships between categories and relevant literature sorting, a theoretical model for the Romanian higher educational current pandemic situation has been proposed. The main face-to-face and online education characteristics are outlined, the hybrid approach becoming a bridge between the two systems. Management implications are outlined together with further research directions.

The published data on the experimentally determined fracture toughness of foams are based on a small number of specimens, having a lack of statistical consistency. The paper proposes a statistical approach on the fracture toughness results of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams of three different densities. Five types of fracture tests were considered. The results were statistically analyzed using six types of regressions and a meta-analysis to identify the factors influencing the fracture toughness. The statistical analysis indicates that the fracture toughness represents a material property because does not depend on the specimen type. The density plays a major role in the fracture toughness of PUR foams. The irregular shape of the cells induced small anisotropy for low-density foams (100 kg/m³ and 145 kg/m³). This effect could not be observed for the foam with 300 kg/m³ density, for which the cells have a more regular spherical shape. The statistical analysis indicates that the influence of the loading speed is very weak.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the high infection rates, in some periods, a hybrid or totally online educational system was used. In both types of fully online and hybrid educational processes, the need for online educational platforms arose. This research aims to provide a comparative overview of the expectations for these platforms using the responses of two successive generations of students as input by applying the Kano methodology. Furthermore, this article performs a Fong test as a relevance check to identify the features for which the Kano analysis results are statistically significant. The results of the analysis show that the expectations of students are more related to the features that describe their access to administrative resources and the technical-related features. This can be explained through a permanent need, independent of the chosen educational system (i.e., face-to-face, fully online, or hybrid) and their field of study. The use of virtual reality (VR) technology in creating laboratory experimental lessons is identified as the only possible mechanism, from the proposed features in the engagement category, to keep students engaged during periods when fully online and hybrid educational processes are needed.

The paper presents a new approach for product value analysis by combining a classical approach with a straightforward (intuitive) one and incorporating a new method of calculating (setting up) a statistical confidence interval in terms of functionality and cost. In this process, the value analysis team can observe the differences between the ideal and real function to cost ratio and easily set up a confidence interval avoiding negative effects on the overall product quality. Moreover, computing an “close to optimal state” for the function-cost ratio, results in a better understanding of the differences, thus aiding the process of generating solutions for adjusting the ratio in case of cost reduction or reallocation, integrating a new function, product reengineering or modernization.

In the current business environment, problem-solving remains a critical and highly relevant skill for achieving customer satisfaction especially in the context of digitalization and industry 4.0 and a strong requirement from IATF 16949. In the present paper, a comprehensive analysis of existing problem-solving models is conducted, examining their strengths, limitations, and applicability in the manufacturing companies. By drawing insights from traditional methodologies, as already addressed in the scientific literature, such as Six-Step Model A3 methodology, 8 Disciplines, Six Sigma, the Cynefin Framework, Kepner-Tregoe Methodology and 5P (Principles) for Problem Solving, a new and integrative model designed to address the shortcomings identified in current approaches is created. This innovative framework, named “Synchronous Model” (Greek word for modern) synthesizes key elements from diverse models, offering a more adaptable solution to complex and modern problem-solving challenges. Emphasizing its potential for business digital transformation, we discuss how the proposed model fosters efficiency, agility, and strategic decision-making within organizational settings. This research not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of problem-solving methodologies but also provides valuable insights for practitioners seeking innovative approaches to address challenges in their respective industries, for which the current methods are either not sufficient or too complex. The integration of “Synchronous Model” is meant to elevate problem-solving practices, offering a transformative impact on business operations and strategic decision-making, all in the benefit of the customer.

The main objective of the paper is to identify if SMEs managers undertake marketing activities (in the sense of having a responsible employee or a department for marketing activities) out of need (in the sense of competitiveness level in the market) or starting from available resources (financial and human assets). Therefore to shed some light on this nexus, the authors analyze the relationship between who has the responsibility of marketing activities within SMEs, its size (in terms of financial and human assets) and business sector. However, even if we find no generalized model, the paper still rises awareness for academics and practitioners, that SMEs need simplified marketing tools/applications (regardless of their level of financial and human resources and field of business) for coping with the continuously growing market competitiveness