The paper presents the results from the research on the factors influencing the use of the Balanced Scorecard methodology in measuring company performance in the engineering sector. The primary objective of the research was to verify the importance of using non-financial factors in managing businesses in connection to the use of the Balanced Scorecard methodology and to verify the dependence between the use of the given methodology and the lack of human and financial resources for its usage. The research focusing on the given issue was conducted over a period of six months. The research was based on the hypotheses that were verified with statistical methods using the methodology of a Chi-square test. To identify the factors that hinder the usage of the Balanced Scorecard methodology in the addressed enterprises, the method of standard deviation was used. The main result of the research is a finding that there is a statistically significant relationship between the enterprises considering the non-financial indicators and the use of the Balanced Scorecard methodology to be important. This relationship is confirmed also by the calculation using a test with p = 0.0422. The research verified one of the main research goals, i.e., the importance of non-financial indicators in connection to the Balanced Scorecard concept (BSC). Other hypotheses are related to the issue of the lack of human and financial resources. Using the Chi-square test in these cases once again, the study also found out the existence of the dependence between the lack of these resources and the use of the Balanced Scorecard methodology. The final value p = 0.0446 relating to human resources and the value p = 0.0377 relating to financial sources define the barriers as being important in implementing the BSC methodology into corporate practice. These values confirm other research results related to the barriers of using BSC. The presented paper assesses the research results that confirm the importance of using non-financial indicators and define the barriers that hinder this usage. The research contributed to the extension of the knowledge of the BSC concept that we consider being a modern managerial future-oriented tool and supported its implementation in companies so that they could operate within the framework of sustainable development.

Slovak spa services are not given sufficient attention directly following the support and sustainable development. The paper focuses on the evaluation of the overall development and current level of efficiency of the Slovak spas in 2013–2018, through the application of DEA models. Input variables (total number of beds, employees, medical staff) and output variables (use of bed capacity, number of treated clients) within the structure of DEA models analyzed (CCR-I, CCR-O, BCC-I, BCC-O) are determined by results of the correlation analysis. The data were obtained from the annual reports of the spa enterprises. By the results, the average efficiency score for all enterprises reached 0.7527, i.e., the average spa enterprise would need only 75.27% of currently used inputs for a given output production to move to the efficiency frontier. The development of the average efficiency score confirmed a positive growing trend until 2015; however, the efficiency decreased by 1.84% in a year-to-year comparison in 2016–2018. In each year of the analyzed period, the number of inefficient enterprises (66.67%) exceeded that of the efficient ones (33.33%). Through research carried out in spa facilities, the authors contributed to expanding the application of the DEA method in another tourism sector.

Globally, millions of people suffer from poverty. This paper discusses the problem of poverty especially in relation to food waste. The prevention of food waste can also contribute to global poverty reduction, and the reduction of food waste is a tool for sustainable growth and competitiveness. At present, the number of people at risk of poverty and the amount of food waste are increasing at unsustainable rates. An integrated and efficient tool for the management of food, energy, and water (FEW) resources to improve FEW security via an interdisciplinary approach could help address several of the most significant global challenges, such as climate change, and economic, environmental, and social security. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the existence of poverty and the treatment of food for sustainable growth. The analysis focused on the EU countries and the main data source was the Eurostat database. Households generally create the largest proportion of food waste. Pareto analysis shows that in households, food and non-alcoholic beverages are among the first group of expenses, and in the EU countries they represent approximately 12% of the total expenses. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are a stable, unavoidable, and non-negligible element of total expenses. Paradoxically, enormous amounts of food are wasted. A relatively weak inversely proportional relationship between the amount of food waste per capita and the proportion of the population at risk of poverty among the total population of EU countries was identified through correlational analysis. A very weak relationship between the share of the population at risk of poverty in the total population and the amount of food waste per capita, excluding the population at risk of poverty, was also found.

In the current turbulent and constantly changing conditions, there is a growing tendency to develop human resource activities through implementing managerial innovations. The present paper addresses social workers’ work motivation. The paper’s main goal is to determine the impact of work motivation on social service employees, representatives of generation X and generation Y. The present paper analyses generation X’s and generation Y’s work preferences accounting for the distinctiveness of social service work performance. An original questionnaire was distributed to the social workers. For the selection of respondents in social services facilities, the method of a random selection of respondents was used. In this method, each respondent has the same probability of being chosen. The research sample consisted of 201 employees of social services. The questionnaire tackled two areas: demographics (gender, age, and educational background) and work motivation (work environment, working atmosphere, career opportunities, upskilling, income, and demotivating agents at the workplace). The obtained data were statistically processed and evaluated. The data were analysed regarding correlations, differences, and similarities in the social workers’ perception of work motivation. The research shows no statistically significant relationship between generation X and generation Y regarding the main motivational stimulus in social workers. Both generations perceive motivation in the same way. Another outcome of the research is that Generation X respondents consider «financial remuneration» and «upskilling» more important than Generation Y respondents. Generation Y respondents consider «career growth», «work being interesting», «friendly work environment», «feedback», and «work-life balance» more important than Generation X respondents. Research respondents appreciate the scope for internal reflection and strengthening of internal motivation. External and internal motivational stimuli, as well as other motivational benefits, support improving the quality of social services and overall improving the quality of life of social services employees. The presented research brings findings applicable to the social service sector in the framework of managerial innovation and the scope of employees’ work motivation.

The article analyzes the issue of migration as a complex social phenomenon. International population migration in the conditions of growing globalization occupies an important place in the development of modern society and, accordingly, affects young people who, for various reasons, decided to study abroad (in Slovakia). The article reflects knowledge at the theoretical and empirical levels. One of the main tasks of modern higher education is the modernization and efficiency of the professional mobility of future specialists. Student migration is considered as educational migration. We point out that the Slovak Republic is one of the most economically successful countries in Central-Eastern Europe. Economic reforms and accession to the EU, combined with significant inflows of foreign direct investment, have led to sustained economic growth and job creation. Economic development and demographic changes have also created an additional need for skilled labor. At the same time, greater integration into the EU, open borders and a common educational space led to the migration of Slovak students to the neighboring Czech Republic and other EU countries. As a result, Slovakia gradually began to ease migration restrictions and allowed an increasing number of third-country nationals to enter the territory of the Slovak Republic. The integration policy of Slovakia is consistent with the migration policy, and among its priorities is the effective integration of foreigners in the labor market. The purpose of the article is to analyze Ukrainian student migration in Slovakia, focusing on the analysis of personal and social benefits. We analyze the issue of academic mobility as an integral component of the European educational space, which also undoubtedly has a positive effect on the national education system and the national economy. We highlight the issue of effective ethnic-national policy formation, development of theory and practice of social work with ethnic groups, find out directions and forms of social service work with migrants. In the empirical part, we present a quantitative study at all stages of the research process. The content of the study is to find out the reasons that motivate future Ukrainian students to migrate to Slovakia, as well as to find out how the initial decision about migration and arrival to Slovakia takes place. Part of the quantitative research is the analysis of the personal and social benefits of the migration of Ukrainian students to Slovakia.