This article aims to analyse significant differences in four constructs: occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement, and work productivity among employees before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the paper is to develop a multidimensional model with these four constructs and analyse the differences in the strength of their effects on the model across two intersectional times: before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was implemented on a sample of 885 employees in Slovenian organisations. During COVID-19, Slovenia had one of the strictest lockdowns. Based on the research, we can confirm significant differences in the four analysed constructs among employees before COVID-19 and during COVID-19. Based on the results, we can confirm that occupational stress had a more negative effect on job satisfaction and work engagement during COVID-19 than before prior to it. Our research and conclusions highlight the measures with which organisations can reduce the problem of occupational stress and with which organisations can increase job satisfaction, work engagement and work productivity among employees during COVID-19. Based on this, organisations may be able to build a more supportive work environment during, and after, COVID-19.

Purpose: The research, which holds significant importance, analyzes the key factors influencing the digital transformation in the strategic development of rural tourism in the Republic of Croatia. It aims to determine the impact of county locations, categorized into clusters: Adriatic Croatia, Continental Croatia, and Slavonia-Baranja. The study aims to investigate specific factors that support sustainable digital transformation in rural areas, which is a topic of increasing interest and relevance.Methodology: Primary data were collected through survey questionnaires sent to relevant stakeholders in rural areas. The analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test in the Jamovi application to assess the influence of an ordinal variable (location) on the factors of digital transformation, including external, technological, organizational, and socio-demographic factors.Results: The results show significant differences among the clusters: Continental Croatia and Adriatic Croatia highlighted the importance of external factors (e.g., economic support) and technological factors (e.g., IT infrastructure), respectively, while socio-demographic factors were identified as key factors in the Slavonia-Baranja cluster. These findings confirm the need for a tailored regional approach.Conclusion: The research conclusions underscore the practical implications of the identified factors for stakeholders in designing sustainable digitalization models. These findings can serve as actionable guidelines, equipping stakeholders with the necessary insights to increase the engagement of the local community in the digital transformation in the strategic development of rural tourism in Croatia. While the research acknowledges limitations, such as sample size and the subjectivity of responses, the results provide a valuable contribution to future research and the policy of digitalization of rural tourism strategic development in Croatia.

This study systematically examines the impact of immigration, emigration, and the influx of foreign workers on employment, unemployment, and economic growth in the Republic of Croatia. The primary objective of the research is to understand how these demographic and economic changes shape the labor market and evaluate their long-term effects on gross domestic product (GDP) and wage levels. The methodology used in this study involves a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic data from Croatia over the past 11 years, focusing on critical indicators such as employment, unemployment, immigration, emigration, foreign workers, wages, and GDP trends. This approach provides valuable insights into how migration patterns influence critical labor market indicators. The findings reveal that immigration and foreign workers significantly impact employment, particularly in stabilizing sectors like tourism and construction. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the number of foreign workers and GDP growth. In conclusion, the research underscores the importance of immigration and foreign workers in addressing labor shortages and driving economic growth in Croatia. However, targeted policies are needed to ensure the successful integration of foreign workers and the long-term sustainability of the domestic labor market.

Artificial intelligence is one of the key technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and is increasingly significant for companies’ economic performance. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the foundation of economic development in most national economies, face numerous challenges and opportunities in applying artificial intelligence in business. This paper aims to examine the economic effects of applying artificial intelligence in SMEs, with a special emphasis on labor productivity, business process efficiency, and reduced operating costs. Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 228 SMEs using a questionnaire, with the data analyzed using multiple linear regression. The research results show that different applications of artificial intelligence have a statistically significant, positive impact on labor productivity and on reducing operating costs. In contrast, their impact on business process efficiency is moderate and partially limited. The operational application of artificial intelligence, such as automation and data analysis, has proven to be the most important factor in economic effects. At the same time, its application in managerial decision-making also has a significant, but somewhat weaker impact. On the other hand, the mere growth of AI applications over time does not necessarily lead to increased efficiency without targeted and concrete implementation. The paper’s results contribute to understanding the role of AI in transforming SMEs and highlight the importance of targeted investments in operational and management applications of AI. The paper provides practical implications for entrepreneurs and economic policymakers in fostering sustainable, competitive development of SMEs.

Information about the paper titled "DEVELOPING AND MANAGING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IN A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION: THE CASE OF JURAJ DOBRILA UNIVERSITY OF PULA" at IATED Digital Library

Industrija videoigara jedna je od najdinamičnijih sektora globalne ekonomije, ne samo u zabavnom već i u tehnološkom smislu s obzirom na brz razvoj umjetne inteligencije, virtualne i proširene stvarnosti, kao i blockchain tehnologije. Te inovacije omogućuju nove načine interakcije s digitalnim svijetom, čineći iskustvo igranja sve sofisticiranijim i privlačnijim. Uz to, industrija videoigara značajno pridonosi globalnoj ekonomiji, s procjenama da će njezin tržišni udio dosegnuti stotine milijardi dolara u idućim godinama. Jedan od ključnih čimbenika njezina rasta je razvoj mobilnih igara koje su videoigre učinile dostupnima širokom krugu korisnika. Jedan od fenomena koji je posljednjih godina u iznimnom porastu unutar industrije videoigara je esport, tj. elektronički sport. Postavlja se pitanje je li esport novi oblik sporta u budućnosti ili samo jedan od načina igranja videoigara. Svrha rada je analizirati razvoj videoigara i njihov utjecaj na esport s posebnim naglaskom na percepciju i stavove generacija X, Y i Z. Ciljevi istraživanja obuhvaćaju ispitivanje razlika u percepciji videoigara i esporta među generacijama te utvrđivanje njihovih pozitivnih i negativnih aspekata. Metodologija se temelji na empirijskom istraživanju provedenom anketnim upitnikom na uzorku od 747 ispitanika, uz analizu podataka primjenom statističkih metoda, uključujući Cronbachov alfa koeficijent pouzdanosti i Pearsonov koeficijent korelacije. Navedeno sugerira kako videoigre, osim zabavnog aspekta, imaju dalekosežne ekonomske, društvene i kulturne implikacije, što ih čini važnim segmentom suvremenog društva.