Research background: Digital transformation has become a strategic imperative for companies worldwide, yet the heterogeneity in adoption patterns remains poorly understood, particularly in transitional economies. Existing research predominantly focuses on large economies, whilst small European countries face distinct institutional environments. The interplay between digital maturity, strategic orientation, and economic performance represents a critical knowledge gap. Purpose of the article: The study aims to identify distinct clusters of Slovak companies based on their attitudes towards artificial intelligence, sustainability orientation, and strategic resilience. The research determines how these clusters differ in technology adoption, perceived barriers, and economic performance outcomes. Methods: The study employs quantitative research based on a structured survey of 402 Slovak companies conducted between February and July 2025. The methodological framework integrates k-means cluster analysis using twelve indicators. The optimal two-cluster solution was validated through the elbow method and silhouette analysis, with principal component analysis providing visualization. Chi-square tests examined differences between clusters across technology adoption, barriers, and performance indicators. Findings & Value added: The analysis reveals a fundamental structural divide within Slovak companies, identifying digitally advanced and traditional companies with significantly different profiles. Advanced companies demonstrate substantially higher adoption of Big Data analytics, ERP systems, and e-commerce platforms. Paradoxically, these companies perceive stronger barriers to transformation, including legal and regulatory uncertainty, implementation costs, system integration issues, and financial and network constraints, revealing a paradox of digital advancement. Most significantly, advanced companies report superior economic performance in turnover and EBIT changes. The research contributes novel evidence from a transitional economy, addressing gaps in comparative digital transformation research. Findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and managers navigating transformation complexities.

Social entrepreneurship as a specific kind of business has been developing in Latvia since 2018, and it is a little researched field. Achieving the goals of social entrepreneurship is facilitated by several factors, including the competences of the social entrepreneur him/herself. The present research aims to identify the general basic knowledge, skills and competences necessary for a social entrepreneur in Latvia. The authors made a review of theoretical literature on the role of managerial competencies in social enterprises and analysed the results of surveys of social entrepreneurs and their institutional partners – university teaching personnel – conducted in Latvia. The research found that there were areas of general knowledge, skills and competences of social entrepreneurs that were rated as equally important by both groups surveyed, yet the social entrepreneurs gave more importance to competences related to business goals and opportunities. The present research makes a scientific contribution in two aspects: 1) the identified general competencies required for a social entrepreneur could serve as a basis for further research to measure the actual competencies of social entrepreneurs; 2) the research contributes to an institutional framework for the social entrepreneurship ecosystem by developing recommendations for cooperation partners – those involved in adult lifelong learning, incl. universities, for the development of competencies in social entrepreneurs.

DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS TO MEET CURRENT CHALLENGES OF DIVERSE EU BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AS PART OF UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP: STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF EXERCISING ETHICAL INFLUENCE IN ORGANIZATION

Behavioural economics have become hot topic in research and debate in last few decades. In the context of behavioural economics, it is possible to summarize resemblances and create a system based on predication and regularities of errors, by analysing consumer’s behaviour, which allows to solve issues of future process development. In paper “Applying behavioural economics in education: study of undergraduate practices of selecting educational institutions” the authors identify key factors which influence undergraduates to choose higher education institution. The purpose of this paper is therefore to identify key elements of the behavioural economics that can be used to influence undergraduate selection development in favour of higher education institution. Additionally, within the framework of the study are applied insights of behaviour economics, which help guidance general understanding of undergraduate decision making. Particularly focusing on heuristics, that undergraduates are using to ease the complexity of decision making, which can lead to systematic errors and bias. This study per se synopsizes the definite findings of developing behavioural economics, which allows to apply this knowledge to study undergraduate choice in selecting higher educational institution. In this study were used numerous methods, including literature review, interviews with representatives of higher education and behavioural economics experts and surveying undergraduates.

Businesses today have to juggle between the need to survive due to increased competition and the pressure to become socially and environmentally responsible business entity. Consistent with the intensification of discussion about the importance of embracing CSR among businesses, the issues now has expanded to the concern over the future of CSR. In view of this, the future of CSR will depend on how the future generations perceive the importance of embracing CSR in business operations. The purpose of the current study is to research the business students’ perception of importance of ethics and corporate social responsibility courses within their curriculum. The quantitative research design is applied in the study – the target group survey using 7-point Likert scale questionnaire, nonprobability purposive sampling (n=131). The research question posed in the current article is the following: Does business students’ attitude towards CSR and ethics depend upon taking these courses as part of BBA and MBA curriculum? The result of the study – the mapping of students perceptions and attitudes towards ethical aspects taught at the university. The practical implications of the current study are of improvement of BBA and MBA curriculum to meet the needs of the 21st century in the globalized business environment.