The research’s objective was to develop a thorough model of the viability of SMEs in the V4 countries based on predetermined variables. The following factors were defined: human resources management, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, company digitalisation, environmental considerations, financial management, and sustainability of SMEs. The model was developed on the solid empirical research carried out in the Visegrad Four countries in June 2022 by the renowned external agency MNFORCE using a sample of 1,398 respondents and the “Computer Assisted Web Interviewing” technique. According to the research, the developed complex model of SMEs’ sustainability depending on the listed criteria is statistically significant. Each investigated factor has a favourable impact on SMEs’ sustainability. The study’s findings supported the notion that the environmental aspects of the business have the strongest positive impact on the long-term sustainability of SMEs. The study’s findings indicate that the management of human resources, finances, and the degree of digitalisation of SMEs significantly influence the viability of businesses. The findings provide an important platform for managers responsible for the sustainability of the SME segment at the worldwide level (International council for small business), national level (particularly for V4 nations), as well as institutions supporting SMEs and SME owners.

Our research examined the attitudes of owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in the V4 countries, who behave responsibly - they use corporate social responsibility in their managerial practice on issues focused on the market and operational area of business. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey with data collection from September 2019 to January 2020. Statistical methods of Pearson's chi-square and z-score were used to assess the hypotheses. The results proved that there are significant differences in companies in services and tourism in the context of implementing the CSR concept. Entrepreneurs who implement social responsibility with a significant positive difference agree that a company places great emphasis on the innovation of its products and services. Researchers found that the sector has an impact on the perception of decreasing customers' requests on specific products/services. We found that corporate social responsibility and its implementation in corporate practice positively affects the relationship of V4's small and medium enterprises in the services and tourism sector to service production innovation issues, which helps increase business performance and decline customer complaints.

The aim of the study is to find out the perception of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by the segment of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic. In connection with the objectives of the study, a questionnaire survey was carried out on a sample of 419 respondents – business owners and managers. The data were collected from September 2019 to January 2020. χ² and Z-score were used to assess the hypotheses. It was found that there were statistical differences in the perception of some aspects of the positive impact of the introduction of the CSR concept in case of monitoring responses based on the geographic scope of the business. The results showed that although the manager should take into account the ethical and moral implications of his decisions, less than half of the respondents are familiar with the concept of CSR and enforce it in their management practice and ultimately managers cannot identify positive benefits from CSR implementation – it declares positive answers whose values oscillate around 30%. The findings show that there are no statistically significant differences in the answers of managers depending on the size of the company - this proves that micro, small and medium enterprises, respectively their managers do not differ in their attitudes to the topic of CSR. The final effect of the paper is to show the perception of the concept of CSR of entrepreneurs - respondents in the Czech Republic.

The article aims to find out the perception of human capital issues by entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized enterprises within the V4 countries, who implement the concept of CSR in their managerial praxis. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey with data collection from September 2019 to January 2020 with a total of 1585 respondents. Statistical methods of Pearson's chi-square and z-score were used to test the hypotheses. The results revealed differences between countries in terms of employees' turnover, perception of employees as the most important corporate capital, or the implementation of participatory management style. On average, 93% of respondents consider employees the most important company capital across the countries. There is also a strong consensus on the necessity of evaluating employee performance and motivation to innovate work practices.On the contrary, differences in the opinion on staff turnover were found among researched countries. The highest rate of turnover is among Polish entrepreneurs, and the lowest is in Hungary. With the growing company's size, the turnover of employees is getting higher. A participative management style is mainly implemented in the praxis by Slovak entrepreneurs (90%) and least by Hungarian (68%). However, Hungarian entrepreneurs are highly aware of the fact that their employees try to increase their performance, and healthy competition prevails among them (74%). The results may be interesting for those who promote or implement CSR in the conditions of the researched countries.

This study aims to evaluate the perception of bankruptcy by small and medium-sized enterprises from the V4 region. CSR implementation in business activities was selected as the comparison criterion. The research paper is based on a questionnaire survey of 1585 respondents. The data were collected from September 2019 to January 2020. The research hypotheses were evaluated using the χ-quadrat test and Z-score statistical methods. Differences between the enterprises which implemented CSR in business and other companies were found. The research focused on bankruptcy perception as a natural part of the business and as a valuable experience for future company development. Entrepreneur failure and self-confidence showed that V4 SMEs with implemented CSR are less likely to go bankrupt if adverse economic developments occur. However, less than 50% of entrepreneurs consider bankruptcy as a valuable experience for further business. The majority of managers who have experience with CSR implementation positively differed in their opinions versus those without this experience. In general, V4 entrepreneurs who implemented CSR have a more positive perception of bankruptcy questions. The results may be interesting for those who promote or implement CSR in the focused countries. Our findings can be helpful for entrepreneurs to consider the benefits of being socially responsible in the working environment conception.