Among many solutions that can boost company innovativeness, co-creation is mentioned in the literature as one of them. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study conducted in China, Georgia, Poland, Romania, and Sri Lanka. The aim of the article is to find differences and similarities among respondents from different countries considering their attitude towards the process of co-creation. To gather primary data, a field survey method was adopted with a structured questionnaire. The target group of the survey consisted of university students, aged between 22 to 23 years old, who, by virtue of their psycho-physical characteristics, are more eager to share their experience and engage in various activities. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted from June to December 2016 among 500 university students. Despite the limited experience of respondents in co-creation, replies indicate their willingness, openness, and positive attitude towards co-creation.

In this manuscript, the authors aim to explore firstly the association between entrepreneurial mindset and co-creation experience, secondly the association between co-creation experience and entrepreneurial intentions, and thirdly the association between entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial intentions within the sustainability context. In this paper, the authors present the results of the pilot study. Primary data were collected from 500 university students from China, Georgia, Poland, Romania, and Sri Lanka by using a convenient sampling technique, and a literature review was the primary method of the concept development. The authors selected the above-mentioned countries to collect primary data by using a convenient sampling technique based on accessibility; they also visited all analysed countries in order to conduct the pilot survey personally. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were applied as primary statistical methods. The findings reveal that there is a very strong association between co-creation experience and entrepreneurial intentions, a very weak negative association between entrepreneurial mindset and co-creation experience, and, surprisingly, a weak association between entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial intentions. The added value of the conducted pilot research involves filling in a gap regarding the relationship between experience and the subjective norm. In the presented pilot research, co-creation experience was compared with not only entrepreneurial mindset but with entrepreneurial intentions as well. An additional value of this exploratory research is compiling an international comparison. The main contribution of this pilot study is examining the symbiotic mutualism between co-creation and entrepreneurship. Among many platforms of associations, the following can be differentiated: creativity, innovativeness, openness, engagement, awareness, motivation, trust (level of social capital), and recognizing the significance of social and sustainable development objectives. Due to the small sample size, the results cannot be generalised. Results refer only to the respondents. However, the findings of the pilot study are the basis for further research studies on symbiotic mutualism between entrepreneurship and co-creation.

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues is a peer-reviewed journal which publishes original research papers and case studies

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues is a peer-reviewed journal which publishes original research papers and case studies

Purpose – This research examines the existence and extent of gender-based pricing inequalities within the Polish market, emphasizing consumer awareness and perceptions of equity. By merging an objective price analysis with subjective consumer assessments, the study provides a thorough understanding of how pricing differs between products aimed at men and women, and how these variations affect consumer attitudes and behaviors. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilized a dual methodology. Initially, a comparative price analysis was performed for selected gender-specific products across categories such as personal care, clothing, toys and accessories. Pricing information was gathered from prominent Polish retail websites, comparing similar items for males and females in terms of unit price, functionality, and brand. Subsequently, a survey involving 155 consumers evaluated their awareness of these pricing disparities and their views on the fairness of such practices, as well as the influence on their purchasing choices. Findings – The results indicate notable price discrepancies, with products targeted at women typically priced higher, despite offering comparable features to those aimed at men. Survey results reveal that a majority of consumers regard these price differences as unfair, which may result in alterations in purchasing behavior, including a willingness to explore products marketed towards the opposite gender to economize. Originality – This study adds to limited literature on gender-based pricing in Poland by combining market data with consumer perspectives. The findings highlight the necessity for enhanced pricing transparency and lay the groundwork for additional academic inquiry and policy discussions regarding gender-based pricing practices.

Theoretical background: Smart cities rely on advanced technologies such as ICT, IoT, AI, and ML to streamline urban operations and foster sustainable growth. Successful implementation, however, hinges not only on technology but also on how businesses adopt and integrate these innovations. Companies play a critical role in driving technological adoption within smart cities, enhancing urban services, and contributing to economic growth. Purpose of the article: The objective of this paper is to obtain insights into the experiences of companies in the utilization of smart city technologies. The paper explores companies' active use, challenges in adoption, and potential for increased engagement with these technologies. Research methods: The authors conducted a pilot survey in 2021, targeting companies in Szczecin and Koszalin, Poland. Using CATI and CAWI techniques, data were collected from 221 companies through a structured questionnaire. The Chi-square test was applied to examine the relationships between variables. The study focused on ten types of smart city technologies and classified company responses into three categories: active use, non-use, and future intent to adopt. Main findings: The study revealed varying levels of technology adoption across companies. Popular technologies like intelligent payment systems and e-government services saw high adoption rates, while applications for environmental protection and security-related technologies were less utilized. The findings indicate that local business strategies, stakeholder engagement, and investment levels significantly influence adoption rates. Companies in both cities expressed a growing interest in future adoption, especially in smart infrastructure technologies, suggesting potential growth in their usage.