We conducted an empirical study aimed at identifying and quantifying the relationship between work characteristics, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, job involvement and organizational policies and procedures in the transition economy of Serbia, South Eastern Europe. The study, which included 566 persons, employed by 8 companies, revealed that existing models of work motivation need to be adapted to fit the empirical data, resulting in a revised research model elaborated in the paper. In the proposed model, job involvement partially mediates the effect of job satisfaction on organizational commitment. Job satisfaction in Serbia is affected by work characteristics but, contrary to many studies conducted in developed economies, organizational policies and procedures do not seem significantly affect employee satisfaction.

Purpose: This research aimed to explore whether different project management approaches (traditional, agile or hybrid) differentiate concerning their impact on project success, taking project success as multidimensional phenomena. In addition to this, the authors wanted to explore if specific project characteristics moderate these effects.Design/methodology/approach: The authors empirically addressed these on a sample of 227 project professionals worldwide. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of project success dimensions was done to validate these factors' constitution concerning their manifest variables. The K-means cluster method was used to distinguish respondents' profiles among agile, hybrid and traditional project management approaches. To test the significance among research groups, the research hypotheses were tested with ANOVA tests.Findings: The authors evidenced that the agile approach has a more significant positive impact concerning the two out of five dimensions of project success, under analysis in this research (impact on the team and preparing for the future), over the traditional approach.Practical implications: The research is relevant for project management practitioners to tailor the success-oriented project management approach and for academics to develop project management contingency theory.Originality/value: The authors constructed a research framework to test the impact and effectiveness of different project management approaches (traditional, agile, hybrid) on the dimensions of project success in different contextual conditions (organization industry, project type, novelty, technology, complexity and pace). The paper's main contribution is to expand data on the impact of these approaches on project success and compare them with relevant results and findings of previous research.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between quality management dimensions and organisational performance in uncertain markets (transition conditions). The study was carried out in Serbia, using a sample of 160 certified organisations. The study was based on subjective estimates provided by quality managers. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the relationships between the dimensions of quality management and organisational performance. The results of this study indicate that the shortcomings of organisations’ top managements probably significantly affect other elements of the model. The reasons for that may be a poor organisational culture and the influence of ‘climate’. These assumptions and the results of the study point to the conclusion that the effects of ISO 9000 application in the considered conditions are arguable. The paper suggests considering ‘climate’ conditions in further research in this field. According to the findings, systematic improvement of organisational performance should include improving managers’ commitment to quality management, effective quality planning, and organisational learning.

With the application of smart technology concepts, the fourth stage of industrialization, referred to as Industry 4.0, is believed to be approaching. This paper analyzes the extent to which smart factory concepts and e-learning have already deeply affected manufacturing industries in terms of performances in transitional economy. Empirical results indicate that manufacturing companies that have introduce both e-learning and selected smart factory technology concepts differ significantly. E-learning is mainly applied on graduates in production. Results reveal that two smart factory concepts are significantly and positively related to the firm performance when e-learning is applied.

Aligning the project management approach to a particular project is considered to be essential for project success. Based on the literature review, in this research, the project management approach is analyzed through differentiation between agile and traditional approaches within the specific managerial aspects. This research aimed to contrast these two project management approaches and explore their impact on different project success dimensions. The research was conducted on a sample of 227 project management professionals worldwide, using the PLS-SEM method. Research results denounced that, in most cases, the traditional approach is applied in project initiation and planning. It has proven to provide higher-level od project success, while, within all other managerial aspects considered in this research, they gravitate more towards the agile approach. By combining agile and traditional approaches, organizations can take advantage of some benefits of agile development without abandoning the stability provided by a traditional approach. The study is relevant for project management practitioners tailoring down the success-oriented project management approach and developing project management contingency theory for academics.

The purpose of this paper is creating analyses for understanding the personality characteristics related to emotional intelligence and how can this define the development program of personal characteristics in the processes of education for Industry 4.0. The main research goal is to measure dimensions of emotional intelligence in the student population based on a quantitative survey (Emotional Competence Inventory) through dimensions of emotional intelligence: self-regulation, self-awareness, and attitude towards changes. Since the student population was the research target, a group of 338 engineering students was selected. The group was characterized by highly diversified geographic origin, having previously completed school and achieved success. The results show that there are statistically significant differences between all three dimensions of emotional intelligence. Namely, self-regulation and attitude towards changes (both directly and indirectly through self-regulation) are positively affected by self-awareness, while attitude towards changes is positively affected by self-regulation. Developing student emotional potential is one of the most important actuators of business for Industry 4.0, especially in countries with low educational attainment and low social and economic indicators.