The scientific periodical journal (indexed on Web of Science) published by the Tomas Bata University in Zlin offers results of basic and applied economic research in the English language.

In modern business, Industry 4.0 has brought in a technological transformation in which digital technologies provide improving quality in many aspects. Therefore, this research aims to explore the influence of leadership on quality achievements within Industry 4.0, connoting Quality 4.0. Accordingly, this research observes the mutual relations among all QMS elements encompassed in ISO 9004:2018 in the context of Quality 4.0. The developed research model consists of one independent variable: Leadership; and five dependent variables: Context and Identity; Resource Management; Process Management; Performance Management; Improvement, Learning, and Innovation. The survey is carried out through a questionnaire distributed among 345 companies of different types, ages, sizes, and industries. Gathered data are analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to perceive relationships between the variables. Findings indicate a direct positive influence among all observed variables, except the influence of Process Management on Improvement, Learning, and Innovation as Quality 4.0 achievements. The findings could have significant implications on leaders’ knowledge on investigating a roadmap to implement the well-based QMS to achieve sustainable results in Quality 4.0 improvement, learning, and innovation.

Industry 4.0 brings a revolution in using information and communication technologies within business activities. As such, Industry 4.0 enables important space for quality-related improvements but requires a sustained quality management system (QMS). The aim of this study is to predict the influence of ISO 9004:2018 QMS elements on Improvement, Learning, and Innovation achievements in Industry 4.0 using the SEM-ANN approach. The survey included 345 domestic and international companies of different types operating in Serbia. Conclusions demonstrate a direct positive influence between observed constructs (Leadership, Process Management, Resource Management, Performance Management) and Improvement, Learning, and Innovation. Only the Context and Identity of the organisation has a negative direction drawn from SEM analysis. Further, ANN verified SEM results, pointing out that all observed variables are seen as predictors of Improvement, Learning, and Innovation. The importance level corresponds to those elements’ SEM ranking. The paper could provide a roadmap towards achieving sustainable results in quality improvement, learning, and innovation in Industry 4.0 era.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a vital element for building a long-term relationship with a company’s stakeholders. Different dimensions of a company’s social initiatives in terms of internal and external CSR activities influence the satisfaction of employees with the purpose of improving the CSR application. The aim of this research is to examine the level of employees’ awareness of the implementation of CSR in Serbian and Russian companies. A comparative analysis between these two countries was carried out in order to perceive the differences in attitudes of employees, their job satisfaction, and consequently the implementation of CSR. The hypotheses of the developed model were tested by using the Multi-group Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The obtained results offered several implications for scholars and practitioners that should be considered when formulating and implementing CSR actions.