https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/138294 2026-06-10T15:40:11Z 2026-06-10T15:40:11Z Mierzejewska, Anna Wiścicka-Fernando, Małgorzata https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147295 2026-06-10T11:56:48Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Digital readiness and business engagement in smart city co-creation : insights from Poland’s West Pomeranian region Authors: Mierzejewska, Anna; Wiścicka-Fernando, Małgorzata Abstract: PURPOSE: The paper aims to examine the relationship between firms’ digital readiness and their involvement in Smart City co-creation within the West Pomeranian region in Poland. It addresses a research gap concerning the limited empirical studies that link companies’ digital maturity with their participation in collaborative innovation processes in urban areas environments.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study uses a quantitative research design based on CATI and CAWI surveys conducted among firms operating in two major cities of the Polish region – Szczecin and Koszalin. The data were analysed using non-parametric statistical tests, including chi-square tests of independence and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha).; FINDINGS: The results show that firms’ involvement in Smart City co-creation is partly linked to the use of specific digital tools, especially security applications and smart meters, indicating that greater digital readiness may enable more active collaboration with municipal stakeholders. The findings also highlight differences between companies in their levels of digital adoption across various areas of smart city infrastructure.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study emphasises the importance of improving firms’ digital competencies to strengthen their role as active co-creators of urban innovation. The results may guide policymakers and local authorities in developing strategies that encourage business participation in smart city ecosystems.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This research contributes to the literature on Smart City and public management by providing new empirical evidence on the relationship between digital readiness and business co-creation in regional development. It also highlights a lack of validated measurement tools to systematically evaluate this relationship, emphasising the need for further methodological progress.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Wieczorek-Szymańska, Anna https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147291 2026-06-10T09:34:13Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: How national culture influences work-life balance : insights from Hofstede's dimensions Authors: Wieczorek-Szymańska, Anna Abstract: PURPOSE: This study investigates the concept of work–life balance from a cross-cultural perspective. It reviews the current state of work–life balance across countries, analyses cultural differences, and evaluates the extent to which such differences shape national patterns of work–life balance.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study draws on a literature review and an examination of the Global Life Work Balance Index alongside Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. The empirical analysis employs correlation methods to explore the relationship between culture and work–life balance. The central research question is: How does national culture (NC) influence work–life balance (WLB)? In response, the study advances the hypothesis that national culture differentiates the level of WLB across countries.; FINDINGS: The findings indicate cross-national variation in Global Life Work Balance (GLWBI) index values, reflecting differing levels of work–life balance across countries. Moreover, national cultures are shown to vary systematically according to Hofstede's cultural dimensions. The analysis demonstrates that cultural factors such as power distance, individualism, long-term orientation, and indulgence significantly influence employees' work–life balance across cultural contexts.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to understanding the relationship between work–life balance and culture, offering valuable insights for managerial practice. The findings guide managers in designing work–life balance strategies, particularly within international organizations where culturally diverse employees interact. Furthermore, the results may serve as a foundation for shaping work–life balance policies not only at the national level but also within international institutions.; ORIGINALITY/VALUES: Previous studies on the relationship between culture and work–life balance have primarily focused on organizational culture, with relatively few addressing the issue from a cross-cultural perspective. Those that do often limit their scope to specific groups of countries, such as developed or developing economies. The originality of this research lies in its global approach, analysing the impact of national culture on work–life balance across a wide range of cultural contexts. This contribution is enabled by integrating the Global Life Work Balance Index with Hofstede's cultural dimensions.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Tylkowska-Drożdż, Joanna Sun, Xin https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147283 2026-06-10T08:30:03Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A strategy for building an opera singer's personal brand in the context of artistic career management Authors: Tylkowska-Drożdż, Joanna; Sun, Xin Abstract: PURPOSE: The main aim of this article is to identify and analyse the strategic approaches adopted by professional opera singers in building their personal brand and to examine how such strategies are interwoven with the management of their artistic careers. This is studied against the backdrop of intensifying competition, shorter career-lifespans, and the necessity for artists to manage their own visibility, reputation, and market positioning. The purpose of the paper is to extend the existing literature on personal branding into the specific domain of opera singing.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A qualitative interpretive approach was applied to explore the artists’ understanding of identity, authenticity and visibility. A descriptive exploratory design was adopted, combining semi-structured interviews with twelve opera singers (representing diverse career stages and national backgrounds in Europe, with a supplementary analysis of publicly available materials, such as artist websites and biographies). The collected material was examined using thematic analysis, following the six-phase framework proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006).; FINDINGS: The results demonstrate that personal branding is a central dimension of artistic career management, used to communicate artistic identity, credibility, and distinctiveness. Successful branding in the operatic profession is grounded in authenticity, consistency, and coherence. Authenticity emerged as the single most critical principle. Singers utilise digital media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) selectively and intentionally, viewing them as curated portfolios rather than instruments of commercial self-promotion. The findings highlight that branding is not just self-presentation, but a collective ecosystem of professional relationships involving agents, conductors, and directors. Deliberate brand management correlates with greater stability in professional opportunities, audience loyalty, and perceived career sustainability.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study provides practical guidance for artists, cultural managers, and academic programmes. It suggests that reflection on artistic values and identity should precede public communication. Digital communication training is recommended to be incorporated into music education curricula to enable young artists to manage their professional image ethically and effectively. Cultural organisations can support performers by offering mentorship in reputation management and digital storytelling.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The contribution is threefold: extending personal branding literature to the opera singing context; providing empirical insight into how unique operatic career dynamics (such as vocal longevity and repertoire diversification) shape branding strategies; and offering practical guidelines for sustainable career management. Theoretically, the study positions personal branding as a contemporary manifestation of symbolic capital within the field of cultural production (Bourdieu, 1993). This research addresses a substantial gap regarding career management specificity in the performing arts.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Sowa, Mariusz https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147282 2026-06-10T08:26:41Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Spatiotemporal analysis and evaluation of passenger flows in diagnosing the operational efficiency of public transport : a case study of a local bus system Authors: Sowa, Mariusz Abstract: PURPOSE: Public transport systems in suburban areas face a fundamental challenge of maintaining a balance between maximising service accessibility and ensuring an efficient allocation of public funds. Operational efficiency in peripheral zones is often constrained by low population density and the dominance of commuter traffic, which leads to uneven vehicle utilisation and temporal imbalances in passenger flows. The aim of this study is to perform a spatiotemporal analysis and evaluation of passenger flows as a diagnostic tool for verifying the adequacy of transport supply relative to demand within a selected local bus network.; DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research adopted an empirical and diagnostic approach. Passenger movement data were collected through direct field observation of boarding and alighting passengers on the main bus lines serving a suburban municipality over a full weekly cycle, encompassing both weekdays and weekends. The collected data were subjected to a detailed spatiotemporal analysis in order to identify daily load profiles, peak demand hours, and spatial concentration zones of passenger activity.; FINDINGS: The results revealed a pronounced directional asymmetry in passenger flows, characterised by dominant morning peak demand (06:00–08:00) and a clear imbalance between inbound and outbound traffic. Approximately 70% of total passenger movement was concentrated within three major suburban settlements. During the morning peak, vehicle occupancy levels reached 65–70% of total capacity, whereas off-peak and weekend periods were marked by significant declines in utilisation, indicating inefficient deployment of service resources. The analysis also showed that internal (intra-municipal) trips increased by an average of 10 percentage points during weekends, suggesting a functional shift in mobility patterns over the weekly cycle.; PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide empirical evidence of operational patterns typical of peripheral transport systems and highlight the diagnostic potential of spatiotemporal analysis for identifying structural inefficiencies. The study indicates that the key direction for improvement involves differentiated service provision, including variable service frequency and flexible fleet allocation with smaller-capacity vehicles during lowdemand periods. Enhanced fare and timetable integration with urban transport systems is also recommended.; ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This research contributes original empirical insights into the operational efficiency of local public transport systems and offers a practical analytical framework to support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable mobility planning.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z