The research reported in this paper explores the impact of digital transformation as a disruptive innovation on manufacturing SMEs. The research is based on a qualitative Delphi study encompassing 49 experts from eleven EU countries. The paper aims to demonstrate how disruptive innovations affect organizational changes and determine critical factors in organizations that impact the initiating and promoting R&D of disruptive innovation. We discovered that disruptive innovations impact product/process development methods, new production concepts, new materials for products, and new organization plans. Additionally, we identified organizational changes related to the development and use of disruptive innovations in the future. We also indicate how disruptive innovations influence social and technological changes in the organizational environment. The analysis also disclosed three main groups of disruptive innovations and their impact on future smart factory development, namely the following: technological changes, the emergence of innovative products, business models and solutions and organizational culture as one of the crucial key success factors. The analysis also examined the enablers of the successful development/introduction of disruptive innovations, wherein internal and external factors were determined. Additionally, we presented obstacles and the approaches necessary to mitigate them. We can conclude from the findings that in the timeframe of 5–10 years, only the SME that uses/develops disruptive innovations will survive in the market. However, the companies do not always have a clear idea of the meaning of disruptive innovations. Therefore, it is important to set clear goals regarding the achievement of disruptive innovations in companies. It is also necessary to creatively apply presented instruments enabling improvement of organizational changes and apply some additional concepts, which we have suggested.

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Purpose -This paper aims to analyse whether and how the Development Plan and Policies of Slovenian Tourism (SiPlan) could be improved systematically and systemically, enabling more comprehensive management of innovation. Design/methodology/approach -The data were obtained within a comprehensive national innovation study. Data analysis was performed in four phases. In the initial phase, a link between the innovation project and SiPlan was established. In the next phase, which of the innovation factors are significantly correlated with the tourism destination development concept was identified. In the third phase, further policy potential for improving the innovation factors was identified. In the last phase, a systems approach was applied to develop a qualitative systems model, a causal loop diagram, taking into consideration the empirically identified strengths and weaknesses of the current SiPlan and other pertinent factors. Findings -The results of empirical research indicate that SiPlan represents a valuable, but not optimum development model of Slovene tourism development. Therefore, the authors propose a qualitative tourism development model based on the research results and a systems dynamics methodology. Originality/value -The work is important from the scientific point of view, i.e. as a methodology and research results that could be applied in further research activities. In addition, the results could be usefully used by policy makers by way of focusing on the most influential factors: policies that have a potential for the systems (holistic) and socially responsible development of tourism in Slovenia.

Abstract-This paper describes a case study of an innovative approach to teaching at an engineering school. The postgraduate course Project Work and Communication in Research and Development (R&D) was developed at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The main aim of the course was to make the entry of young engineering graduates into the business environment as easy as possible. Currently, engineers are facing more and more interdisciplinarity and project work in their daily assignments. The course was designed to remedy any deficiencies in the multidisciplinary professional skills and knowledge of the graduate-level students, and it covered the topics of innovation management, communication in R&D, project management, and problem solving in teams. An end-of-course survey showed positive feedback from participating students. The empirical data (enrollment ratio of students, session attendance ratio, and average student grade) proves that the course met its goal of honing the professional skills of postgraduate engineering students.Index Terms-Communication, education, electrical engineering education, problem solving, project management, research and development (R&D).

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