The focus of the present paper is to identify and defines the important factors of strategic management in SMEs with a specific focus on the service sector and to compare its current situation in the Czech Republic and Slovak republic firms. To shape the study, survey-based research planned and conducted in the Czech Republic and Slovak republic over SMEs in the service sector. The data were collected from the owners or top-level managers, the total sample used in the study was 822, 454 respondents from the Czech firms and 368 firms from the Slovak republic. The study employs basic statistics tools, percentages and mean values, used Z-score to compare the respondents in the Czech Republic and Slovak republic. The major findings of the study reveal that majority of the firms in both the countries use strategic management as an integral part of corporate governance and believe that strategic management usage improves the competitiveness of the firms and its stability in domestic and foreign markets. Another interesting finding reveals that the business sector is not a statistically significant factor in evaluating the sources of strategic risk, found from the firms of both countries. The paper adds to the existing literature of SMEs, investigated the use of strategic management tools for their sustainability and competitiveness. As the key aspects of strategic management are much used in large size organization but less explored in the smaller segment. The outcome of the study can help to understand the SMEs’ attitude towards strategic management usage. It is very useful for long term survival, stability, and expansion, as both countries’ economy is heavily depending on the SMEs.

A large number of Slovak small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are confronted with often-leaving employees. This situation can have a devastating effect; thus, the ability to predict and early detect the employees’ intention to stay or leave to another organisation provides them with a competitive advantage. Paper aims to determine how employer attractiveness influences the employees’ intention to stay or leave to another organisation. The online questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data during the September and October 2019 among 357 Slovak SMEs’ employees. The employees’ values were described by EmpAt’s five dimensions scale. Binary logistic regression was used to predict which employer attractiveness factor leads to an intention to stay in the organisation within the next 6 months. Results show that to the employee’s decision to stay working for the organisation contribute Application Value (AV Odds Ratio=2.53), followed by Economic Value (EV Odds Ratio=2.36), Interest Value (IV Odds Ratio=2.23), and Social Value (SV Odds Ratio=1.48). We did not find statistically significant associations between Development Value (DV) and the employees’ intention to stay or leave (ISL). This study makes several contributions to extant human resource management literature. First, it extends the research on employer attractiveness and employee retention. Second, it expands the knowledge about the predictors of employees’ intention to stay in organisations. On the managerial level, it recommends that the employees’ intent to stay or leave should be regularly measured.

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The paper presents concept and application of mathematical and simulation model of variable-speed drives (hereafter VSD or VSDs). The models were/are used in rolling mills engineering, commissioning and maintenance. The VSDs are the main actuators there. In order to reach optimal performance in terms of material tolerances, wear and tear, and reliability it is necessary to have good VSD control which meets not only technology targets but also properties of the VSD mechanical train (set of motor rotors, shafts, gear boxes, couplings, clutches, spindles, working and backup rolls, etc.). Only the optimal VSD control and appropriate operation and maintenance can ensure trouble-free operation and long lifetime of the VSDs. We have been dealing with the VSDs models since 1990. Since then we have used the models in many practical applications. Currently, we concentrate mainly on an optimal and advanced interstand section control. Apart from various PID control strategies, also Fuzzy control has been tested and analyzed. The paper mentions some of our experiences we have achieved in this area.

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