For companies active in various sectors, the implementation of transport services and other logistics activities has become one of the key factors of efficiency in the total supply chain. Logistics outsourcing is becoming more and more important, and there is an increasing number of third party logistics providers. In this paper, logistics providers were evaluated using the Rough SWARA (Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) and Rough WASPAS (Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment) models. The significance of the eight criteria on the basis of which evaluation was carried out was determined using the Rough SWARA method. In order to allow for a more precise consensus in group decision-making, the Rough Dombi aggregator was developed in order to determine the initial rough matrix of multi-criteria decision-making. A total of 10 logistics providers dealing with the transport of dangerous goods for chemical industry companies were evaluated using the Rough WASPAS approach. The obtained results demonstrate that the first logistics provider is also the best one, a conclusion confirmed by a sensitivity analysis comprised of three parts. In the first part, parameter ρ was altered through 10 scenarios in which only alternatives four and five change their ranks. In the second part of the sensitivity analysis, a calculation was performed using the following approaches: Rough SAW (Simple Additive Weighting), Rough EDAS (Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution), Rough MABAC (MultiAttributive Border Approximation Area Comparison), and Rough TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). They showed a high correlation of ranks determined by applying Spearman’s correlation coefficient in the third part of the sensitivity analysis.

This paper presents theoretical and empirical research on the activities and attitudes of a family business owner regarding marketing as a business function. The development of successful business relationships of a family business is tightly connected with the activities of the business owner. The theoretical review examined numerous family and non-family business studies by analyzing the existing paradigms of marketing management as a whole. The empirical research, surveying 420 family businesses in Serbia, defined the overall role of the family business owner in customer relationship management regarding business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) relationships. Key findings suggest that the main difference in customer relationship management (CRM) between family and non-family companies is related to B2B relationships, which the family business owner is heavily involved in managing, in terms of invested time and responsibility. Future research should cover aspects of internationalization (to regional markets) because it is essential to cross-examine regional with local contacts of a family business owner, to provide full comprehension of the complexity of market relationships in a family business environment.

Idealism and relativism in ethics: The results of empirical research in seven CEE countries and one North European country News/Information

In this research paper, various impacts on economic sustainability of small and medium-sized companies are analyzed. This research determined a research gap, by defining a statistically significant difference in business performance between SMEs (small and medium sized businesses) with their own logistics capacities and those which decided to outsource capacities. Impacts of key business factors were measured by quantitative research by using linear regression, on a sample of 340 SMEs from Serbia. These factors are related to market aspects, SME position within a supply chain, but also to internal aspects of the company itself. Empirical research findings suggested that ownership of logistics capacity can have an impact on economic sustainability of SMEs, measured through solvency and profitability. Future research regarding this topic can be diversified through efforts of internationalization of SMEs, or through comparison with large companies in terms of impacts on economic sustainability.

The microbiological standard method for the detection of Salmonella spp. is time‐consuming, and consequently there is a need for an alternative rapid methodology for its detection. In this study, two open‐formula real‐time PCR methods for detecting the inv A and ttr gene Salmonella spp. have been successfully optimized and in‐house validated. Different DNA extraction procedures were used (boiling, Chelex resin and standard I ‐ Biorad). The relative sensitivity and false positive ratio for the alternative methods were 100% and 0.0%, respectively. The relative trueness was in range from 96.8% to 99.2%. No false negative results were detected. The lowest Ct values were obtained using the protocol for detecting the ttr gene after DNA extraction by the Chelex. The results were compared in a large number of food and environmental samples to those of the SRPS EN ISO 6579:2008 standard method and commercial kit (IQ check® Salmonella II kit, Bio‐Rad, USA). Practical applications The whole procedure of real‐time PCR methods in this study was approximately 20 hr, in contrast to 4–5 days of analysis time for the standard method (SRPS EN ISO 6579:2008). The real‐time PCR method also provides a high level of sensitivity and specificity with a low risk of cross‐contamination. The implementation of the method for routine analysis will help improve safety in the food production chain, by providing results compatible with the ISO standard, but more rapidly.