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This paper analyzes the effectiveness and efficiency of the normatives' controlling against the operational and strategic controlling. The general focus in studies and focus of the controlling experts is mostly on the operational controlling. For the analysis of the normatives' controlling in Bavarian SMEs a primary research data set is used. The survey was aimed on Bavarian SME's in the machine building sector. We employ regression models for the assessment of significance of the influencing factors, which are causing the negation of the normatives' controlling. We use monthly hours worked in the normatives' controlling, percentage acceptance of the normatives' controlling, used normatives' controlling instruments and the number of employees working in the controlling department as the influencing factors. The empirical evidence shows significant results affecting Bavarian SME's - Acceptance (monthly capacity of the head of controlling department) was identified as a significant variable on a statistically significant level with the estimated coefficient of 0.217 in relation to the Hours (monthly hours of work capacity) of normatives' controlling departments, and Instruments (number of instruments used) were proved to significantly influence the Employees (number of employees in controlling department) with the coefficient of 2.099. With the growing importance of the ability of an organization to publicly demonstrate its success in reaching objectives and specifically in its societal impacts, the importance of setting normatives and their control will project into higher demands on the work capacity of the controlling departments.

The article is devoted to the study of theoretical principles and practical aspects of managing relationships with stakeholders of municipal heating companies. The subject of the study is a set of theoretical, methodological and practical aspects for ensuring balanced management of relations with the stakeholders of municipal heating companies. The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical and methodological provisions and substantiate practical recommendations for ensuring a balanced management of these relationships. Tasks of work: to research and systematize the conceptual apparatus of ensuring the management of relations with the stakeholders of municipal heat companies; to justify the organizational principles of managing these relationships; to offer analytical and applied support for managing them on a balanced scorecard. During the research were used methods: abstract-logical analysis, theoretical generalization, systemic and statistical analysis, systemic and statistical analysis, economic-mathematical methods, graphical method. The paper generalizes the economic characteristics of the activity of district heating utilities and develops the directions of development of relations with stakeholders in the process of reforming the housing and municipal services of Ukraine on the basis of the analysis of the efficiency of the municipal heating companies in developed countries of Europe. Strategic directions for the development of district heating utilities by providing balanced stakeholder relationship management are substantiated. Conclusions. It is proposed to use a balanced scorecard, which allows, based on the evaluation of financial and non-financial indicators of enterprise performance, to identify trends of change of each of four key areas of activity to achieve the goal of MHC in meeting the public needs of consumers, profit for the development of the enterprise, ensure the interests of its employees and their satisfaction economic and social needs based on stakeholder reconciliation.

The relevance of the paper is determined by the need to modernize social dialogue in Ukraine as a means of increasing the social responsibility of business organizations and a prerequisite for the country’s sustainable socio-economic development. The paper is aimed at reviewing and systematizing effective practices of modernization of social dialogue, which are revealed in the publications of foreign and Ukrainian scientists, high-ranking officials and public figures. These practices are considered from the standpoint of their expediency and the possibility of their implementation in the processes of social interaction of organizations of employees, employers and public authorities in Ukraine.A review of the foreign experience in organizing social dialogue convincingly demonstrates a fairly high level of efficiency in the European Union, which contributes to achieving a balance of interests of major economic actors, increasing their social responsibility. For Ukraine, it is expedient to introduce the European practice of the so-called broad approach to the organization of social dialogue, which provides for the expansion of its subjects at the expense of representatives of territorial entities, environmental, women’s, youth, cultural and other public organizations. The involvement of local governments, public and NGOs in solving the most important socio-economic problems will contribute to the spread of the practice of differentiating between social and public dialogue. In Ukraine, employee participation in corporate governance should be strengthened, access to shareholder income should be expanded, and institutional tools for regulating the collective bargaining process should be improved.

A circular economy emerged as an alternative transition model, which is considered to be a solution to massive environmental degradation. The transition from a linear economy to a circular economy requires companies to be actively involved in more sustainable practices. For such a transition, companies must rethink, innovate on business models, and encourage sustainability-oriented innovation to deliver customer value, while simultaneously considering environmental and social aspects. On the other hand, the role of the circular economy in energy conservation and infrastructure has not been mapped out in the current literature. This systematic literature review seeks to map out the main interrelated topics of the circular economy and sustainability-oriented innovation, describing internal and external factors that need to be considered in the transition to a clean energy future. Key lines of research are identified, and suggestions for future research and for how to facilitate the movement towards a circular economy are provided. This study contributes to an enhancement of the literature by identifying priority areas regarding the circular economy and sustainability-oriented innovation to encourage future research that contributes to sustainability and environmental preservation.

Abstract Lean and Green seeks to increase added value and reduce waste generation, while also improving environmental sustainability performance in production activities. However, no studies were found exploring the potential results by combining Lean and Green with eco-efficiency assessments in the construction sector. Therefore, this paper aimed at proposing and testing a Lean and Green approach in three steps. Step 1 was based on the Value Stream Mapping application to calculate the Value Added of construction activities; step 2 focused on the Life Cycle Assessment of evaluated construction activities, and step 3 performed an eco-efficiency assessment of construction sites to guide decision-makers on selecting more lean and sustainable construction materials and strategies. A case study was developed for a 300m²-house construction considering two build options (reinforced concrete frame vs. light steel frame). The results affirm that light steel framing showed a Value Added 43% higher than the reinforced concrete in step 1, whilst having 8% less Global Warming Potential impacts in step 2. Step 3 concluded that light steel framing was 1.38 times more eco-efficient than the concrete structure. The proposed approach can be suitable for any building system evaluation in terms of construction technologies, materials, and/or production strategies and investigations towards more sustainable production.

This paper aimed to present a model of natural environment management in national parks in Poland in the context of increased tourist traffic. The research area comprised Polish national parks as they are characterized by barely altered nature, little human impact, and undisturbed natural phenomena. The methods involved the observational method, literature analysis and criticism, and the in-depth interview method employed in November 2019. The respondents included national park management staff. The questions were prepared in accordance with the Berlin Declaration principles of sustainable tourism development and were extended with the authors’ own items. The questionnaire contained 17 questions, grouped in four parts: science and documentation; tourism; cooperation and education; environmental threats. The results indicate that in order for actions to prove efficient in a park, a conservation plan should be carefully developed. Its correctness requires monitoring the state of the environment, tourist traffic size and trends, and tourists’ impact on the environment. An important condition for effective tourism management in parks is to increase the competences of the administering bodies and knowledge regarding individuals’ responsibilities. Boards should be able to evaluate and modify conservation plans, spatial development plans, municipality development strategies, and projects for investments within the parks.

Cities have intensified the adoption of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) to improve urban livability. Despite the high social controversy caused by LEZs in many cities, the scientific literature has paid little attention to study their public acceptability. This paper conducts a modelling approach exploring the impact of four groups of variables on the public acceptability of LEZs: (i) socio-economic and demographic characteristics; (ii) personal attitudes; (iii) travel-related variables; and (iv) perceptions and mobility habits linked to LEZs. The city of Madrid, Spain, is a case study of great interest because a LEZ called “Madrid Central” has been recently implemented. A total of 799 individual questionnaires were used to calibrate an ordered logit model. Results indicate that socio-economic and demographic variables are weakly related to the level of public acceptability towards the LEZ. On the contrary, the political ideology of individuals, their environmental awareness, their primary transport mode, the use of shared mobility systems, and the frequency of access to “Madrid Central” have a higher explanatory power. The results may be useful for policy-makers to understand the factors that increase the public acceptability of LEZs.