Alba Kruja | Epoka University (original) (raw)

Conference Presentations by Alba Kruja

Second International Scientific Conference “HAPPINESS AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY”, 2021

Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for... more Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for economic development. In less developed countries where poverty and mass unemployment are the dominant facts of economic life, entrepreneurship is considered as a solution to face unemployment. Entrepreneurs are the engines of the economy, who use their knowledge and inspiration accompanied with a great risk to provide new, challenging products and services. The aim of this study is to understand the graduates’ attempts towards entrepreneurial activities, some of the factors that motivated them to become entrepreneurs and barriers that they faced. The quantitative data is used to present the findings of an exploratory research which was applied on alumni of Epoka University via a structured questionnaire. A sample of 115 graduates is collected from their answers. Through descriptive analysis is determined the impact of knowledge, skills, work experience, and inspirational model on the entrepreneurial intent of Epoka University graduates, to promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, develop innovation and strengthen the economy. Besides entrepreneurs, this study investigates the entrepreneurial intent of employed and unemployed alumni and concluded they had a positive attitude towards it. This study tends to contribute to the university as well as the Government in increasing efforts to encourage more students to entrepreneurship activities as their career path upon graduation.

2d International Scientific Conference "HAPPINESS AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY", 2021

Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for... more Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for economic development. In less developed countries where poverty and mass unemployment are the dominant facts of economic life, entrepreneurship is considered as a solution to face unemployment. Entrepreneurs are the engines of the economy, who use their knowledge and inspiration accompanied with a great risk to provide new, challenging products and services. The aim of this study is to understand the graduates' attempts towards entrepreneurial activities, some of the factors that motivated them to become entrepreneurs and barriers that they faced. The quantitative data is used to present the findings of an exploratory research which was applied on alumni of Epoka University via a structured questionnaire. A sample of 115 graduates is collected from their answers. Through descriptive analysis is determined the impact of knowledge, skills, work experience, and inspirational model on the entrepreneurial intent of Epoka University graduates, to promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, develop innovation and strengthen the economy. Besides entrepreneurs, this study investigates the entrepreneurial intent of employed and unemployed alumni and concluded they had a positive attitude towards it. This study tends to contribute to the university as well as the Government in increasing efforts to encourage more students to entrepreneurship activities as their career path upon graduation.

Happiness And Contemporary Society , 2020

Work life balance initiative is to encourage employers provide flexible working hours and related... more Work life balance initiative is to encourage employers provide flexible working hours and related policies in the organization to support employees manage their working time with their family time. Work life balance is the balance of prioritizing job duties with personal lifestyle, and it might be reached by providing a balance between according to the paid work. As companies are competing for qualified employees, a reasonable balance between staff well-being and family time is required. In Albania overtime is increasing and flexible organizations are less. Banking sector is the one that is affected more by this situation. Through this study it is aimed to explore whether the extend of work life balance is a reality for the banking sector employees in Tirana, the capital city of Albania. The model of work-life balance and job performance relationship is examined on a sample of 100 banking sector employees to search for how personal life affects performance at work. Study results show that work life balance initiatives are missing in the sector and providing a well-managed flexibility is a key point to make employees feel motivated and have no stress in work.

Papers by Alba Kruja

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Dec 9, 2021

Purpose At exceptional times, governments are entrusted with greater authority. This creates sign... more Purpose At exceptional times, governments are entrusted with greater authority. This creates significant concerns over governments’ transparency and accountability. This paper aims to pursue a twofold objective: assessing the patterns of open government data during the extraordinary time initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic drawing relevant policy and managerial implications regarding the future development of open data as a mechanism of accountability at times of exception. Design/methodology/approach The study follows exploratory research, relying on a web content analysis. The empirical setting is provided by 20 Italian regional governments during the COVID-19 pandemic as a shock that has triggered an exceptional time for governments. Findings Results on the desirable (extrinsic and intrinsic) characteristics of the data analyzed show that in the empirical setting investigated, open data does not enable to properly address the accountability concerns of a demanding forum at times of exception. Research limitations/implications The paper enriches the state of the art on accountability and provides both scholars and practitioners (e.g. policymakers, managers, etc.) a current reading of data-driven orientation as a stimulus to the accountability of public administrations during exceptional times. Originality/value The paper investigates open data as a condition of public accountability, assessing whether and how Italian regional governments have concretely opened their data to enable their forums to elaboration of an informed opinion about their conduct during the ongoing pandemic. This fosters the understanding of how accountability is deployed in times of exception in light of the possibilities offered by the availability of online platforms.

DergiPark (Istanbul University), Jan 25, 2021

Auditing is a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding asser... more Auditing is a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic operations and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence between those assertions and established criteria and communicating the results to interested users. Albania as a developing country, coming from a socialist regime after the 1990s, is passing through a deep transformation process passing from a socialist and centralized economy to a public economy where the free market economy rules are applied. Objectives of this study are to analyze the historical developments from 1990`s up to now of the auditing profession, legal regulations and education in Albania.

Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series, 2020

Supply chain management (SCM) as a concept first originated in the manufacturing industry from lo... more Supply chain management (SCM) as a concept first originated in the manufacturing industry from logistics and just-in-time production. Used to successfully utilize SCM elements and diminish lingering issues in construction, its importance lies in the focus that it gives to plan different features of the supply chain by also involving other parties of the chain in the process. SCM in construction supports firms by aiding in the improvement of competitiveness between firms and the increase of the company&amp;#39;s profits and control over projects. Although generic supply chains should be simple and linear, the construction sector is much more complex. These problems are present in different parts of SCM due to interdependence in the organization and supply chain. Through a case study analysis and semi-structured interviews, this chapter aims to identify and better understand the role of SCM, challenges and complications in different levels of the supply chain, and how firms utilize it to create greater value in construction operations, and specifically in Albania.

Advances in higher education and professional development book series, 2019

While innovation is the sharp implement of entrepreneurs, knowledge is the critical element of th... more While innovation is the sharp implement of entrepreneurs, knowledge is the critical element of the innovation system. The collaboration and synergy between the participants of these innovation systems are vital as they become a “laboratory for knowledge based economic development.” On the other side, entrepreneurship has been widely recognized as the engine of job creation and economic prosperity. Albania as a developing country facing high unemployment rates promotes among young adults the continuous development of entrepreneurial activities, which can partially provide a solution to the increasing unemployment. The purpose of this research is to assess a new measurement model of specific entrepreneurial orientation which would contribute to increasing the university students` intention of becoming entrepreneurs. The study demonstrated that increasing the collaboration of students with industry and governmental institutions in supporting their innovative ideas will increase their intention towards entrepreneurship.

Energies

It has been extensively debated how social innovation, circularity, and energy transition may all... more It has been extensively debated how social innovation, circularity, and energy transition may all be considered environmental, social, and governance (ESG) components from a sustainability perspective. To comprehend the conceptual development of this subject in the academic literature, few studies, however, tackle the problems above by reviewing earlier research on the subject. By developing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique, this study aims to address the current and anticipated advancements in social innovation, energy transition, and circularity. As a result, we create two metasynthesis analyses related to “social innovation–energy transition” and “social innovation–circularity.” In the first analysis, the three databases Web of Science, Scopus, and JSTOR had a total of 1767 studies and reports, and in the second analysis, we reviewed the work from a total of 466 studies and reports. We emphasize that implementing environmen...

Administrative Sciences

In the last decades, Albania has started the implementation of a new practice which is partnershi... more In the last decades, Albania has started the implementation of a new practice which is partnership with the private sector, named public–private partnership (PPP), due to the inabilities of the public sector to fulfill all its public needs. This represents a crucial ratio related to economic development and the struggle for a fair and transparent implementation process. Critical success factors (CSF) are the significant elements in the partnership which, if properly identified, provide success in implementation. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to highlight the factors which increase the chances of a successful implementation of PPPs in Albania and the items which contribute to each factor. The data used for the analysis were gained through 175 surveys conducted with people working in private and public institutions engaged in PPP. Of the main CSFs, the identification of the right project is ranked most critical to the success of PPP followed by financial capacity, trus...

Central European Business review, 2020

Becoming a Platform in Europe: On the Governance of the Collaborative Economy, 2021

Administrative Sciences

Women entrepreneurship is considered by many researchers as an imminent phenomenon of the 21st ce... more Women entrepreneurship is considered by many researchers as an imminent phenomenon of the 21st century, especially for developing countries. Due to its contribution to the economy and society, recent studies have focused on investigating its motivational factors, as well as achievements. Moreover, researchers have come up with different entrepreneurial perspectives in different societies and cultures and have called for further analysis. In this context, the main purpose of this research was to assess the driving factors, challenges, and perspectives of woman entrepreneurship in a post-communist country context. As part of the data collection process, a survey was conducted with 36 female entrepreneurs operating in the capital city of Albania, Tirana. The study results reveal that, even though there are no significant differences between the percentage of women who feel that they are being discriminated against and percentage of female entrepreneurs who perceive that their gender ha...

Jouranal of Financial and Monetary Economics, 2022

Student migration is a rising phenomenon in Albania in last decades with researchers calling it a... more Student migration is a rising phenomenon in Albania in last decades with researchers calling it a “brain drain” of the population. The present study examines the possible driving factors behind the migration of the young generation with the purpose of deepening their academic formation. Exploratory factor analysis has been implemented to data gathered through a survey distributed to students belong to middle-high social strata who are currently studying abroad. Study findings define three main factors of students` brain drain grouped as socio-economic, educational and carrier ones.

Small & Medium Sized Enterprises have an important place in the economical development of Albania... more Small & Medium Sized Enterprises have an important place in the economical development of Albania. They already consist of the majority of private business and they are the main source of employment generation, innovation and productivity growth. In this context an important determinant of the Albanian economy development lies in the development of small and medium enterprises, which is not based only on the number of start-ups but also on the positive change of business environment and entrepreneurial skills. The aim of the research is to examine the contribution of SMEs to the economic growth of the country through employment generation, building of added value, GDP, export activities etc., and the changes in entrepreneurial skills of Albanian SMEs to foresee the ways of improvement and enterprise development. The methods of research are: analysis and synthesis of the scientific literature discussing the problems SMEs are facing and the environmental changes; the systematic statis...

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

The Sharing Economy in Europe

The concept of sharing economy arises with the digital economy. However, the awareness of the ter... more The concept of sharing economy arises with the digital economy. However, the awareness of the terms ‘sharing economy’ and ‘collaborative economy’ is still very modest in Albania. With the industry 4.0 revolution, the digitisation process of the economy has become a priority agenda for the government of this country. Although the sharing economy is evidenced in the Albanian market in many industries, this chapter focuses only on the agriculture and tourism sector. This study identifies the development trends of both sectors, their specifications, and their progress tracks of the collaborative/sharing aspects. After an integrated strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the sharing economy developments, the study comes up with the quadruple helix collaboration model as a necessity of a collaborative economy supportive to the Albanian market enhancement.

Cases on Global Leadership in the Contemporary Economy, 2020

Tourism is one of the most crucial sectors contributing to country development. In Albania, the s... more Tourism is one of the most crucial sectors contributing to country development. In Albania, the sector`s contribution to GDP has an increasing trend through the years. This study aimed to explore the role of tourism in supporting the development of handicraft sector and analyzing the constraints faced by artisans during their daily activities of crafts production process. Albania is known for the tradition of crafts with precious values, created for centuries by masters of folk, in every province according to the features and specifications of different areas. The most known handicrafts in Albania are works in wood, iron, copper, and precious materials like gold, silver, leather, wool, etc. These values are inherited generation to generation have aroused great interest to visitors and local and foreign researches. In cities like Kruja and Scutari, a diversity of crafts with high utilitarian and aesthetic level is distinguished. This is also the reason of selecting the surveyed sampl...

Globalisation has brought immense changes to the national and international economic structure. T... more Globalisation has brought immense changes to the national and international economic structure. The digital revolution and ICT expansion positively impacted the sharing economy development. In this regard, the most avant-garde countries in sharing economy seem to be the advanced countries. However, transitory countries such as Albania are making satisfactory progress as well. While being part of some global cases of sharing economy, Albania is also experiencing domestic incentives related with. The sectors involved in sharing economy are affiliated to different domains, including agriculture, tourism, healthcare, transportation, etc. Albania strongly embraced technology because of its relatively young population and the flexible education system adopting to the market needs. The Albanian government is doing well on the promotion and usage of public platforms, which are supportive of the sharing concept. Although not specifically for the sharing economy, the government of Albania has...

Firm growth and sustainability are difficult to be achieved in the early years for most start- up... more Firm growth and sustainability are difficult to be achieved in the early years for most start- ups, so supporting tech start-ups development is recognized as crucial part of innovation policies. Access to markets, human capital and finance are most important for the growth of entrepreneurial companies. Moreover, boosting entrepreneurs` human capital and promoting their companies to attract international venture capitalist players are key drivers to increase and sustain their growth potential and success. UK-Albania Tech Hub is a programme launched since 2017, implemented by the British Embassy in Tirana focusing on supporting Albania and the UK partnership in the technology sector. The programme aims at supporting entrepreneurship skills in Albania by boosting tech start-ups and creating opportunities to do business with the UK and the global market. This research focusses on analysing and assessing the contribution this three-year programme has had on tech start-ups development and globalisation in Albania.

Second International Scientific Conference “HAPPINESS AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY”, 2021

2d International Scientific Conference "HAPPINESS AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY", 2021

Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for... more Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for economic development. In less developed countries where poverty and mass unemployment are the dominant facts of economic life, entrepreneurship is considered as a solution to face unemployment. Entrepreneurs are the engines of the economy, who use their knowledge and inspiration accompanied with a great risk to provide new, challenging products and services. The aim of this study is to understand the graduates' attempts towards entrepreneurial activities, some of the factors that motivated them to become entrepreneurs and barriers that they faced. The quantitative data is used to present the findings of an exploratory research which was applied on alumni of Epoka University via a structured questionnaire. A sample of 115 graduates is collected from their answers. Through descriptive analysis is determined the impact of knowledge, skills, work experience, and inspirational model on the entrepreneurial intent of Epoka University graduates, to promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, develop innovation and strengthen the economy. Besides entrepreneurs, this study investigates the entrepreneurial intent of employed and unemployed alumni and concluded they had a positive attitude towards it. This study tends to contribute to the university as well as the Government in increasing efforts to encourage more students to entrepreneurship activities as their career path upon graduation.

Happiness And Contemporary Society , 2020

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Dec 9, 2021

DergiPark (Istanbul University), Jan 25, 2021

Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series, 2020

Advances in higher education and professional development book series, 2019

Energies

Administrative Sciences

Central European Business review, 2020

Becoming a Platform in Europe: On the Governance of the Collaborative Economy, 2021

Administrative Sciences

Jouranal of Financial and Monetary Economics, 2022

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

The Sharing Economy in Europe

Cases on Global Leadership in the Contemporary Economy, 2020

Happiness And Contemporary Society : Conference Proceedings Volume, 2021

Developing Knowledge Societies for Distinct Country Contexts, 2021

The transition from a closed economy to an open, market economy created new opportunities for the... more The transition from a closed economy to an open, market economy created new opportunities for the development of tourism in Albania. Tourism is known as one of the industries with the largest use of information technology (IT), but for various reasons, application of information systems (IS) in Albanian hotels is lower compared to other countries in Balkan region and other countries in Europe. Many processes and operations are handled in old and traditional ways. Most of the entrepreneurs do not know the benefit of using IS in the daily processes of the hotels. However, the demand of hospitality services dictates the need of using contemporary IS to gain competitive advantage and to survive in the market. IS and technology impacts competitiveness, management of information flow, and the decision-making process. They have influenced performance of the hotel sector through changing the nature of tourism services and the target market. This chapter aims to establish the extent of usage...

Journal of East European Management Studies, 2020

Agribusiness is seen as a driver of social and economic health. Indeed, analysing the entrepreneu... more Agribusiness is seen as a driver of social and economic health. Indeed, analysing the entrepreneurial phenomena in the context of agribusiness sector would be appropriate, as entrepreneurial orientation would provide an instrument to be competitive in the market and foster their performance. Face to face interviews were conducted with 44 representatives of 3 key actors in the of entrepreneurial value formation process of agribusiness sector in Albania. Study results show that collaborativeness among industry-government-academia is essential for the sustainability and prosperity of agribusiness sector. The research proposes collaborativeness as a dimension of the entrepreneurial orientation construct.

Networked Business Models in the Circular Economy, 2020

In the 21st century, the main focus of technological advances is on data. Practice management sof... more In the 21st century, the main focus of technological advances is on data. Practice management software (PMS) is having its highest demand in the international market as a tool helping dental services operate in a better way. The main focus of this research is on analyzing the role of the implementation of PMS in dental clinics in Tirana, capital city of Albania. Qualitative and quantitative data through semi-structured interviews and surveys was collected to analyze the case. Low purchasing power, lack of knowledge, and informality in Albania are some of the limitations that restrain dentists implement new technologies. The results show that PMS implementation adds value to dental clinics through more effective and efficient services and improved customer relationship management.

Cases on Global Leadership in the Contemporary Economy, 2020