BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND MANAGEMENT

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2248-1354 (print)

 

2668-9219 (online)

 

ISSN-L: 2248- 1354

 

 

 

 

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Volume 15, Issue 4, December 2025

 

1. EQUITY IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: A MANAGERIAL APPROACH BETWEEN DIPLOMACY AND NEGOTIATION

 

Cătălina Loredana ROGOZEANU

Valahia University of Târgoviște, Târgoviște

Romania

Cezar BRAICU

Hyperion University of Bucharest, Bucharest

Romania

Delia Mioara POPESCU

Valahia University of Târgoviște, Târgoviște

Romania

Alexandru-Ionuț DRĂGHIA

Harvard University, Harvard College, Cambridge

USA

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-01

This article examines the principle of fairness in managerial decision-making, focusing on balancing organizational diplomacy and strategic negotiation. The aim of the research is to identify how fairness influences managerial decisions and to analyze its relationship with diplomatic and negotiating practices in contemporary organizations. Through a solid theoretical foundation, the paper explores relevant conceptual models, discussing correlations between fairness, participatory leadership, and ethical governance. Methodologically, the research employs a mixed-method design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture the complexity of organizational and decision-making interactions. Data were collected from various organizations, analyzing the perceptions of managers and employees regarding decisional fairness and the diplomatic or negotiating mechanisms involved. The results indicate that fairness plays an essential role in the perceived legitimacy of decisions and organizational climate stability, emphasizing the importance of participatory leadership. The study reveals that organizational diplomacy combined with transparent and fair strategic negotiation significantly contributes to improving organizational performance and fostering an ethical climate. In conclusion, the study provides practical managerial recommendations and suggests directions for organizational policies and future research, thereby contributing to academic literature by coherently integrating fairness, diplomacy, and negotiation within the modern managerial context.

2. DETERMINANTS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DISCLOSURE IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

 

Maria URSU

University of Oradea, Oradea

Romania

Olimpia BAN

University of Oradea, Oradea

Romania

 

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-02

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting has evolved from voluntary disclosure to a strategic component of business practice, shaped by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. This study systematically reviews literature published between 2017 and 2025, applying the PRISMA methodology to identify the determinants of CSR reporting across developed and developing economies. Results highlight that in developed countries, disclosure is driven by regulatory enforcement, strong governance, and stakeholder activism, whereas in developing countries it is shaped by institutional fragility and external pressures from NGOs and multinational partners. Common determinants, including firm size, stakeholder expectations, and financial performance, influence CSR across contexts. However, challenges such as symbolic compliance and greenwashing remain prevalent, particularly in less regulated environments. The paper contributes to academic and policy debates by clarifying cross-contextual differences, emphasizing the need for robust governance and verification tools, and offering practical implications for firms, regulators, and investors seeking to enhance reporting quality and sustainability outcomes.

3. ETHICS IN NEUROMARKETING: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Laszlo Alexandru GYORI

"George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Targu Mures

Romania

Manuela Rozalia GABOR

"George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Targu Mures

Romania

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-03

Neuromarketing (the intersection of neuroscience and marketing) is a concept gaining increasing attention from both companies and researchers, due to its potential to provide insights into the decision-making process during purchases by analyzing brain responses. In this context, the study aims to analyze the concept of ethics in neuromarketing, identifying the key factors that shape this concept and exploring relevant solutions. This research is based on a semi-systematic literature review, following a stepwise methodological approach that included database selection, keyword-based search, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and thematic synthesis of results. This research reviews the existing literature on neuromarketing and ethics, identifying core themes to deepen in the search for solutions. Four ethical dilemmas are highlighted: consumer privacy, consumer consent, manipulation, and corporate integrity and transparency. Through this analysis, the study identifies the main actions researchers and marketers must undertake to ensure their work aligns with ethical principles. This paper contributes to the relatively limited research on ethics in neuromarketing and may serve as a reference for researchers interested in conducting studies with neuromarketing-specific techniques.

 

4. ADOPTION OF TQM AND EXCELLENCE MODELS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC SECTOR  

Maria BOLBOCEANU

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest

 Romania

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-04

The aim of this paper is to assess the current state of the application of Quality Management (QM) models in the public sector of six European countries: Romania, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Latvia, and Ireland. To achieve this objective a comparative analysis was conducted. The study evaluates the maturity of QM from the perspective of eight components that refer to political commitment, source of funding, training offer, communication, and rewarding mechanism. The research methodology implies a scoring model to determine the maturity level of QM in each country. The data was collected from international and national public sector reports, national and European strategies, official websites of governments and QM competence centres. The study results underline clear differences between the analyzed countries in the way of implementing QM in public services. Portugal, Greece, and Ireland have a more advanced level of QM institutionalization as a consequence of long-term support for QM and efficiently organized systems compared to Latvia, Romania, and Croatia with dependents on temporary EU funding and lack or underdeveloped QM support centres. The study emphasizes the importance of having dedicated centres and specialists that can provide training and help institutions develop their own QM abilities. The research results contribute to the literature by extending empirical research on QM in the public sector to six more European countries and underlining the progress of quality integration in public services. The originality of the study is given by the sample of countries selected that was not previously covered by the existing literature.  

 

5. THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLES ON EMPLOYEES' SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR

Ionel BRAN

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest

Romania

Dragoș BUJOR

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest

Romania

Adelina Elena BRAN

Procter and Gamble Company, Bucharest

Romania

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-05

Leadership is crucial for promoting sustainable organizational behavior amid growing global environmental concerns. This study reviews how various leadership styles impact employees' sustainable actions, focusing on pro-environmental and organizational sustainability. A bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed articles from 2019 to 2025, which was run on June 25th, 2025, using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, highlighted "leadership" as the central theme, but also "psychology", "sustainable development", or "employee performance", with China, the UK, and South Korea as key research hubs. Journals like Sustainability (Switzerland) and the Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology are prominent publication venues. The study emphasizes that leadership's effectiveness in sustainability is enhanced by organizational factors such as internal communication, procedural justice, and green HR practices. However, there are still gaps in research on hybrid leadership models and the long-term impact of leadership on sustainable behavior. The findings contribute to theoretical understanding and provide practical insights for developing sustainability-focused leadership in organizations.

 

6. INNOVATION MANAGEMENT IN ROMANIAN STARTUPS: FROM IDEA TO SUSTAINABLE SCALING

Ana Daria MARIN

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest

Romania

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-06

This article explores the managerial role of innovation in sustainable development of startups from Romania, with a focus on the transition process from idea generation to business scaling. This research highlights the main challenges and critical factors of success which lead to startups' performances of innovation, in an economic context based on volatility and limited resources. The theoretical analysis is completed by a practical component, based on case studies and examples from Romanian entrepreneurship ecosystem. The results show that strategic management of innovation, the culture organization orientated to a continuous learning and sustainable partnerships represent essential factors for sustainable scaling. The conclusions offer practical recommendations for entrepreneurs, investors and decision-making factors, contributing to special literature regarding innovation and sustainability in the emerging economy of Eastern Europe.

 

7. ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE CAUCASUS - GEORGIA'S ROLE IN FINANCIAL SYSTEM

 

Giorgi TURAZASHVILI

University of Georgia, Tbilisi

Georgia

Nino DAVITAIA

University of Georgia, Tbilisi

Georgia

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/beman/2025.15.4-07

Historically, the Caucasus region has constituted a critical nexus of trade routes and strategic interests nevertheless, for centuries, persistent political instability and economic isolation have impeded the full realization of its economic potential. The legacy of the Soviet system, coupled with the political disintegration that followed in the post-1990s era, has profoundly shaped the region’s economic structures. In the case of Georgia, the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-based system introduced substantial challenges, necessitating deep structural adjustments and comprehensive reforms, a process that continues to be of critical relevance and urgency today. At the present stage, despite numerous challenges and obstacles, Georgia is perceived as an economically liberal and investment-attractive country, striving to establish itself as a financial hub within the Black Sea region. The country’s macroeconomic indicators, fiscal policies, and a stable banking sector contribute to its growing and increasingly significant role in both regional markets and the broader international financial system and networks. The present research conducts a comprehensive analysis of Georgia’s role in the economic transformation of the Caucasus region from a historical perspective to the contemporary era. It does systematically explore the fundamental drivers that enabled Georgia to overcome economic crises and progressively integrate into regional and global financial markets. Special focus is placed on the structural reforms undertaken during the 2000s, notably the strengthening of the financial sector, the enhancement of the business climate, the modernization of the banking system, and the negotiation and signing of international trade agreements. The study makes particular emphasis on Georgia’s participation in multilateral economic platforms and its efforts to deepen ties with the European Union, emerging and developed economies of Asia, and global investment markets. Regarding future prospects, the study highlights both the opportunities and challenges facing Georgia. It examines the critical areas necessary for the development of the country’s financial markets, emphasizing the need for deeper economic diversification, the integration of technological innovations, and the enhancement and effective utilization of labor productivity. These measures are essential for Georgia to maintain its competitiveness and to secure a significant and leading position within the global economic system. The paper also underscores the importance of addressing geopolitical risks, as well as challenges related to energy security and state stability, all of which exert a considerable influence on the country’s future economic development. In conclusion, Georgia’s historical trajectory, contemporary accomplishments, and forward-looking strategic planning collectively pave the way for the country to position itself as a leading economic center in the Caucasus region and to expand its influence within both regional and global financial markets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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