Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maria Tsertsi Author-X-Name-First: Maria Author-X-Name-Last: Tsertsi Author-Name: George I. Zobolas Author-X-Name-First: George I. Author-X-Name-Last: Zobolas Title: Strategic management in times of crisis: the case of marble enterprises in the prefecture of Drama, Greece Abstract: The structure of the marble industry of Drama is outlined in terms of economic sector of activity and legal form and its main competitive advantage is outlined using commercial data in conjunction with the views of the industry leaders. The extent of application of strategic management principles by the companies while internationally expanding and coping with the crises as well as the degree of fit and contribution of the undertaken strategies to their overall efficiency, are evaluated. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 2-21 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: strategic management; marble companies management; marble enterprises management; Drama marble enterprises; Drama marble companies; Greece marble enterprises; Greece marble companies; Greece. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95091 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:2-21 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Georgia Kobougia Author-X-Name-First: Georgia Author-X-Name-Last: Kobougia Author-Name: Dimitrios Kyrkilis Author-X-Name-First: Dimitrios Author-X-Name-Last: Kyrkilis Title: The role of China in the global shipping industry, with emphasis on the dry bulk market Abstract: This paper examines the role of China in the development of the global maritime industry, focusing on the dry bulk market. The gradual reforms of the Chinese economy starting from the late 70s until the country's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 triggered an unprecedented growth of all sectors of the shipping industry, with the dry bulk sector being in the epicentre of the trading boom. China became one of the main driving forces of the demand and supply of ship transportation. An econometric model has been developed to test the validity of the theoretical analysis. Through a multiple regression model, a series of Chinese economy-related variables, potential drivers of the demand and supply of ship transportation, have been estimated as to their effect on the dry bulk market earnings using the OLS technique. Six of these factors, including the Chinese industrial production growth, the Chinese dry bulk seaborne imports, the Chinese-owned dry bulk fleet and the Chinese shipyards' output, are proved to be statistically significant determinants of the dry bulk vessels' earnings. The evaluation of the regression results provides sufficient comfort in relation to the validity of the conclusions. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 22-39 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: shipping; dry bulk market; ship transportation; multiple regression; China. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95105 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:22-39 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Athanasios Kasioras Author-X-Name-First: Athanasios Author-X-Name-Last: Kasioras Title: Greek public airports' efficiency assessment using DEA-modelling. Factors influencing efficiency and economic recession environment (2009-2014) implications Abstract: Airports are an essential part of the air transport system as a whole. Greek Airport Network is mainly a public organisational system, with the most important part of it currently transformed into a privately operated subsystem. The present work aims to assess the Greek public airports' efficiency, operated by Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) for the years 2009-2014. The technical efficiency is estimated in a relative manner using the non-parametric method of data envelopment analysis (DEA), establishing which airports operate relative efficiently and which are inefficient. Airports are assessed as uniform production and decision making units (DMUs) and additionally with respect to the two well recognised and defined, airside and landside processes. Particular emphasis is given on weighing the relative importance of inputs and outputs, whilst focusing on the efficiency improvement through output maximisation efforts. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 40-63 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: airport; aviation; Greece; data envelopment analysis; DEA; decision making unit; DMU; technical efficiency; airside efficiency; landside efficiency; peer airports. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95121 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:40-63 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Grigorios Despoteris Author-X-Name-First: Grigorios Author-X-Name-Last: Despoteris Author-Name: Barbara Myloni Author-X-Name-First: Barbara Author-X-Name-Last: Myloni Title: Motivation and job satisfaction: the case of call centres in Greece Abstract: The purpose of this research is to describe the current level of job satisfaction and the factors that lead to it from the perspective of call centre employees in Greece, using Herzberg's two-factor theory as the primary theoretical framework. Specifically, it determines the overall degree of job satisfaction among call centre employees presents the level of motivators - hygiene factors provided by call centre companies and finally describes the relationship between motivators - hygiene factors and job satisfaction. Given the virtual absence of research on job satisfaction and motivation in call centres in Greece, this paper aims to fill this gap. In addition to the theoretical importance, this research has practical relevance. In a stressful working environment like call centres, identifying the factors that contribute to job satisfaction can help companies achieve higher productivity, lower staff turnover and simultaneously satisfy their employees. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 64-84 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: motivation; job satisfaction; call centres; motivators; hygiene factors; intrinsic motivation; extrinsic motivation; Greece; Greek call centres. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95156 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:64-84 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Panagiota D. Alexiou Author-X-Name-First: Panagiota D. Author-X-Name-Last: Alexiou Title: Coaching: a plus (+) to managerial skills Abstract: The present analysis is about coaching and its benefits to the managerial position. It is a descriptive and analytical research analysis based on primary data collected using a questionnaire. The sample comprises 190 managers of all types of 'IT and communications Greek enterprises' (SEPE), from small to multinational ones. The sample was analysed to investigate whether coaching is significant as a process to the administrative role of managers. The results indicated that managers have a clear perception of coaching though they do not trust the process as far as it concerns how beneficiary as a process is. They found it quite challenging to insert coaching as a process to the companies they work in though they recognised that it is all about lack of knowledge to use this tool correctly. So, it appears that coaching is very effectual and well known in Western countries, Greek organisations, companies and smaller businesses. But its use is somewhat limited or non-existent. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 85-105 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: coaching; management; mentoring; consulting; training; skills; coaching culture; managerial skills; communication; performance; emotional intelligence; manager. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95176 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:85-105 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Charitomeni Kalogeropoulou Author-X-Name-First: Charitomeni Author-X-Name-Last: Kalogeropoulou Author-Name: George Petrakos Author-X-Name-First: George Author-X-Name-Last: Petrakos Title: Comparative analysis of the contemporary public sector quality determinants in relation to the satisfaction level of the Greek judicial officials and citizens in civil, criminal and administrative courts Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to provide a quality assessment of the four key factors of the existing Greek judicial system namely, the environment, the professional competence, the prejudice and the burn-out, and investigate their structural relationship to the citizens' and officials' satisfaction within different demographic segments. The results were mainly based on the statistical analysis of relative data gathered from an empirical survey conducted in civil, criminal and administrative courts of Thessaloniki, among citizens and judicial officials. Serious differentiations have been reported in different segments and also in different courts and respondents type. Interesting findings and figures also came out of the data gathered from administrative records regarding human recourses and the adoption and usage of information and communication technologies. The main results of this research point out the need for a reform in the Greek judicial system in accordance with the key dimensions of the new public management. Journal: Int. J. of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management Pages: 106-118 Issue: 1/2 Volume: 8 Year: 2018 Keywords: public administration; service quality; judicial system; governance; new public management; NPM; human recourses; information and communication technologies; ICT. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=95188 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijdsrm:v:8:y:2018:i:1/2:p:106-118