Abstract The main aim of this study is to explore the mediating effect of innovation in the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational performance. HRM practices are observed through selective hiring, training, participative decision-making, and rewarding. Innovation is conceptualized over behavioral, product, process, and market innovation. The study relies upon the principles of social exchange theory and resource-based theory. Data were collected from 408 managers in an emerging economy context. The proposed conceptual model is evaluated with structural equation modeling using Lisrel 8.8 and SPSS 22. Study findings suggest that innovation influences the relationship between selective hiring, training, and participative decision-making and organizational performance. However, no mediating effect of innovation was found in a relationship between rewarding and organizational business performances. Since human resources and innovation are among the leading sources for building competitive advantage for companies, the study findings contribute to HRM and innovation.

Abstract The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of perceived value dimensions (i.e., economic value, hedonic value, symbolic value, and social value) on behavioral intent to engage in collaborative consumption from the perspective of Generation Y. Furthermore, this research aims to investigate the mediating effect of young consumers’ attitude toward collaborative consumption on the relationship between perceived value dimensions and behavioral intent to engage in collaborative consumption. Research findings suggest that specific dimensions of perceived value (economic, hedonic, symbolic, and social) have different direct effects on young consumers’ behavioral intention to engage in collaborative consumption services. Regarding the mediating role of consumers’ attitude toward collaborative consumption, it was found that the mediating effect takes place only in the symbolic value-behavioral response link. Given the paucity of research focusing specifically on collaborative consumption from the perspective of Generation Y, this study provides new and useful insights for researchers and managers.

Innovations have become an increasingly important factor in the struggle to preserve and improve the competitive position of enterprises in domestic and international markets. Innovative companies are those that react to sudden changes in the environment but are also the very cause of change. Dynamic and turbulent changes in the environment and constantly increasing competition, among other factors, have affected the shortening product life cycle and the duration of innovative solutions. Starting from the model creation value, a company may decide to create a new model for value creation or create an imitation an adaptation of a dominant model in the industry. Both extreme positions (innovator vs. follower) require exceptional organizational skills. The aim of this paper is that, the life cycle of products and companies’ reactions to changes, determines whether the B&H companies are inventors or followers. In order to get a complete picture of the innovative strength of the observed B&H enterprises, we will, in addition, analyze the dynamics of investment in research and development, as well as top management’s view of the importance of innovation in achieving competitive advantages for their companies.

Throughout a several last years the transition of the educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been evident. Besides the various formal procedures that the education in Bosnia and Herzegovina has to go through, the system of the overall social transformation has a far greater impact on the process of change. Even the very apprehension of the term „educated person“ has been changed throughout the need for a countinous adjustment and adoption of the new concept of work. In relation to this it is particularly important to set the base for building of a knowledge based society. The aim of this paper is to represent the current position of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its establishment of the knowledge based society through the application of the instruments such as Human Development Index, Knowledge Index and Knowledge Economy Index as well as to sugest potential steps in order to strengthen the process and to make it permanent. Also, the analysis of the fundamental pillars that are leading to the knowledge based economy will be performed in this paper. These pillars are Educated and Skilled Labour Force, an Adequate Information Infrastructure, a Conductive Economic and Institutional Regime and an Effective Innovation System. What will also be represented in this paper is a general overview of opportunities that Bosnia and Herzegovina should use through the educational, research and other scientific institutions in order to apprehend, generate and spread the knowledge.