For investment decisions to be made in tourism sector, it is necessary to determine tourism potential on the first place. Tourism potential is the ability of a particular location to attract and host tourists. Tourism development should be based on strengthening sustainability, and thus tourism will provide good effects. Since rural settlements have experienced recession in the past few decades, these areas need to be revitalized. This can be achieved through development of rural tourism. Sustainability of rural tourism potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in focus of this study. Based on sustainability criteria, we assessed the rural potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina for certain rural settlements. Assessment of the sustainability of rural tourism potential in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina was carried out with expert evaluation and used methods of FUCOM, ARAS and CRITIC, and a decision model will be created for this purpose. The findings from this study will provide guidelines for improvement of rural tourism in Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina through examination of good and bad sides of the examined rural settlements. The model with certain corrections can also be used in determining sustainable tourism potential in other branches of tourism.

The purpose of this paper is to research how to improve loyalty to the dark chocolate brand Dorina through interaction created in the model composed of constructs such as brand image, brand impact, brand satisfaction and brand value. The data for this research have been gathered by an online survey. The total of 448 questionnaires have been collected in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The respondents to the survey were consumers of dark chocolate Dorina. The results indicate that consumer satisfaction is the most important factor for the brand loyalty on the dark chocolate market, followed by the impact and value, while the brand image does not significantly affect the loyalty of the consumers. Furthermore, the results indicate that the brand image significantly affects the customer satisfaction. A limitation of this research is that only one country has been taken as a sample, which could lead to generalization of results. New functions of chocolate, such as a health function, provide a new segment of food industry analysed in this paper. Companies should pay attention to the improvement of their brand image in order to affect consumer satisfaction which is the most important prerequisite for the creation of loyalty among the consumers. The developed model has provided instructions for the dark chocolate EKON. MISAO I PRAKSA DBK. GOD XXVIII. (2019.) BR. 1. (245-266) A. Puška et al: CONSUMERS .̀.. 246 manufacturers on how to improve loyalty of consumers and how to influence the very purchase.

In the turbulent environment which is characterized by constant market changes and the development of informational technologies, supply chain is becoming the key instrument for competitive advantage. To survive on the market and be competitive, enterprises have to share and distribute knowledge and information. Information sharing affects the fundamental decisions of the supply chain management. Information sharing with partners is a precondition for the exchange of knowledge needed for business. Most important partners for every enterprise are their suppliers and buyers. Suppliers and buyers are key participants of the supply chain from which they get needed information. Relations with suppliers and buyers are an important precondition for the improvement of the operative performance of the enterprise. Sharing information with suppliers and buyers is done in the following way: information delivered to suppliers, information obtained from the supplier, information delivered to buyers and information obtained from buyers. To examine the impact of the supply chain used an empirical study about multi-dimensional relations. The research is focused on information sharing by food industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). A random systematic sample was used to distribute the questionnaire to these companies. Collected data is analysed using the Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the model was tested using the Structural equations model (SEM). The results showed that information sharing impacts the improvement of the organizational performance of companies, and partnerships with supplier and buyer impact on the information sharing. Results of this study showed that information sharing does not have a significant impact on the sub constructors of operative performances of the enterprise because there is no significant connection with flexibility, while for the other constructors there is a significant connection between information sharing and operative performances of the enterprise. Based on these facts, it examined the importance information sharing in the supply chain for the development of partnerships and improvement of performance this companies. The results will help managers on food industry in BiH how to improve quality of the information sharing through partnerships and how to developing operative performances companies. The model gives directions for developing business enterprises in food industry using information sharing within the supply chain. Apart from that, obtained results contributed to the better understanding of the significance of the information sharing in the food supply industry enterprises. Based on what is said, to improve the business of the enterprise, it is needed to share quality information which is possible to get through improving cooperation with key participants in the supply chain.

A decision-making process requires a prior definition and fulfilment of certain factors, especially when it refers to complex fields such as supply chain management. One of the most important items in the initial stage of a supply chain, which strongly influences its further flow, is making a decision on the most suitable supplier. In this paper, a model for evaluation and supplier selection has been proposed, which has been considered in more than ten different production areas. The model consists of twenty quantitative and qualitative criteria, which are reduced to a total of nine by the application of the fuzzy AHP and the assessment of managers in production companies. The verification of the model has been presented throughout a selection of suppliers in a company for the production of plastic bags and foils, where the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) method has been used to determine the significance of the criteria, and the Fuzzy Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (Fuzzy EDAS) to evaluate and select suppliers. The obtained results have been considered throughout a sensitivity analysis in which a total of 15 different scenarios have been formed and where the stability of the model has been determined, since the supplier one is the best solution in all the cases.

The selection of the appropriate apple varieties is one of the most important decisions in orchards establishing. The paper gives the methodology for estimating the most suitable varieties of apples when establishing orchards according to modern market demands. This methodology is based on the DEX method for hierarchy-based multi-criteria decision making. The model developed in this paper was applied on four apple varieties, whereby an expert evaluation was used. The experts included in evaluation are from the Fruit Federation of Integral Fruit Production in Laktasi, where panel research was used. Fruit varieties that were observed are: Top Red, Idared, Gala and Golden Delicious because they are the most commonly planted in the orchards at the area of Northwest B&H. The basic advantage of this model is simple application. With visual characteristics of the DEXi program tool and graph radar it is easier to see the good and bad sides of the technological and economic features of the each analyzed apple varieties. The results of the model shows that the Top Red variety is “best” suited for establishing a new orchard, while Idared is rated as "good". The other two varieties used in this model are rated as "medium". For the final selection of apple varieties, it is necessary to carry out an analysis on a single micro-location where all the characteristics of the area should be taken into account.

This paper deals with direct effects ofbrand image, satisfaction and value on consumer loyaltytowards branded chocolates. In the empirical research, a model with these four brand dimensions was established to examine different direct effects - how brand image is related to brand satisfaction and its value, and how brand satisfaction is related to brand value. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina andincluded 432 respondents based on a snowball sample. The results show that the established structural model is factual,enabling the acceptance of set hypotheses. It has also been proven that the brand satisfaction has the greatest impact on brand loyalty.Based on the findings, the paper additionally contains practical recommendations for production to creating a brand of chocolate.

Abstract The objective of this research is to show an innovative way for processing the collected data and measurement of practice and performances of supply chain by means of transformation of the obtained linguistic values, using the appropriate fuzzy methods, into crisp values of research variable dimensions. The methodology was applied for the measurement of the influence of an independent supply chain practice variable on the dependent supply chain performance variable and the research included the food industry companies. In order to apply the multivariate analysis methods, it is necessary to have the dimensions of the variable, but not the claims. Fuzzy logic enables the weighting of each claim and determining its weight, and determining the research variable dimension value in order to be able to use the multivariate analysis methods. The use of this methodology enables realistic evaluation of the dimensions and the results obtained show a statistically significant influence proving to be suitable for further testing using various statistical methods. The hypotheses about the relationships between supply chain practices and supply chain performances are confirmed.

Primary research in social sciences is mostly used in survey questionnaires. Within the questionnaire, it is possible to elaborate questions in different ways. However, when measuring the quantitative properties, the most frequently used scale is Likert scale. Responses to statements are constructed in for of language values. In order to show the statistical analysis of the obtained results in the form of language values, it is necessary to convert them into numerical values. The aim of this paper is to show that we can transform linguistic values into numerical values using fuzzy logic and the corresponding methods. The subject of the paper is to offer an innovative methodology for the transformation of linguistic values into numerical ones so that they can be statistically processed. Converting is usually done by assigning a numerical value to a particular statement. If a 7-scale is applied, then transformations into numeric values are made from 1 to 7. For human way of thinking it is easier to use the linguistic value of the answer because it is not possible to give precise answers to some questions. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology in which linguistic values can be converted into numerical values using fuzzy logic. The transformation process is explained by an example variable of supply chain practice.

When making an investment decision the investor has got many alternative investment options available. The task of the investor is to choose one investment that will best accomplish the objectives of the investment project. In order for an investment to be possible, it is common practice to create a document that plans and especially outlines the form of the investment project. In order to choose an investment that best meets the goals of the project, it is necessary to evaluate the project. There are evaluation methods available for the investor to assess the effectiveness of an investment project. The results given by these methods are usually conflicting, thus causing difficulties for the investor's decision-making abilities. This paper presents a model for improving the decision process in investment. The purpose of this model is to indicate the need for using methods such as the multi-criteria analysis method in order to evaluate the effectiveness of an investment. Due to the fact that the results of the evaluation methods are often different, it is necessary to take into account that there are a number of criteria that need to be acknowledged, in order to make the best investment decision. Multi-criteria analysis can be used to rank potential investment projects and enhances the decision-making process that is required to meet the goals of an investment.

The term consumer behavior has become very popular in recent studies. It is characterized by various processes, with consumers purchasing decisions being one of them. This paper explores the way in which demographic characteristics influence purchasing decisions with focus on technical products including household appliances, computers, TV sets and similar technical products that cost more than 400 BAM. The empirical study was conducted in the region of northeast of Bosnia Herzegovina and 192 respondents were included in the study to express their allegations of purchasing decisions. Factor analysis was used to identify broader constructors as a basis for observation of the variables. In total, six variables were identified. Based on the calculation of Cronbach's Alpha indicators, it has been established that there was a low internal affiliation of claims in two variables, upon what they were discarded. Thus, four variables were used to study purchasing decision-making. The results of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that gender, income level and employment status of the respondents significantly influence purchasing decisions among consumers. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) has further shown that females Under the age of 25 and whose income is less than 400 BAM with less than 25 years are generally dedicating to purchasing decisions. The empirical findings showed that the most satisfied with their purchasing decisions are male respondents, whose income varies between 400 BAM and 800 BAM and who belong to the category of students under 25 years.

When exploring the relationship between users and information systems, it is necessary to ascertain what impact the user's basic features have on their experience of the information systems they use in their work. Accordingly, this survey was conducted in the Government of Brcko within the district of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and within the Public company Brcko Municipality. The survey was conducted on 479 employees, while 261 employees completed the questionnaire developed for this research. When measuring the basic characteristics of the respondent’s gender was considered, as well as the work place, age, qualifications, their work experience and the amount of use of the information system weekly. When measuring the experience of using the information system, a modified model of performance of the information system was used. The SPSS 20.0 statistical software tool was applied during the testing of the proposed hypothesis, and the multivariate variance analysis (MANOVA) and the variance analysis (ANOVA) were used for the analysis. A factor analysis was used with the grouping of the proposed claims. The results obtained using this analysis show that in the modified model of success of the information system the statements were grouped into 4 factors. The hypothesis test results have shown that there is a significant statistical dependence on the use of information systems in almost all features of a user, except for the age of users where there is no statistical dependence. The results obtained from this research will contribute to a better understanding of how users experience information systems in their work and what basic features of the respondents affect the use of the system.

Increased competition present in the higher education in BiH has conditioned the trend that institutions need to “fight” for each student through quality development at higher education institutions. This paper deals with means of enhancing quality at eMPIRICA College through continual investigation of students’ satisfaction. For the purpose of this research, we used a questionnaire with 26 statements on quality at the higher education institution, which were grouped in four quality dimensions using factor analysis. In addition, satisfaction and loyalty of students were measured where we compared students’ expectations and perceptions at the beginning and end of the academic year. Thus, a gap in the quality of education services at eMPIRICA was noted, as well as the gap in regards to satisfaction and loyalty. Using MANOVA it has been ascertained that there is a significant statistical difference between expected and perceived quality on the part of the students throughout all quality dimensions as well as in terms of students’ loyalty, and there is no significant statistical difference in satisfaction of students. Using ANOVA it has been deduced that with specific statements there are significant statistical differences in satisfaction and loyalty of students, while using t-test we observed a difference between arithmetic means of expected and perceived quality in all quality statements.