PurposeCorporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the most crucial phenomena of global capitalism at the beginning of the twenty‐first century. For this reason it is emphasized by many companies (especially transnational corporations and multinational companies) and in the European Union and its policy. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze how CSR exists in a transitional country and region – the Upper Silesian Industrial District and the Rybnik Coalmine Area in Southern Poland.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative and quantitative methodology was used to summarize the sociological research among entrepreneurs and businesses located throughout the region.FindingsThis research showed that the CSR model is a new phenomenon, relatively unknown to entrepreneurs and managers, although there are some examples of CSR practices which currently exist in the strategies of certain companies. These companies are enterprises with significant foreign capital, which proves the theory that CSR is a new kind of idea and consciousness coming into Poland (and Upper Silesia) from abroad. Small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) that belong to the Polish citizens are characterized by an unconscious mode of CSR. There are also examples of building a CSR model in the local perspective among SMEs through European projects. One project called “Inherit the Job” had a goal which was to have local companies recruit the long‐term unemployed for internships and practice and at the end of the program to employ them. To conclude, building a CSR model at the local/regional level depends on one's mentality and way of thinking and it will be a huge challenge in the coming years of transition.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of the research is that companies are not very open to researchers and often would like to present themselves in a public relations manner and not reveal the true condition of the company.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the research are to create new programs focusing on CSR awareness and distribute them among SMEs and other companies.Originality/valueThe original value of the research is in showing how the model of CSR as a social phenomenon is implemented among entrepreneurs and companies in the Upper Silesian Industrial District.
Abstract. In this paper we introduce a formal approach for the specification of safety-critical embedded systems. The specification formalisms Z and statecharts are integrated under a suitable structural model. The combined approach uses the advantages of the formalisms while avoiding their disadvantages. The different formalisms yield different, compatible views on the system: the functional view describing data and data-transformation, the reactive view, describing the system's reaction upon external stimuli, and the structural view, describing the components of the system and their interaction. The combination is discussed presenting parts of a case study: a traffic light control system. The case study is oriented at original planning documents. Besides its safety-and real-time-aspects, the case study is particularly interesting because structuring and reuse is of considerable importance in this example.
Metamodeling is playing an increasingly important role in object-oriented software engineering. However, most approaches use metamodels in a very pragmatic way and important conceptual questions are left open. In this paper, an object-oriented metamodeling methodology based on a formal metalanguage is introduced. The methodology allows for the description of all relevant properties of a metamodel, i. e. abstract syntax, static and dynamic semantics. Di erent kinds of instantiation relations are identi ed and a dichotomy for the classi cation of metaentities is developed. The re ection of the instantiation relations by the metalanguage is shown.
The design of reactive distillation processes requires besides the knowledge of phase equilibrium data reliable kinetic data. This paper presents the results of kinetic measurements of acetic acid esterification with methanol together with results for the backward reaction, the hydrolysis of methyl acetate, both catalyzed by the macroreticular, strongly acidic ion‐exchange resin Amberlyst 15. Microkinetic parameters are determined from batch experiments in a thermostated stirred tank reactor. The applicability of the derived kinetics is checked against experimental results obtained in a trickle‐bed reactor.
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