Entrepreneurship and Work in the Gig Economy: The Case of the Western Balkans

Description

The crisis caused by COVID-19 poses a major challenge for the global economy and business. It has been a test for economic resilience, and how this crisis will affect business activities will be determined by their competitiveness. Only firms that have succeeded in reorienting and quickly adapting to the emerging crisis have continued without interruption in their operations, thus demonstrating their flexibility and high level of resilience. Research shows that companies driving the gig economy celebrate the benefits: flexibility, additional income, freedom and other various opportunities for workers. They require entrepreneurial digital skills that improve their competitiveness and benefit not only themselves but the economy as well. Therefore, digital competencies are becoming a significant resource and precondition for employment, and it is essential to promote digital entrepreneurial skills, introducing them into education programs through different forms of education. This book stresses and explores the importance of synergy between industry and virtual universities. Considering the importance of these issues, this book draws together literature on globalization and small and medium enterprise development and internationalization from disparate sources into a cohesive body of work, which traces the evolution of entrepreneurship and our understanding of the topic. It investigates the impact of digitalization on creating job opportunities in the labor market. Covering social, economic and psychological approaches to the most current topics, this book will be a useful framework to new theories and practices that are emerging to challenge conventional wisdom. It will be of interest to scholars, upper-level students, and researchers involved in the field of entrepreneurship. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Tables List of Figures Preface Acknowledgment Part I Theoretical Perspectives of Globalization 1 Global Business Flows 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Basic Concept and Different Dimensions of Globalization 1.2.1 Globophilia and Globophobia 1.3 Conclusion References Part II Globalization and Entrepreneurship 2 Entrepreneurship: Past, Present and Future 2.1 The Development of Entrepreneurship Through History and Shift of Globalization to a More Digital Form 2.1.1 Motivation Factors When Starting a Business 2.1.2 Global Entrepreneurship Trends 2.1.2.1 Global Entrepreneurship Index 2.1.2.2 Business Environment 2.1.3 Conclusion References Part III Digital Entrepreneurship 3 Enterprise Digital Transformation Toward Network Virtualization 3.1 The Digital Enterprise Concept and Its Virtualization 3.1.1 Introduction 3.1.2 Company Networking 3.1.3 Employee Agility 3.1.3.1 Features of Employee Agility 3.1.4 Different Roles of Virtual Teams in the Realization of the Virtual Companies’ Functions 3.1.5 Importance of Communication in Virtual Enterprises 3.1.5.1 Areas of Electronic Communication 3.1.6 The Complexity of Putting Together Project Teams 3.2 Conclusion References 4 Exploring the Synergistic Potential in Virtual University and Virtual Enterprise 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 The Concept of Distance Learning 4.1.2 Prospects for the Development of Education via the Internet 4.2 Creative Education as a Strategic Form of Education 4.2.1 Encouraging Individuality in Education 4.2.2 Development of an Education Strategy Based on the Choice of Teaching and Learning 4.2.3 The Effects of Educational Strategies to Encourage Individuality 4.2.4 The Impact of Information Technologies on Education 4.3 Integration of a Virtual University and a Virtual Enterprise 4.3.1 Modeling the Integration of a Virtual University and a Virtual Enterprise 4.4 Conclusion References Part IV Changing Nature of Work in the Digital Era 5 The Transformation of Work in a Global Knowledge Economy 5.1 The Impact of Globalization on New Forms of Labor and Employment 5.1.1 Types of Platform Companies 5.2 Changed Manager Role 5.3 Strengthening Digital Entrepreneurial Skills in the Western Balkans: Long-Term and Short-Term Goals 5.4 Global Gig Economic Index 5.4.1 Representation of the Gig Economy in the Western Balkans: Case Study of Montenegro 5.4.1.1 Research Method 5.4.1.2 Key Findings and Discussion 5.5 Conclusion References Part V Organizational and Entrepreneurial Resilience 6 Resilience and Entrepreneurship 6.1 Organizational Resilience 6.1.1 The Modern Concept of Resilience 6.2 Resilience and Competitiveness 6.3 Regional Resilience in Times of a Pandemic Crisis: The Case of Montenegro 6.3.1 Research Method 6.3.1.1 Key Findings and Discussion 6.4 Conclusion References 7 The Resilient Entrepreneur 7.1 Entrepreneurial Resilience 7.1.1 Methodology 7.1.2 Key Findings and Discussion 7.2 Conclusion References Part VI Economic and Social Impact of Global Ecosystem on Progress in Montenegro 8 Economic Prosperity in the Western Balkans and Montenegro 8.1 The Economic Prospects and Further Prosperity 8.2 Economic Prosperity of Montenegro 8.2.1 The Legatum Global Prosperity Index 8.2.1.1 The Pillars of Montenegro’s Economic Progress 8.3 Conclusion References 9 Measuring Quality of Life 9.1 The Social Prospects: Quality of Life Indicators in Montenegro 9.1.1 Introduction 9.1.2 Theoretical Concept of Research 9.1.3 Research Method 9.1.4 Key Findings 9.1.5 Conclusion 9.2 Social Prospects of Montenegro: Indexes 9.2.1 Democracy Index 9.2.2 Corruption Perception Index 9.2.3 Global Health Security Index 9.2.4 Social Progress Index 9.2.5 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 9.2.6 Global Gender Gap Index 9.2.7 Human Freedom index 9.3 Conclusion References 10 Measuring Professional Life 10.1 Professional Life in Montenegro: Research 10.1.1 Research Method 10.1.2 Key Findings 10.2 Conclusion References About the Authors Index