| Topic title |
Possible scientific supervisors |
Source of funding |
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Employee and organizational resilience strengthening through socially responsible human resource management
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doc. dr. Živilė STANKEVIČIŪTĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Crises seem to have become regular events, which pose increasing challenges to the organizations (Chen et al., 2021). Recently, the number of studies has been growing while demonstrating that organizational survival and effectiveness depend on the ability of organizations and employees to withstand and adapt to significant challenges, that is, on their resilience (Naswall et l., 2019). Generally, resilience is understood to be the capacity to rebound, ‘to come back’ from adversity, uncertainty, conflict, failure, or even positive change (Luthans, 2002).
In a dynamic business environment, the concept of resilience is crucial to understanding how employees and organizations successfully handle adversity (Hartmann et al., 2021; Cani?ls and Hatak, 2022). Resilient employees can navigate in a turbulent society, deal with stress and cope with adverse conditions more effectively (Kakkar, 2019). Organizational resilience is the most direct factor explaining the longevity and competitive advantage of particular organization.
Given the relevance of employee resilience and organizational resilience, the factors fostering resilience needs to be disclosed. Relying on the notion of Luthans (2002) that resilience can be developed through management practices, the proposed research argues that human resource management (HRM) could serve as an appropriate antecedent. However, the previous studies did not include the sustainability dimension in HRM while analyzing the way HRM promotes the resilience. The paper seeks to close the existing gap by introducing socially responsible HRM (Diaz?Carrion et al., 2019) as a driver for promoting resilience. Therefore, the scientific problem is formulated by the question: which and how socially responsible HRM practices strengthen the employee resilience and organizational resilience.
The research aim is to reveal socially responsible HRM practices that strengthen the employee resilience and organizational resilience.
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Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Human Resource Management in accordance with the principles of sustainable human resource management
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prof. dr. Asta SAVANEVIČIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
AI, virtual reality, metaverse are advancing quickly, dramatically changing the nature of decision-making (Strohmeier & Franca Piazza, 2014, 2015; Tweedale, 2014, etc.); performing the HRM practices (Bondarouk & Brewster; 2016; Raviprolu , 2017; Jain, 2018, etc.) and influencing the work relations and organizational culture (Ojha&Chitranshi, 2017; Ringleb, 2015; etc. ). 3D communication platforms, based metaverse technology (Suzuki et al., 2020; Mystakidis, 2022; Park & Kim, 2022), enable the creation of a working atmosphere and space simulating maximum "live" communication online. Nevertheless, Prikshat et al. (2021) emphasise a limited understanding of the theoretical basis for AI assimilation in HRM decision-making functions. In addition, Hermann (2021) focus on the ethical values and principals guiding AI development and use. Moreover, many researchers (Salanova, Llorens & Cifre, 2013; Seong Tak & Park, 2016; Chiappetta, 2017) emphasize technostress as a consequence because of intense digital technologies’ use at work. Meanwhile Mariappanadar (2012) introduces the concept of “harm” and stresses that human resource should be managed sustainably.
The research will investigate how digital technologies (virtual reality, Metaverse, artificial intelligence) can be integrated into human resource management in accordance with the principles of sustainable human resource management.
Expected results.
• Disclosed the social, mental and ethical tensions caused by the usage of artificial intelligence in HRM
• Uncoveried key-factors affecting the benefit-harm ratio of integrating AI into Human Resource Management
• Revealed how organizations can identify compliance with ethical requirements by integrating AI into Human Resource Management
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Impact of Artificial Intelligence based service innovations on consumer behaviour: role of consumer trust
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prof. dr. Jūratė BANYTĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Research questions: What are the characteristics of AI-based service innovations and how they affect consumer acceptance of innovations? What is the relation between consumer acceptance and their intention to used AI-based service innovations? What is the role of consumer trust in the studied relation?
The aim of research is to determine the impact of AI-based innovations on consumer behaviour revealing the role of consumer trust. The objectives :
1. To conceptualize the phenomenon of AI-based service innovations and reveal the impact of AI on the development of service theory.
2. To define the outcomes of AI-based service innovation on consumer behaviour as the major dependent variables of research.
3. To design a conceptual framework of the impact of AI-based service innovations on consumer behaviour that reveals the role of consumer trust and its relation to other constructs.
4. To prepare and apply the methodology for research that integrates traditional and neuromarketing research approaches and techniques.
5. To provide empirical validation for conceptual framework of the impact of AI-based service innovations of consumer behaviour.
Expected outcomes
- - Theoretical pool of research into service theories related to AI impact and consumer behaviour has been expanded.
- - The sets of AI-based service innovation characteristics that determine consumer (un)acceptance of such innovations have been made.
- - The role of consumer trust in terms of relation between AI-based service innovation acceptance and intention to use them has been substantiated.
- - The original framework for the impact of AI-based service innovations on consumer behaviour has been developed.
- - The methodology for research into the impact of AI-based service innovations on consumer behaviour that integrates traditional and neuromarketing research approaches and techniques has been prepared and empirically validated.
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Financial Innovation for Sustainability: Artificial Intelligence-based Potential in Enabling Financial Inclusion for SMEs
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prof. dr. Gerda ŽIGIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Relevance. Access to finance for SME‘s, widely discussed in academic literature, still remains a substantial problem for small and medium enterprises. One part of the problem is low corporate finance literacy. The recent wave of digital business transformation depends on the problem of access to finance even more and digital financial inclusion is becoming central in the debate on how to ensure that SME‘s, who face access to finance problems and are at the lower levels of corporate finance, and digital literacy. Various initiatives to expand the financing of SMEs including partial guarantee schemes, building or improving financial infrastructure, commercial banking models, and other private sector initiatives have been developed to target SMEs directly. At the global level, the global partnership for financial inclusion (GPFI) enhances the integration of artificial intelligence solutions in SME’s financial management decisions aiming to help SME’s to become more financially active. Fintech companies are using AI and its various applications to ensure that the goal of digital financial inclusion is to ensure that small and medium businesses participate in the mainstream financial market.
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Sustainable scaling of social-purpose-driven digital start-ups
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prof. dr. Asta PUNDZIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The research objective is to investigate the mechanisms of the sustainable scaling of social-purpose-driven digital startups. Even commercial enterprises based on digital technologies, such as, e.g. Big Tech platforms, experience difficulty assuring profits to their stakeholders. Social-purpose-driven digital startups, especially those that operate in the healthcare sector, find scaling extremely difficult and unpredictable. Thus, based on exploratory sequential methods we will case study social-purpose-driven digital startups operating in healthcare sector to develop a conceptual model of sustainable scaling and test it based on survey and measuring impact of diverse sets of variables on the sustainable scaling pathways. The data will be collected through interviews, secondary data for the multiple case studies and quantitative data through surveys. The data collection will take place in Lithuania, Finland and Sweden to compare the results among the Nordic region countries.
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Improving Lithuanian Public Sector Governance in the Context of Global Change through the Use of Artificial Intelligence
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doc. dr. Rasa DAUGĖLIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Today's period is complicated. Complex, challenged by emerging phenomena such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchains or the Internet of Things. Society wants a global digital network tailored to their needs. The perception of the AI varies between the public and private sectors, NGOs, academia and independent AI enthusiasts. Research should be carried out from this angle and answer the questions: what are the benefits of using the AI in different processes? How much time can be saved by using AI in the public sector? There are no clear, unidirectional regulations that can improve the development of AI and bring a clearer vision of its future application in the public sector. The aim of the study is to propose measures and actions to improve the management of the Lithuanian public sector in the context of global change through the use of artificial intelligence.
Study design:
1. To systematize the aspects of global change in Europe in the context of globalization (retrospective and prospective analysis).
2. To analyse the theoretical and practical specificities of public sector governance (analysis of best practices in Europe; case studies).
3. Summarise the new approach to DI, with particular emphasis on ethical issues in governance models.
4. Develop a methodology to assess the state of play of IoT in the public sector.
5. Conduct an empirical study to determine the state of play of IoT in the Lithuanian public sector.
Primary research methods: systematic literature analysis (using MAXQDA), qualitative research (document analysis, interviews - structured and closed), systematic data analysis.
Expected outcome of the study: to provide recommendations to public sector representatives (different groups) on how IoT can be applied in the public sector? What are the possible positive and negative consequences of this? What are the ethical issues that may arise when applying IoT in the public sector?
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| Enhancement of organisational social impact through CSR and quality management |
prof. dr. Eglė Staniškienė |
state-funded |
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Paradoxical tensions management of circular business models
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prof. dr. Lina DAGILIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The transformation of organisations into circular ones creates paradoxical tensions that arise from the difficulty of reconciling economic and environmental objectives in the short and long term, both within the organisation and across the value chain.
Managing the paradoxical tensions of circular business models requires organisational capabilities. Using a paradox theory and organisational capabilities approach, the aim will be to investigate how companies experience paradoxical tensions, especially when facing slowness of corporate circular transformation? Which and how organisational capabilities can be used to solve paradoxical tensions?
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Attitude - Behavior Gap in the Context of Sustainable Consumption: Methodological Perspective
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prof. dr. Žaneta Gravelines |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The attitude - behavior gap has long been highlighted in sustainable consumption research. The large discrepancy between what consumers say and how they actually behave is one of the most enigmatic challenges for both academics and practitioners to understand and motivate sustainable consumption. There are indications that, among other factors, a significant part of the behavioral gap may be due to inaccuracies in traditional research methods, as respondents tend to provide socially desirable responses, especially in the context of sustainability research. Despite the potentially significant consequences of SDR, research in the context of sustainable consumption is still largely based on traditional survey tools. Recent research includes the use of indirect (projection) techniques in sustainable consumption research to avoid the error of SDR. Indirect techniques derived from the field of applied psychology are argued to help address or at least reduce the attitude-behavior gap in consumer research. However, there are no systematic studies in the field of sustainable consumption, including indirect techniques and their potential impact on eliminating the socially desirable responding. The aim of this study would be to determine the impact of socially desirable responding on the emergence of an attitude - behavior gap in the context of sustainable consumption research. This would be done by assessing the impact of different methods (direct and indirect techniques) on the results obtained. Expected results: 1) evaluation of indirect techniques as a possibility to obtain more realistic answers in the context of sustainable consumption, at the same time determining the importance of SDR in sustainability research; 2) evidence of the validity of indirect techniques, while arguing the influence of the method on the results obtained.
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The role of the project manager Emotional Intellegence in stakeholders engagement and creating the social value of the project
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prof. dr. Rūta ČIUTIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Stakeholder engagement is vital for project social value creation. Project managers face with challenges how to develop project social value based on close and active engagement of stakeholders. Stakeholders are often concerned about the conflict of their interests within the network of project. Emotional intelligence (EI) is considered to be important for project managers to affect project performance and balance different interests of stakeholders.
Scientific problem: What competencies of the project manager EI strengthen the engagement of project stakeholders? How does the engagement of project stakeholders affect the creation of social value of the project?
The aim is to theoretically substantiate and empirically test the links between project manager EI competencies and the engagement the project stakeholders in terms of creating the social value of the project.
Objectives:
1. To analyze the concepts of the social value of the project and the engagement of the project stakeholders, to identify the factors determining the stakeholder’s engagement and the links with the creation of the social value of the project.
2. To define the concept of EI, identifying the relevant project manager EI competencies and links to the engagement of project stakeholders in creating the social value of the project.
3. After evaluating the results of theoretical and empirical research on the role of the project manager in the engagement of stakeholders in creating the social value of the project, to develop a conceptual model that includes the links between the project manager's EI competencies, stakeholder engagement and the social value of the project.
4. To develop a research methodology and to substantiate the conceptual model of the links between the project manager's EI competencies, stakeholder engagement and the social value of the project being developed.
5. Summarize the results of the research, provide recommendations and further research directions.
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Digitalization roadmaps and their association with firm performance
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prof. dr. Mantas VILKAS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Digitization maturity or readiness for Industry 4.0 models provide digitalization guidelines for organizations. These models include digital innovations that, if implemented, can characterize organizations as advanced in digital transformation. These models are useful because they systematize sector-specific digital innovations and underpin the vision of the "ideal" digitalized organization. Digitalization maturity and readiness for Industry 4.0 models also have shortcomings. These models are based on unrealistic assumptions of universality - they do not assess the company's sector, size, and other essential characteristics of companies. They do not appreciate the interdependence of digital innovations and the resulting sequence of implementation of digital innovations.
The methods of identification of digitalization roadmaps make it possible to evaluate the co-dependence of digital innovations and justify the precedence of their implementation. This dissertation research seeks to answer the questions: What are the dominant scenarios for developing digitalization capabilities? What do the digitalization scenarios depend on? Do dominant digitalization scenarios enable digitalization capabilities to be developed faster or with fewer resources?
Resource-based theory (i.e., resource complementarity) and open systems theory (i.e., systems’ equifinality) constitute the main theoretical approaches for this dissertation. The focus is on longitudinal, sequence analysis empirical methods, such as process mining and genetic algorithms. Other methods, such as expert (e.g., interpretive structural modeling) or qualitative, may also be applied. The main results of this research are substantiation of a set of scenarios for developing digitalization capabilities, determining their association with the company’s performance, and creating prerequisites for individualized digitization scenarios’ generation for business companies.
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Technology upgrading in digitalised global value chains: antecedents, capabilities and firm strategies
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prof. dr. Monika PETRAITĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
As a distinct novelty, the proposal explores and further develops a new conceptual and empirical framework to explore technology upgrading at the meso (sectoral) and micro (firm) level, which is designed for catching-up-economies in general. The proposal departs from the proposition that technology upgrading is a multidimensional process. In significant portions, these changes are driven by and it fuels global forces (international trade and investment flows) and local actions and strategies ( firms and policy).Business model innovation here is seen as a core mechanism facilitating change across innovation ecosystems, and value chains in the region.
The major aim of the research to explore the position, dynamics and determinants of the Baltic catching up countries and regions in the context of industrial and technology upgrading within the wider Europe and internationally, including firm, sector and macro level implications on business model innovation for sustainable social and economic growth within Industry 4.0.
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| Shifting consumer behavior to address climate change |
doc. dr. Aušra Rūtelionė |
state-funded |
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Agent based modelling of processes in public governance
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doc. dr. Rimantas RAULECKAS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Public Governance research group invites candidates to conduct methodologically cross-cutting research on public service provision, customer satisfaction, public administration, smart governance, algorithmic governance, EU governance and policies, generic policies, comparative public administration, pandemic management strategies, decision-making, public sector resilience, public sector ethics, tax evasion, tax moral, public trust, public participation, local, regional development and other topics in public governance or public management by applying agent-based modelling (Bonabeau 2002) to simulate the interactions among various stakeholders/entities and the emergent properties of such systems. The candidate will have at least some experience with agent-based modelling or has Python or R skills.
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The role of virtually provided support for the well being of international employees
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prof. dr. Vilmantė Kumpikaitė-Valiūnienė |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Millions of people are engaged in work abroad every year resulting from migration, expatriation, or short overseas assignments. Internet technologies (IT), such as forums, social network sites, or blogs, are now widely recognized to be changing the way people interact with social contacts and thereby access virtual support. However, even numerous reports have revealed a growing concern with International Employees (IEs) wellbeing in the times of COVID-19, a lack of studies exploring virtually provided support on IEs well being could be identified. Objective is – to identify the role of support provided virtually for international employees well being.
Expected results: identified well being categories and factors influencing well being of EIs; highlighted virtually provided support forms and IT used for support; selected research approach (quantitative, qualitative, mixed) and constructed research Instrument; empirically researched preferred IT for virtual support, preferred support providers and the most effective support forms.
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