University of Economics Varna

Employee appraisal can be defined as a procedure for identifying the degree of compliance of their personal qualities, the quantitative and qualitative results of their activities, i.e. their work performance, with certain requirements. It aims to answer two main questions - to what extent the employee performs the assigned work, function or position and what is the degree of compliance between the professional abilities of the employee and the requirements of the job. An objective answer to the first question can be provided by approaches for quantitative performance assessment, such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Therefore, this report examines the possibilities of the so-called output-oriented DEA model for analyzing the comparative effectiveness of employees in the organization. The presented theoretical statements are demonstrated with a real-data numerical example.

In the context of growing global economic instability, liquidity management has emerged as a critical determinant of organizational resilience. The purpose of this article is to present the theoretical foundations of liquidity management, analyze contemporary approaches to working capital assessment, and synthesize recent research developments in the field. The study conducts a systematic review of the literature, focusing on both developed and developing economies, and incorporates findings from academic publications and empirical studies. The analysis reveals contrasting trends: a marked deterioration in the cash conversion cycle in 2023—when, for the first time in a decade, all key indicators declined simultaneously—followed by a 4% improvement in 2024. The article integrates up-to-date data from 2023–2024 into the theoretical framework, thereby systematizing the latest insights into the effects of global instability. The findings suggest that effective liquidity management requires the integration of both traditional and modern approaches, including stress testing, scenario analysis, and probabilistic modeling. The proposed integrated model provides financial managers with practical tools for optimizing working capital under conditions of heightened uncertainty.

Since 2008, the Chinese market for imported olive oil has experienced steady growth in both consumption and imports, reaching a market value of over 5 billion RMB. Spain, Italy, and Greece are the main exporting countries, jointly accounting for more than 80% of Chinese imports. An analysis of 34 olive oil brands available in the Chinese market shows that while basic information (such as origin, production volume, and acidity level) is generally provided, more detailed elements are often missing. These include the specific olive varieties used, explicit health benefits, and consumer education content. Spanish brands dominate in terms of production volume and primarily target the mid-range market segment, whereas Italian brands position themselves in the premium segment, emphasizing tradition and health-related values. Domestic Chinese brands, on the other hand, compete mainly in terms of price and localization. Looking ahead, organic certification and consumer education on olive oil emerge as key areas with strong potential for future market development. This study aims to understand brand packaging information for olive oil brand suppliers. Provide packaging strategies for olive oil companies to enter the Chinese market.

The transformation of a national monetary system is of fundamental importance to any state. Participation in a monetary union entails a specific set of requirements, constraints, and opportunities. Countries acceding to the Eurozone (EZ) find themselves at varying stages of socio-economic development. This necessitates the management of specific requirements and challenges during pre-accession processes, as well as subsequent comprehensive integration into the system. Potential shortcomings at the national level may serve as a catalyst for socio-economic volatility in the short and medium term. The decision to join the EZ may be predicated on either economic or political justifications. The outcomes of such strategic decisions can be monitored in subsequent periods through fluctuations in key macro- and microeconomic indicators. The object of this publication is three nations that exhibited relatively similar levels of development upon their accession to the EZ. The subject of the study involves several core indicators. The primary objective is to examine the shifts and trends within these key metrics. The research methodology incorporates qualitative analysis and statistical methods, supplemented by comparative evaluations.

In the context of global trends for sustainable development, the construction sector in Bulgaria is facing the need for intelligent integration of innovative digital technologies.This study analyzes the technological changes from Industry 5.0 to increase efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability in construction.Emphasis is placed on the implementation and intelligent integration of construction and information modeling, the Internet of Things, digital twins, artificial intelligence, drones, and 3D modeling, which support process optimization, resource management, and occupational safety.Particular attention is paid to the role of the human factor.The article identifies some challenges related to a low level of digital skills, limited organizational readiness, insufficient investment, cybersecurity, and the implementation of ESG standards.The need for a regulatory framework, human capital development, and coherent linking of technologies, processes, and resources as prerequisites for achieving sustainable and competitive development of the construction sector is emphasized.

Inflation expectations influence household behavior and policy credibility but often diverge from official data. This study explores how macro- and micro-level pessimism predict price anxiety and inflation expectations among Bulgarian households before euro adoption. Nationally representative, cross-sectional data is used - from the June 2025 European Commission Consumer Survey for Bulgaria - fielded by LOGO Market Research as part of its omnibus, within which the author inserted a brief behavioral module. Chi-square tests and independent-samples t-tests show that pessimistic appraisals of the general economy and household finances are associated with higher price anxiety, and anxious respondents report elevated 12-month inflation expectations. The pattern supports an appraisal-affect mechanism. Limitations include self-reports, single-wave design, item nonresponse for numeric perceptions, and national focus. Findings underscore the value of tracking affect alongside cognition to guide expectation-management during euro adoption.

This study investigates the impact of empathy and emotional intelligence (EI) on the success of event management.The research aimed to assess how these competencies influence team coordination, client satisfaction, conflict resolution, and stress management.A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a survey of 120 participants (event professionals and clients) with in-depth interviews.Quantitative findings revealed significant positive correlations between emotional intelligence and team collaboration (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), and between empathy and client satisfaction (r = 0.58, p < 0.01).Regression analysis showed that EI and empathy together explained 48% of the variance in perceived event success.Qualitative insights further highlighted the role of emotional regulation, empathic communication, and stress resilience in strengthening relationships and enhancing event outcomes.The results confirm that empathy and emotional intelligence are not peripheral soft skills, but essential competencies for effective leadership and stakeholder engagement.The study recommends integrating EI and empathy training into professional development and recruitment practices to improve performance and client satisfaction in the events industry.

Every product and service provides consumers with two types of value: utilitarian and hedonic.Utilitarian value is associated with functional and practical benefits, while hedonic value reflects emotional and sensory experiences.Together, these components form the consumer's perceived value, which in the context of the hotel industry is most commonly manifested through the overall online rating on accommodation platforms.The aim of the present study is to determine which of the two value dimensions-utilitarian or hedonic-has a stronger influence on the formation of the overall hotel rating.For this purpose, the individual subcategories of the rating system on Booking.com(value for money, cleanliness, facilities, location, comfort, and staff) were conceptually classified into the two value dimensions.The study covers 63 four-star hotels located in the municipality of Varna, Bulgaria.Based on the collected data, two linear regression models were applied to assess the influence of each value dimension on the overall rating.The results indicate that both dimensions have a strong and statistically significant effect, with utilitarian factors exerting a slightly stronger impact (R = 0.921) compared to hedonic factors (R = 0.878).These findings highlight the importance of balancing functional quality with positive emotional experiences in order to enhance the perceived value of the stay and strengthen the hotel's competitiveness in the online environment.

This paper suggests an enhancement of computer system security through the integration of supplementary specialized modules for encryption, hashing, memory monitoring, authentication and other possible uses. Unlike traditional TPM and HSM solutions, the proposed architecture offers dynamic expandability, improved data protection, and resilience against real-time attacks. These modules execute cryptographic operations in a secure environment without revealing the original content to the outside world. Thus, they are suitable for a wide range of applications—from personal data protection to critical infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems can be tailored to support users with different profiles better to improve digital communication and inclusion. Studies have shown that simulated data on various types of disabilities can be utilized early in the design of AI systems to measure key indicators that enhance the customization of these algorithms to users with diverse needs. This is particularly valuable in educational systems to address potential accessibility issues early in their design. In this regard, this study aims to investigate the simulation of human typing errors, providing a controlled framework for evaluating the simulated text through AI algorithms. The research scope is narrowed only to simulate typing errors made by people with motor disabilities. This is achieved by generating realistic typing errors using a Python script. Through the proposed framework, it is evaluated how human typing errors can be assessed by AI algorithms to improve the accessibility of educational systems.