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• A Wounded Soldier Fighting on two Fronts: Civil Society Organizations Initiatives Struggling to Overcome the Pandemic Crisis by Practical Protective Means, Volunteerism, Reporting and Awareness Campaign Discourse

  136-151

  Kushtrim Vllasaj

  Views:

  138

  Given the fact that the covid-19 pandemic virus has had a pervasive impact on almost every sphere of life globally, it is noteworthy to highlight the role and position of the civil society sector, and this paper intends to do so by striking at two matters. Initially, outlining the impact on the functioning and activities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to then proceed with their response to the crisis, through new multifarious initiatives/activities. The analysis was developed by using, essentially, unobtrusive data and direct non-participatory observations of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kosovo that have had initiatives against covid-19. Although CSOs were badly affected by the pandemic as such, and the consequences it brought, whether, through measures and/or neglect from the central level, they still found the resources and willingness to launch initiatives to combat the pandemic in the form or different. All over the country, appeared organizations which among their activities found a place for awareness campaigns, material and financial assistance to citizens in need, production of masks, face shields, and other protective equipment for citizens or health institutions, and providing voluntary assistance as health staff. To link practice with theory, there are presented cases of NGOs that well reflect scholarship ideas such as the need to have a classification of CSOs based on activities, the importance of their IT repertoires, coproduction, and especially the response to the crisis. The importance of this study grounds on the benefit it brings to understanding the role and contribution of CSOs in exceptional times of crisis, especially for a society that underestimates and neglects this sector.

• Examination of Consumer Perception of Web Stores by Netnography in the Period of COVID-19

  Valentina Balogh-Kardos

  Tímea Gál

  Views:

  234

  Online shopping has become more and more part of our everyday lives, as proved by the fact that in the midst of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic, online retailing has grown by more than 30% in Hungary. International research has shown that nearly 90% of consumers take into account the online reviews as much as the recommendations of family or friends before their purchases, digital channels, including Facebook have the greatest impact on their decisions. In our research, in connection with a specific campaign, Black Friday, we examined how actively the highest-traffic stores – having online shops as well - use Facebook to reach and influence the customers. We chose netnography as the method of our research, and we analysed the posts published on the Facebook pages of the five chosen online shops, furthermore, the customer reactions and comments given in connection with the posts. Our results show that three of the five chosen online shops applied Facebook campaigns within the action. By analyzing the comments, they were classifiedinto 5 categories based on satisfaction and trust: satisfied, dissatisfied, interested, trolls, and mute groups.

• The Middle East perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility

  282-291

  Yehia Al-Daaja

  György Norbert Szabados

  Views:

  208

  Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Middle East is gaining more importance than in the past. Although it still remains more about philanthropy and charity, it moves towards a more strategic approach which includes formalizing ways of giving, as a set of non-random actions, and focuses more on addressing social ills and environment, economic challenges, that are hindering development. However, the business in the region has not yet taken the step to fully integrate the CSR into their core business operations. The most common challenges that facing the CSR implementation are the lack of government requirements and incentives, spreading awareness, building CSR partnership model, going beyond the marketing and PR campaigns, and full integration of CSR into the business strategy. In this paper, we aim to introduce the current state of the CSR in the Middle East and its perspectives, besides reviewing its evaluation stages, motivations, and current challenges. Moreover, we aim to examine CSR common practices through examples from the financial sector. The research method applied in this research is based on secondary data sources and we have used desk research to illustrate most important points and findings on the topic.