Civil Society ― The Engine for Economic and Social Well-being - the 2017 Griffiths School of Management and It Annual Conference on Business, Entrepreneurship and Eth

This proceedings volume explores the concept of civil society as an engine for economic and social well-being. Featuring contributions from the 2017 Griffiths School of Management and IT Annual Conference on Business, Entrepreneurship and Ethics (GMSAC) held in Oradea, Romania, this volume provides different perspectives, emerging studies and trends that are crucial to the further understanding of the interconnection of civil society, economic development and social stability. The enclosed contributions address key topics such as a) the ways in which national, regional and local governments are best equipped to support economic and social development, b) how government, business and non-profit sectors can support economic and social stability and c) the ways in which growing economies’ active societies can strengthen civil society.

Research and practice have proven that there is a great potential for civil society organizations to support socio-economic well-being, both directly and indirectly. As a result, the interplay between civil society, economics and social well-being is highly relevant to current business and economic research and is a topic of discussion by academics and practitioners in the government, business and non-profit sectors. This volume showcases some of the current research, cases and discussions in this area from an interdisciplinary, global perspective.

Featuring contributions exploring timely subjects such as consumer behavior, the hospitality industry, education, corporate social responsibility (CSR), banking, health care, and semiotics, this book is appropriate for researchers, academics and policy makers in economic and social development, business ethics and sustainability.

Dr. Randolph Wilt, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin. He received a Master of Arts in strategic communication and leadership from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration in human resource management from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He earned a doctorate in interpersonal communication from the University of Texas at Austin, with a concentration in conflict management. Wilt is the Interim Dean of the College of Business and Communication at Concordia University Texas overseeing the areas of Business, Communication, Leadership and Public Health. In addition, Wilt is a certified mediator and consults organizational leaders in mediation, interest-based negotiation and human resources talent management and has served as the past deputy director of corporate training for the University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution. Wilt has served for more than 25 years within industry and in various corporate roles including banking, marketing, and his current position as chairman and past CEO of a national advertising and promotion firm in Austin, Texas. Academically, Wilt has taught at various U.S. institutions including West Virginia University, The Citadel Military College, and the University of South Carolina.

Ioan S. Fotea is a university lecturer at the Emanuel University of Oradea, with an MBA and a PhD in Marketing from the prestigious ASE (Academy for Economic Sciences) in Bucharest, Romania. He is the coordinator of Emanuel University’s Master in Entrepreneurial Management program and owns Advanced Solutions Ltd., an international business consultancy firm, while actively participating in various domestic and international business and social projects.

Lois Vaduva is a university lecturer at Emanuel University of Oradea, with a PhD from the “George Enescu” National University of Arts in Ia?i, Romania. She began her research career at as an assistant at Advanced Solutions Ltd., an international business consultancy, before continuing her doctoral degree. Her areas of research include a transdisciplinary approach between the arts and socio-political influences and artistic management. She is involved in academic management at Emanuel University of Oradea and has experience in administering academic grants.