Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jakub Šácha Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Statistics and Operation Analysis, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Veronika Lacinová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Military Leadership, University of Defence, Kounicova 65, 662 10 Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Zdeněk Karpíšek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Applied Disciplines, STING Academy, Stromovka 1, 637 00 Brno, Czech Republic Title: Quadratic Quasinorm and Its Applications in Risk Analysis Abstract: This paper deals with the estimation of the probability distribution of the category random variable from its observed values. The gradient estimation presented is based on the f-quasi-norm term. The gradient estimation tends to move away from the empirical distribution towards a uniform distribution. For this reason, it is called the pessimistic estimate. The paper deals with both point and interval estimates. The bootstrap method is used for interval estimates. The theoretical results are illustrated using specific economic data. Keywords: f-divergence, f-quasi-norm, quadratic quasi-norm, discrete probability distribution, gradient estimation, bootstrap Journal: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis Pages: 45-49 Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.11118/actaun.2021.004 File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.004.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.004.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://acta.mendelu.cz/RePEc/mup/references/acu-202101-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:mup:actaun:2021.004 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Odjuvwuederhie Emmanuel Inoni Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1 Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria Author-Name: Bayero Sule Gani Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Taraba State University, P.M.B. 1167 Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria Author-Name: Elizabeth Sabo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Taraba State University, P.M.B. 1167 Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria Title: Drivers of Crop Diversification: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Delta State Nigeria Abstract: Smallholder farmers in southern Nigeria have relied on the cultivation of cassava, yam, maize and plantain for their livelihood for generations. However, with rising climate variability and soil degradation, many farmers are adopting crop diversification as a viable alternative to improve the productivity of their farmland by growing multiple crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine factors that influence crop diversification, and the intensity of crop diversification among small-scale farmers in Delta State. Data for the study were obtained from a random sample of 236 farmers. Crop diversification index (CDI) was used to measure crop diversity, while descriptive statistics, Heckman two-step model and t-test were used to analyse the data. The results showed that 62.3% of the farmers were female; farmers' average age was 51 years, while farm size ranged between 0.08 and 2.2 ha, with a mean of 0.84 ha. Significant differences existed in farming experience (p < 0.05), farm income and farm size (p < 0.01) between crop diversifiers and non-diversifiers. The Heckman model results indicated that age, farm size, credit access, extension contact and farm income had significant positive (p < 0.01) effects on farmers' diversification decision; while farm size, credit access, extension contact and attitude to risk exerted positive and significant influence on intensity of crop diversification by smallholder farmers. Arising from the findings, there is an urgent need for government to chart a new policy direction to revamp the ailing agricultural extension delivery system, a farmer-targeted micro-credit institutions and reforms in land rights to smallholder farmers to enhance timely access to agricultural land to promote crop enterprise diversification among farming households. Keywords: crop diversification, small-scale farmers, diversification index, Heckman two-step model, marginal effects, Nigeria Journal: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis Pages: 59-70 Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.11118/actaun.2021.006 File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.006.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.006.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://acta.mendelu.cz/RePEc/mup/references/acu-202101-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:mup:actaun:2021.006 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdul Mansulu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Accounting and Taxation, Faculty of Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic Title: Corporate Governance and Voluntary Disclosure Practices in Czech Republic Abstract: The decision to disclose enough information in annual reports is seen as an act of transparency. This study seeks to measure the extent of voluntary disclosure and to examine the relationship between corporate governance determinants and the level of voluntary disclosure. The study reports an average of 51.5% as the level of voluntary disclosure. Four corporate governance variables are used as the basis for the regression analysis. The evidence shows a positive association between the level of voluntary disclosure and the proportion of independent directors, block holder and the proportion of the audit committee with only the proportion of audit committee to the board showing statistical significance. The board size has a negative association. The category of corporate governance information items as part of the total voluntary checklist is largely disclosed among Czech firms. The study contributes to the literature on voluntary disclosure in a transition economy. The findings prove useful to investors and financial statement preparers as the knowledge informs them to question and request more information from the firms which are open to the capital market. Keywords: voluntary disclosure, corporate governance, blockholder, board size, audit committee Journal: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis Pages: 111-125 Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.11118/actaun.2021.012 File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.012.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.012.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://acta.mendelu.cz/RePEc/mup/references/acu-202101-0011.txt Handle: RePEc:mup:actaun:2021.012 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Alexander Salmen Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Meierfrankenfeldstr. 37, 58710 Menden, Germany Title: New Product Launch Success: A Literature Review Abstract: This review article deals with the current state of knowledge on the topic of launching new products on the market and the success factors that constitute launch success. As things stand today, it can be stated that the existing research work already covers a broad range of topics and that there is an extended pool of relevant results, which, however, appear rather confusing for the most part due to the lack of comparability of methods and indicators and a large number of specific topics dealt with. It also reveals many gaps of science for future research. The method of this article uses integrative review approach with elements of semi-structured methods to analyse the content of studies concerning the research topic and is thus providing an up-to-date overview of the object of research, which reflects the state-of-the-art on questions relevant to practice and science. Therefore, databases like Google scholar and the university catalogues of the university in Dortmund and Cologne have been used, focussing only on sources that were also listed in Scopus and the Web of Science. The current change through megatrends like the digitalization is also taken into account. Literature on this topic is evaluated to determine the influence of current and future megatrends on the optimal design of product launches. The result is that on the one hand there is already a secure pool of success factors, best-practice methods, typologies and investigation of phenomena encompassing the product launch. On the other hand, the introduction of products to the market is a complex process whose orientation towards the maximum prospects of success must be individually aligned to the respective specifics of the market, product, business model and target group (internal and external), so that there can be no general recipe for success, which applies to every situation. The new opportunities provided by digitisation will also play a key role in this respect. Keywords: product launch, launch success factors, digitalization, new product performance Journal: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis Pages: 151-176 Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.11118/actaun.2021.008 File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.008.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://acta.mendelu.cz/doi/10.11118/actaun.2021.008.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://acta.mendelu.cz/RePEc/mup/references/acu-202101-0014.txt Handle: RePEc:mup:actaun:2021.008