Panel discussion on the topic "Are You Ready for a Fluid Business Model?"
"The panelists of this event were: Nemanja Drobnjak, Deputy General Manager, Manpower Serbia; Bojan Žepinić, Managing Partner, TPA Serbia; Goran Živković, CEO, CBS International; and Predrag Groza, Partner, TSG Law Firm. The communication partner of the event was the Business Intelligence Institute.
The term ""fluid business model"" refers to the dynamism and speed of changes in the market, to which the real sector largely lacks tested answers. This situation puts managers in a new zone where they have little experience, where past success does not guarantee future success.
The reduction in the lifespan of companies, rapid technological progress, the increase in the value of intellectual property compared to tangible property in the balance sheets of companies, virtual teams, and high employee turnover indicate a business complexity that is new to all of us.
Nemanja emphasized that ""market changes are the result of technological progress, demographic trends, and constant innovation in the market. All of this undoubtedly requires companies to adapt to new models and ways of functioning. In this regard, successful attraction and retention of talent involve building relationships from the first contact with potential candidates through transparent communication, adequate onboarding and involvement by direct supervisors, aligning compensation and benefits packages with the needs of talents, and developing a long-term career plan. This way, we create dedicated and loyal employees, as well as promoters of the company in the market.""
Bojan stated that ""according to NBS data, in the first half of 2021, there was a net inflow of foreign direct investment amounting to 1.6 billion euros, indicating that the trend of high foreign investments continues. All indicators suggest that, at least in the medium term, foreign investments will remain at a very high level."" Due to high employee turnover, especially among juniors, in all industries, Bojan concludes that ""companies should increasingly invest in middle management, which should be ready to withstand this type of turnover and be the backbone of the business in business waves for which we do not have precise forecasts, and companies should view these changes as inputs for creating a strategic approach to them, rather than barriers to doing business.""
Predrag said that ""the challenges for the economy in conditions of the pandemic and changed business conditions are significant, which necessarily requires adaptation and a more fluid approach to business in all branches of the economy. On the agenda of Western European companies is a change in the supply chain system and relocation of production from China to other regions, which can be a great opportunity for Serbia. It is up to all of us, based on our previous experience with foreign investors, to work on improving the legal framework and enhancing legal certainty and to seize this exceptional opportunity for Serbia.""
Goran emphasized that ""the increasing attention of large investment houses is directed towards Belgrade and Serbia for several reasons. On one hand, it is the youngest market in the region and one where there has been no saturation in any segment. Also, it is a market that will once again this year record records in terms of the number of traded apartments and commercial spaces. On the other hand, the perception of risk in investor analyzes is decreasing, which puts us on the map of potential investors who are more conservative when it comes to entering new markets. Compared to the region, the ratio of supply and demand is most balanced in Serbia, so it is not to be expected that there will be any serious shifts in real estate prices in the near future.""
We would like to thank all participants for their attendance, as well as the panelists for their discussion."
