The recent development trends in management of agricultural holdings

Abstract

The aim of this scientific paper is to present recent development trends in the management of agricultural holdings in the Slovak Republic. Furthermore, the objective is to identify new trends in managerial competencies, the factors that represent key conditions for the business success of agricultural holdings, respectively the obstacles to increased competitiveness, and identify new trends in the utilization of progressive methods, techniques, tools and approaches to management. Several research hypotheses and scientific assumptions were set related to the purpose of the scientific contribution. Mathematical and statistical methods were applied for the statistical testing of the hypothesis-nonparametric tests. The results of a questionnaire survey were used as a source of data and this involved 96 top managers employed in agricultural holdings in the Slovak Republic. Stemming up from the results of our survey, managers among the others tools apply outsourcing (46, 88 %), diversification (92, 71 %) and information technologies (56, 99 %). The results confirm that although managerial approaches and methods have changed significantly as a result of multiple socio-political and economic transformations, managers need to pay greater attention to environmental aspects, to transfer of innovations and to project management and knowledge management.