Evolution of a commercial insurance company in trans-epochal developments: Evidence of the Czech insurance market

The purpose of the research is to find the right strategic formula to resolve bad loans suitable to environment and characteristics of micro-financial institutions and their consumers. It applies qualitative approach by means of interactive method put forward by Milles and Huberman (2009) as analysis method. Data are obtained from indepth interview with superordinates, staff and consumers of microfinance institutions in Kendari city. A microcredit institution “Harum” needs several strategis to handle bad loans. It includes: institutional reinforcement (improvement in service procedure, increase in human resources’ skill, more branch offices, more new recuitments, the involvement of sub-district government, the use of information system), reinforcement of consumers’ capacity (tight selection process, counseling of business management, advisory service, and special relationship). The research results serve as solutions to microfinancial institutions in handling bad loans, from which development and sustainability can be assured. Consumers might make use of this information to develop their business. They also might serve as references for regional government in making the right policy for the development of micofinancial institutions and small business empowerment. This is the first study exploring formulation of strategy for microfinancial institutions in handling bad loans. The research explores internal and external aspects of microfinancial institution, with holistic view of the right policy in terms of institutions and consumers.

Stokvel is a type of ‘rotating savings and credit associations’ found only in South Africa (SA) which have an estimated value of R49 billion and a membership of 11,5 million, in a country with a populace of 57million and an informal economy with a total value of R160 billion – yet remain a hidden sector of the economy. This confirms that there is a shortage of the consulted literature on the model for integrating the stokvels into the economic policy framework of a municipality. Therefore, developing the stokvel industry could be key to poverty alleviation, reduction of unemployment and broadening equitable access to the ownership of the economy and capital accumulation; thus, improving the livelihoods and raising the standard of living. The objective of the paper is to determine the economic contribution factors of stokvels in the economic transformation of SA at a municipality level. The paper used a mixed methods design. A sample size of 395 stokvel groups’ respondents for the quantitative research was selected using a simple random probability sampling method. The response rate was 100 percent. For the qualitative part, six policy-makers were interviewed using the purposive non-probability sampling method. The paper revealed that the money saving and investment, business opportunities and job creation, and policy development were the main economic contribution factors of stokvels in SA at the municipalities. The paper recommended for policy-makers to formulate an economic transformation policy framework inclusive of stokvels and to adopt their economic contribution factors.

This article is devoted to the study of insurance business development in Ukraine and Russia in the late XIX – early XXI centuries, generation and identification of special aspects of formation and use of sacred art elements in corporate identity of insurance companies.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the concept of management of visual communications in insurance companies, an important component of which is the formation and development of brands in the insurance market, which include elements of sacred art.
Corporate identity gives insurers a new methodology for managing marketing communications. The author proves the corporate identity of insurance companies and its place in the system of marketing communications. Due attention is paid to corporate identity of National Joint-Stock Insurance Company “Oranta” (Ukraine), Insurance LLC “Oranta” (Russia) and Insurance Company “Rossiya” (Russia). There are given examples of the use of Orans (Oranta) and the Burning Bush icons inscriptions in corporate identity of insurance companies. The author describes icons in corporate identity of insurance companies and definitely their role in the communication process. Conflict situations over the use of the Orans brand in Ukraine are analyzed. The need to be careful enough in using sacred symbols in the corporate style of insurance companies is emphasized. Evolution of the logo insurance companies is presented.
Examples of integrating corporate identity into the strategy and tactics of insurance companies are shown.