PhD Elona Çera
Vice Dean for Scientific Research at the Faculty of Economics
ecera@umt.edu.al
Elona Çera is the Vice Dean for Scientific Research and a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics at University Metropolitan Tirana. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Master’s Program in Digital Marketing at UMT. In her academic and managerial roles, she is actively engaged in the development of scientific research and in initiatives that connect academia with entrepreneurship, innovation, and the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In 2024, she completed her PhD studies at Tomas Bata University in Zlín in the field of Economics and Management. Her doctoral research focuses on “High-Performance Work Systems and inbound open innovation in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive service SMEs.”
Her main research interests include human resource management, open innovation, knowledge management, innovative work behavior, and innovative organizational culture.
She is the author of several publications in international journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, and contributes to research and development projects that support innovation and entrepreneurship in SMEs and startups.
In addition to her academic activity, she leads and coordinates initiatives related to startup incubation and acceleration, digital skills development, and innovation projects, collaborating with universities, public institutions, and international organizations to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- PhD 01/09/2020 – 25/06/2025
Publications List
Peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Web of Science and SCOPUS :
Çera, E., Çera, G., Matošková, J., Ndou, V., & Gregar, A. (2025). Fostering open innovation in SMEs: the crucial role of high-performance working systems and the mediating influence of innovative work behaviour. Journal of Knowledge Management, 29(10), 3196-3215. Web of Science, if2024= 9.6 (Q1)
Cera, E., Cera, G., & Elezi, E. (2024). Commitment-based HRM and inbound open innovation in SMEs: the role of organizational trust and developmental culture. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 11(3), 659-679. Web of Science if = 3.8 (Q2)
Cera, E., & Subashi, R. (2024). How do commitment-based HRM practices and a developmental culture interact to foster open innovation in SMEs?. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 22(1), 231-243. doi:10.21511/ppm.22(1).2024.20
Web of Science, if = 3 (Q2)
Çera, E., Ndreca, P., Çera, G., Asamoah, C. A., & Matošková, J. (2024). Does Generation Cohort Matter for Teleworking? Diving into Challenges and Advantages of Teleworking Concerning Gen Y and Gen Z. Journal of East-West Business, 30(2),
219–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669868.2023.2299489 Scopus Q2 and WoS indexed
Merkuri, A., & Cera, E. (2024). Youth labor market opportunities and challenges in Albania: successful transition from education to employment. Quality-Access to Success. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/25.200.03 Scopus and WoS Indexed
Zuhair Abbas, Rasa Smaliukienė, Roman Zamečnik, Ghulam Kalsoom and Elona Cera (2023). How does green HRM influence environmental and social sustainability in hotels?. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 21(1), 253- 263. doi:10.21511/
ppm.21(1).2023.22 Scopus Q2
Çera, E., Kusaku, A., Matošková, J., & Gregar, A. (2023). Determining Approaches to Human Resource Management in Start-ups that Foster Innovation and Boost Organizational Performance. Quality-Access to Success, 24(193). Scopus and WoS Indexed
Other journal articles:
Cera, E., & Kusaku, A. (2021). Factors influencing organizational performance: Work environment, training-development, management and organizational culture.
Cera, E., & Furxhiu, N. (2017). Factors which Influence Students Enterpreneurship Intentions: The Role of Education Programs, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 7(1), 173.
Conferences:
Çera, E., Dhrami, B., Asamoah, C. A. (2025). Unlocking Innovation in SMEs Though Transformational Leadership and Commitment-based HRM Practices; University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy Knowledge Futures: AI, Technology, and the New Business Paradigm
Çera, E., Ndou, V., Matošková, J., Asamoah, C. A. (2024). Role of developmental culture in inbound open innovation: mediation role of Commitment based HRM practices; Madrid, Spain, The 19 International Forum on Knowledge Assets Dynamics on the theme: “TRANSLATING KNOWLEDGE INTO INNOVATION DYNAMICS”
Cera, E., & Abbas, Z. (2023, November). Transformational Leadership Fostering Open Innovation: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective. European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance, UK. ACPI Bayes Business School, City, University of London, UK
Çera, E. Collaborative HRM and open innovation, World Open Innovation Conference – WOIC2023
World Open Innovation Conference – WOIC2023.10th Edition “Bringing Together Stakeholders for Joint Value Creation” Bilbao, Spain, 9-10 October 2023.
Çera, E., Kusaku, A., Matošková, J., & Kapo, K. (2022). BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL WORK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: CASE OF ALBANIA; Tomas Bata University, Zlin, Czech Republic; 18th International Bata Conference for Ph. D. Students and Young Researchers
ÇERA, E., GREGAR, A., MATOŠKOVÁ, J., & ABBAS, Z. Responsible Competitiveness Factors And Competitive Advantage: A Socially Responsible-Hrm Perspective.
Bucharest, Romania; 15th International Management Conference, “Managing People and Organizations in a Global Crisis” 4th-5th November, 2021, Bucharest, Romania.
Asad, A. I., Çera, E., Pavelková, D., & Matošková, J. (2021). THE MANAGEMENT OF
GREEN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBALWEST AND THE V4 ECONOMIES (p.30).Tomas Bata University, Zlin, Czech Republic,17th Annual International Bata Conference for Ph. D. Students and Young Researchers