Globalization as a Source of Innovation in Hard CoalMining

Globalization is an inevitable process which in a different scale influences the performance of particular industries and companies of national economies functioning in them. Considering destructive as well as constructive impact of globalization on a company, in this paper there was the following research problem raised: What are the conditions necessary for using globalization as a source of innovation in hard coal mining? In order to answer such research problem, the paper was divided into three parts. In the first part, globalization was presented as a source of innovation in hard coal mining in Poland. Therefore, literature study was used to describe premises, circumstances of implementing and types of innovations in hard coal mining. In the second part, using SWOT analysis, the list of threats and opportunities was prepared that are generated by globalization for innovation in Polish hard coal mining. The assessment was also conducted regarding the influence of strengths and weaknesses of Polish mining enterprises on innovation processes. In the third part, using scenario method, the options of hard coal mining development generated by globalization were described as well as the innovation processes triggered by it. The final results of conducted research is the SWOT analysis and scenarios of development of Polish mining enterprises in the context of globalization as a source of innovation. The research results may be used by the industry and by mining enterprises when creating development strategies and in the analysis of investment and strategic risk.