Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2008-12"
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- Virtual SCM impact on e-business performance : the european casePublication . Tiago, Maria Teresa Borges; Couto, João P.; Tiago, Flávio Borges; Vieira, José CabralIn the last two decades, Supply Chain Management (SCM) continues to gain popularity among companies and has been broadly studied by academic researchers. However, with the development of the digital economy, a new paradigm has emerged in this arena: virtual supply chain management (e-SCM). Thus, this paper establishes a new model, considering the results of virtual SCM adoption on e-business performance, which has been tested in European companies. For that purpose, we used a structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis.
- Internet-driven customer centric : an exploratory analysisPublication . Tiago, Maria Teresa BorgesFirm’s are becoming everyday more focus on customer orientation, leading to the need use of new techniques or combine use of existent ones. Both Customer Relationship Management and Knowledge Management are increasingly relevant in the corporate agendas as well as been broadly studied by academic researchers and with the development of the digital economy it’s necessary to have a larger understanding of their role in e-business performance. Thus, our aims are to determine whether the implementation of virtual CRM and KM is linked to e-business performance and to identify the nature of the relationship existing in the combine use of these tools. Thus, this paper establishes a new model of the practices and results of the both tools which has been tested in European companies. For that purpose, we used a structural equation modelling analysis. The results show that both virtual CRM and KM have a positive impact on the maximization of e-business performance and that their combine use has also a positive impact on e-business performance. As limitations of the study we consider the need for more research into this field and the inclusion of news elements such as technological readiness and management support. This paper contributes to the research on this topic with new evidence in a broad sample.
- O estado da arte na convergência contabilística internacionalPublication . Cordeiro, Ruben; Couto, GualterO fenómeno da globalização tem forçado determinadas ciências a estudar novos paradigmas. Também na contabilidade assiste-se a alterações profundas no âmbito da preparação e divulgação da informação financeira, uma vez que os interessados por esta actuam globalmente. Desta forma, há uma necessidade evidente em conciliar ou unificar normas e práticas contabilísticas em países ou regiões, que possam favorecer a comparabilidade da informação, a economia de tempo na preparação e divulgação financeira e a maior consistência dos factores económicos, legais e sociais. Há muitos interessados na criação de sistemas contabilísticos globais, quer por via da harmonização quer pela normalização contabilística. Pese embora o desejo colectivo de convergir, existem diversos factores exógenos ou endógenos, muitos deles históricos, que condicionam e formam cada sistema contabilístico, dando origem à actual diversidade contabilística internacional. Esta diferença conceptual e os respectivos factores condicionadores representam um obstáculo, embora indirecto, à livre convergência contabilística internacional. Por outro lado, os opositores actuam de formas contrária à redução da diversidade contabilística. São considerados elementos obstáculos directos ao processo de convergência contabilística internacional.
- Aproximação organizacional à estratégia de internacionalização das cadeias de franchisingPublication . Couto, João P.; Resendes, IsabelEste trabalho analisa os factores que diferenciam as empresas de franchising que se expandirão para o estrangeiro das que apenas actuam em Portugal. Permite verificar quais os factores que condicionam a internacionalização destas empresas e em que medida estas divergem das suas congéneres estrangeiras. Utiliza-se uma base de dados das empresas de franchising a actuar em Portugal e a metodologia empregue consistiu na estimação de um modelo logit que permite verificar a influência de factores como o sector de actividade, valor de entrada, valor de investimento, duração do contrato, a experiência de franchising e a nacionalidade, na definição de actividade internacional. As conclusões apontam para a existência de um relacionamento positivo, com a internacionalização, relativamente ao valor de entrada e de investimento, uma relação inversa com o número de anos de início do franchising e uma maior propensão para a internacionalização nas empresas estrangeiras a operar em Portugal face às empresas portuguesas.
- Assessing the drivers of virtual knowledge management impact in European Firm’s performance : an exploratory analysisPublication . Tiago, Flávio Borges; Tiago, Maria Teresa Borges; Couto, João P.E-Business is a phenomenon that has progressed over the past decades at record speed, with considerable promise and hype. It has been embraced with varying degrees of enthusiasm and impact by both large firms and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Parallel with its development, E-Business has attracted research interests, seen in a plethora of new modules, programmes, models and tools. Knowledge Management (KM) is one tool that seams to gain a more relevant role, especially as managing knowledge has become increasingly important to all companies. Appropriate KM practices within organisations can be seen as one of the prerequisites to the enhancement of continuous performance improvement in the interne-based context. Thus, our aim is to develop a conceptual framework related to KM practices in a virtual context and to identify the nature of the relationship existing in those knowledge-driven elements and performance achievements. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the KM and e-business performance-related literatures from the viewpoint of European firms by establishing a model tested in European companies. For this purpose, we used a structural equation modelling analysis. The results show that KM has a positive impact on the maximization of e-business performance and that some elements individually have a positive influence on e-business performance. As limitations of the study, we consider the need for more research into this field and the inclusion of news elements such as technological readiness and management support to KM initiatives. The present study advances knowledge on the nature of the relative importance of different components of Internet-based KM as drivers of e-business performance and reinforces its importance as an integrated e-business tool.
- Internet sales as a new mode of internationalizationPublication . Couto, João P.; Tiago, Maria Teresa Borges; Tiago, Flávio Borges; Vieira, José CabralThe way that organizations explore the Internet has been the focus of a substantial body of scientific studies and non-academic reflection. The main goal of this study is to analyze the potential of the internet as a mode of internationalization and the factors that influence the results of the adoption of this mean to access foreign markets. For this purpose, we examine the determinants of the level of international sales made via internet estimating an ordered probit model. The results show that the importance of previous experience in using the internet and developing international activity, together with the level of internet marketing budget , the level of investment on internet sophistication, the firm dimension, the business age and the type pf activity are variables that determine the results obtain in the international sales trough the internet.
- Algae-based biotopes of the Azores (Portugal): spatial and seasonal variation.Publication . Wallenstein, Francisco; Neto, Ana I.; Álvaro, Nuno V.; Santos, Catarina I.The increasing importance of coastal management created the need for a systematic classification and characterization of marine communities. Accurate quantitative methodologies for rocky shore algae-based biotope definition, were developed and tested on the Islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria (Azores). Shores of both islands were surveyed, covering all rocky substrate types. Biotopes were defined by assessing the associated habitat and species characteristics, using ANOSIM and SIMPER analysis, respectively. A total of ten biotopes were identified. Generally both islands’ biotopes are characterized by the same taxa/ecological categories, in summer and in winter. However, association between these taxa/ecological categories and the shore height at which they occur differs geographically and temporally. There is a generalized gradual succession of taxa/ecological categories from upper intertidal down to deepest subtidal, although geographical differences occur. Diversity is highest at the land–water interface and decreases towards both extremes (upper intertidal and deepest subtidal level). The strongest evidence of seasonal variation occurs at the upper intertidal. The methodology used proves to be effective in broad scale shoreline assessment of biological communities in warm-temperate coastal marine environments, and thus suitable for the purpose it was developed for. As a consequence it should be applied to the remaining islands of the Azorean archipelago as well as to other macaronesian islands, e.g. Madeira and the Canaries.
- Antero de Quental: a sedução do divinoPublication . Costa Carvalho, MagdaNo âmbito dos vários enigmas que o leitor ainda hoje pode descobrir por detrás das vivências e da obra de Antero de Quental, ocupa lugar de destaque a relação que, enquanto homem, poeta e filósofo, manteve com o divino. Sobre esta questão se têm pronunciado os especialistas, incidindo sobre determinados aspectos da vida do autor ou simplesmente procurando descortinar a razão íntima que atravessa os vários momentos da sua obra. E de uma e outra vez encontramo-nos perante factos e ideias que nos obrigam a repensar e, por vezes, a redimensionar a personalidade e os objectivos de Antero de Quental.
- Science, society, politics and the media: Joining efforts to manage the risk of termite infestation in the AzoresPublication . Arroz, Ana Margarida Moura; Palos, Ana Cristina; Rego, Isabel Estrela; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Costa, Ana C.Research has been developed: To identify termite species and to characterize their biology; To search for their patterns of distribution and abundance in the Azores; To analyse the conditional local factors involved in the propagation of termites; To test several techniques of mitigation and of propagation control, in the lab and in situ, in order to evaluate their success in eliminating and repelling the infestation; To study comparatively various chemical and physical methods to treat infested.
- Seismic and volcanic risk in the Azores: reasons to stay in endangered placesPublication . Arroz, Ana Margarida Moura; Palos, Ana Cristina Pires; Rego, Isabel EstrelaEarthquakes and volcanic eruptions have been regular phenomena throughout the Azores' six centuries of history. In spite of the knowledge already gathered by local historians and Earth sciences researchers, there are no scientific data on the socio-cultural dimensions of volcanic and seismic risks. A study – TOPOI METUS. Social cosmographies of danger. Risk perception of natural hazards – is being carried out in order to construct and validate an instrument capable of (1) characterizing volcanic and seismic risk perception in the archipelago; and (2) producing knowledge to clarify communication aspects such as: Who do people trust? What forms, strategies, and means of communication do people value most? and What functions should risk messages serve? To guarantee that the questionnaire is sensitive to the Azorean context, to the historical mysticism embedded in natural disasters, and to people's identification and emotional relationship with the place, thirty extensive interviews were conducted. The present communication focuses on the instrument features and construction process, and discusses data collected in interviews. Consistent with findings from other studies, "Being in the hands of God" and a strong identification with the living place emerge as common reasons appointed to by people who live in and insist in staying in a vulnerable area such as the Azores.