Crossing frontiers between tourism and demography. An empirical analysis based on European travellers’ behaviour

This paper aims to establish possible tourism demand scenarios of European travellers to Portugal based on the relationship with changing population structures. A combination of the EuROBAROMETER report 370 (“Attitudes of Europeans towards Tourism in 2013”) and the cohort-component method for population projections will allow the development of different possible tourism demand scenarios. Following the European report, individuals who travelled in 2013 were most likely to live in a household with two or more individuals. Thus, if elderly couples are together till later in their life and in better physiological shape, it is possible that the number of elderly individuals travelling for tourism purposes will increase in the near future. If we can expect tourists from developing countries to be younger due to their demographic dynamics than those from developed countries, where the ageing population is growing fast, we can expect that the percentage of the elderly among tourists will increase. Furthermore, the 2013 European report found that the combination of socio-demographic variables, such as, age, population, gender, household dimension, country of residence and trip purpose explained tourism demand scenarios for Portugal, confirming that seniors and families evidence a paramount sense of importance for the destination. In the literature there is a lack of discussion about the effects of demography in the future and the role of an ageing population in tourism demand choice patterns. We aim to contribute to filling this gap. Consequently, we strongly believe that this paper contributes to the literature by introducing a new field of discussion about the importance of demographic changes in shaping travel trends.

Crossing frontiers between tourism and demography. An empirical analysis based on European travellers’ behaviour

This paper aims to establish possible tourism demand scenarios of European travellers to Portugal based on the relationship with changing population structures. A combination of the EUROBAROMETER report 370 (“Attitudes of Europeans towards Tourism in 2013”) and the cohort-component method for population projections will allow the development of different possible tourism demand scenarios. Following the European report, individuals who travelled in 2013 were most likely to live in a household with two or more individuals. Thus, if elderly couples are together till later in their life and in better physiological shape, it is possible that the number of elderly individuals travelling for tourism purposes will increase in the near future. If we can expect tourists from developing countries to be younger due to their demographic dynamics than those from developed countries, where the ageing population is growing fast, we can expect that the percentage of the elderly among tourists will increase. Furthermore, the 2013 European report found that the combination of socio-demographic variables, such as, age, population, gender, household dimension, country of residence and trip purpose explained tourism demand scenarios for Portugal, confirming that seniors and families evidence a paramount sense of importance for the destination. In the literature there is a lack of discussion about the effects of demography in the future and the role of an ageing population in tourism demand choice patterns. We aim to contribute to filling this gap. Consequently, we strongly believe that this paper contributes to the literature by introducing a new field of discussion about the importance of demographic changes in shaping travel trends.

Strategic Orientations, Dynamic Capabilities, and Firm Performance: an Analysis for Knowledge Intensive Business Services

The strategic orientations of a firm are considered crucial for enhancing firm performance and their impact can be even greater when associated with dynamic capabilities, particularly in complex and dynamic environments. This study empirically analyzes the relationship between market, entrepreneurial and learning orientations, dynamic capabilities, and performance using an integrative approach hitherto little explored. Using a sample of 209 knowledge intensive business service firms, this paper applies structural equation modeling to explore both direct effects of strategic orientations and the mediating role of dynamic capabilities on performance. The study demonstrates that learning orientation and one of the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation have a direct positive effect on performance. On the other hand, dynamic capabilities mediate the relationships between some of the strategic orientations and firm performance. Overall, when dynamic capabilities are combined with the appropriate strategic orientations, they enhance firm performance. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the knowledge economy, given the important role knowledge intensive business services play in such a dynamic and pivotal sector.

Motivations to interact with brands on Facebook – Towards a typology of consumer–brand interactions

In recent years, Facebook and other social media have become key players in branding activities. However, empirical research on consumer–brand interactions on Facebook is still in its infancy. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide additional insights to brand managers on how to adapt their approaches to increase consumers’ interactions with brands on Facebook. In this study, we apply the uses and gratification theory proposed by Katz to develop a new typology of consumers based on consumer motivations to interact with brands on Facebook, and explore the type and intensity of these interactions. We identify five main motivations that might influence consumers’ interactions with a brand on Facebook: (i) social influence, (ii) search for information, (iii) entertainment, (iv) trust and (v) reward. Building on these five motivations, a classification using clustering techniques reveals four different groups of consumers: (i) ‘brand detached’, (ii) ‘brand profiteers’, (iii) ‘brand companions’ and (iv) ‘brand reliants’. Our results provide valuable and applicable insights for social media marketing activities, which will assist brand managers to develop strategies for effectively reaching and influencing the most desirable groups of consumers.

Motivations to interact with brands on Facebook – Towards a typology of consumer–brand interactions

In recent years, Facebook and other social media have become key players in branding activities. However, empirical research on consumer–brand interactions on Facebook is still in its infancy. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide additional insights to brand managers on how to adapt their approaches to increase consumers’ interactions with brands on Facebook. In this study, we apply the uses and gratification theory proposed by Katz (1959) to develop a new typology of consumers based on consumer motivations to interact with brands on Facebook, and explore the type and intensity of these interactions. We identify five main motivations that might influence consumers’ interactions with a brand on Facebook: (1) social influence, (2) search for information, (3) entertainment, (4) trust and (5) reward. Building on these five motivations, a classification using clustering techniques reveals four different groups of consumers: (1) “brand detached”, (2) “brand profiteers”, (3) “brand companions” and (4) “brand reliants”. Our results provide valuable and applicable insights for social media marketing activities, which will assist brand managers to develop strategies for effectively reaching and influencing the most desirable groups of consumers.

O director de turma como mediador entre o concelho de turma, os alunos, e os encarregados de educação: Contributos para a avaliação da direcção de turma

O presente estudo tem como objectivo investigar o reconhecimento e a relevância do papel do Director de Turma enquanto gestor intermédio para os alunos, os encarregados de educação e para os próprios, tendo em conta a interface inter-relacionai em que a função se desenvolve. Este trabalho teve como pressupostos de base a convicção de que a Educação é um fenómeno complexo que, para além de outras, mobiliza dimensões sociológicas, psicológicas e epistemológicas, além de necessitar, constantemente, de reflexão sobre as suas práticas. Assim, conscientes de que o papel do Director de Turma é de grande importância nas organizações escolares, foi nosso objectivo estudá-lo sob o ponto de vista teórico a partir de uma reflexão na prática e efectuar um estudo empírico do modo como a função é percepcionada como elo de ligação entre os Alunos, os Encarregados de Educação e a Escola. Aborda-se a figura do Director de Turma, enquanto gestor pedagógico intermédio da organização escolar, tendo em conta as atribuições que lhe são consagradas na lei e a forma como os demais parceiros vêm a sua função, em especial numa Escola do 2º e 3° ciclos do Ensino Básico, de acordo com as perspectivas/representações dos próprios actores educativos. O estudo visou em concreto, proporcionar uma análise sustentada do reconhecimento e valorização da figura do Director de Turma enquanto mediador entre o aluno, os encarregados de educação e a Escola. Pretendeu-se, nomeadamente, questionar teórica e empiricamente, a interacção e a articulação entre a formação pessoal, a actuação e as representações dos Directores de Turma. Assim, investigou-se de que modo o Director de Turma, considerado como um agente de mediação, é ou não reconhecido e valorizado enquanto figura responsável pela ligação do aluno e do seu encarregado de educação à Escola. Como opção metodológica optou-se por um estudo de caso, recorrendo à complementaridade entre os procedimentos quantitativos e qualitativos, de acordo com os objectivos visados. Assim, as técnicas de recolha de dados utilizados neste estudo foram o inquérito, por questionário, e a entrevista. Estes instrumentos foram sendo sucessivamente aperfeiçoados. Participaram, a nível do inquérito por questionário, duas turmas, uma do 2° ciclo e outra do 3° ciclo (num total de 45 alunos e respectivos encarregados de educação) e a nível da entrevista, os dois Directores de Turma das turmas envolvidas. Procurou-se, deste modo, contribuir para elucidar em que medida a figura do Director de Turma é reconhecida e valorizada como elo de ligação entre os Alunos, os Encarregados de Educação e a Escola enquanto gestor intermédio. Nas Conclusões após o confronto entre as questões de partida, o quadro teórico e os resultados do estudo empírico, discutem-se as dificuldades e limitações que um estudo desta natureza envolve. Avança-se, por fim, com algumas sugestões que a investigação realizada permite, no sentido de utilizar o conhecimento produzido para melhorar o relacionamento entre o Aluno, os Encarregados de Educação e a Escola e, consequentemente, o processo ensino-aprendizagem. ABSTRACT; The purpose of this study is to investigate the recognition and relevance of the role of the classroom director as an intermediate supervisor to the students, the parents and the classroom director himself, having in mind the inner- relation interface the function takes place. This work was conceived on the basic notion that Education is a complex-phenomenon, setting in motion, among other things, sociological, psychological and epistemological dimensions, as well as requiring, frequently, reflection about its practices. Therefore, conscious of the fact that the role of the class director is of enormous importance within a school environment, our aim was to study it from the theoretical point of view by a reflection in practice and performing an empirical analysis on the way it is understood as a link among the students, parents and the school. The role of classroom director is thus analysed as a pedagogical director in a school setting. Taking into consideration the rights conferred to him/her by law and the way all the other partners assign to the class director, particularly in a 2nd and 3rd cycle of the Elementary School system, in accordance with the perspectives/representations of the education actors. More specifically, this study is an in-depth analysis of the recognition and the valuation of the class director figure as a mediator among the pupils, the parents and the school. ln other words, the interaction between theory and practice in the daily performance of the classroom director were questioned and studied for further analysis. Hence, questioned the way in which the classroom director, seen as a mediation agent, could be considered as a coordinator, recognized and valorized as the responsible figure by the linking among the pupil and his/her parents to the school. The case was realized in the 2nd and 3rd cycle of an elementary school in the Alentejo. As a methodological option, quantitative and qualitative processes were both employed, thus keeping in line with the main objective of this work. Therefore, the data collected and herein utilized were the result of queries, i.e., questionnaires and personal interviews. The former were addressed at the pupils of two classes, one of the 2nd cycle and another of the 3rd cycle of the school and their parents (45 pupils and the same number of parents in total), and the two classroom directors of the classes implicated in the study. ln the Conclusion, a balance of the study is presented, comparing the initial research questions, the theoretical framework, and the results of the empirical analysis developed. A few suggestions are presented from the experience gained in this investigation, i.e., using the knowledge acquired in order to improve and enrich the relationship among the pupils, the parents, the school, and the teaching learning process.