���Who Gets Public Support to Innovation? Evidence from the Portuguese Alentejo Region���

The aim of the study is to assess which factors influence the policymaking decisions to financially support an innovative investment project. Based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System in the Alentejo region, we estimated an econometric model based on firms��� and application��� characteristics, controlling for macroeconomic environment. The results indicate that the selection process is more focused on the expected project impact than on firms��� past performance. Furthermore, we found that government preference for promoting employment and exportation are shown to be higher than the impact on firm productivity.

Product/Brand co-creation methodology crossing marketing, design thinking, creativity and management: ideas(r)evolution

This thesis introduce a new innovation methodology called IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION that was developed according to an on-going experimental research project started in 2007. This new approach to innovation has initial based on Design thinking for innovation theory and practice. The concept of design thinking for innovation has received much attention in recent years. This innovation approach has climbed from the design and designers knowledge field towards other knowledge areas, mainly business management and marketing. Human centered approach, radical collaboration, creativity and breakthrough thinking are the main founding principles of Design thinking that were adapted by those knowledge areas due to their assertively and fitness to the business context and market complexity evolution. Also Open innovation, User-centered innovation and later on Living Labs models emerge as answers to the market and consumers pressure and desire for new products, new services or new business models. Innovation became the principal business management focus and strategic orientation. All this changes had an impact also in the marketing theory. It is possible now to have better strategies, communications plans and continuous dialogue systems with the target audience, incorporating their insights and promoting them to the main dissemination ambassadors of our innovations in the market. Drawing upon data from five case studies, the empirical findings in this dissertation suggest that companies need to shift from Design thinking for innovation approach to an holistic, multidimensional and integrated innovation system. The innovation context it is complex, companies need deeper systems then the success formulas that ���commercial ���Design thinking for innovation ���preaches���. They need to learn how to change their organization culture, how to empower their workforce and collaborators, how to incorporate external stakeholders in their innovation processes, hoe to measure and create key performance indicators throughout the innovation process to give them better decision making data, how to integrate meaning and purpose in their innovation philosophy. Finally they need to understand that the strategic innovation effort it is not a ���one shot��� story it is about creating a continuous flow of interaction and dialogue with their clients within a ���value creation chain��� mindset; RESUMO: Metodologia de co-cria����o de um produto/marca cruzando Marketing, Design Thinking, Criativity and Management - IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION. Esta disserta����o apresenta uma nova metodologia de inova����o chamada IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION, que foi desenvolvida segundo um projecto de investiga����o experimental cont��nuo que teve o seu in��cio em 2007. Esta nova abordagem baseou-se, inicialmente, na teoria e na pr��ctica do Design thinking para a inova����o. Actualmente o conceito do Design Thinking para a inova����o ���saiu��� do dominio da area de conhecimento do Design e dos Designers, tendo despertado muito interesse noutras ��reas como a Gest��o e o Marketing. Uma abordagem centrada na Pessoa, a colabora����o radical, a criatividade e o pensamento disruptivo s��o principios fundadores do movimento do Design thinking que t��m sido adaptados por essas novas ��reas de conhecimento devido assertividade e adaptabilidade ao contexto dos neg��cios e �� evolu����o e complexidade do Mercado. Tamb��m os modelos de Inova����o Aberta, a inova����o centrada no utilizador e mais tarde os Living Labs, emergem como possiveis solu����es para o Mercado e para a press��o e desejo dos consumidores para novos productos, servi��os ou modelos de neg��cio. A inova����o passou a ser o principal foco e orienta����o estrat��gica na Gest��o. Todas estas mudan��as tamb��m tiveram impacto na teoria do Marketing. Hoje �� possivel criar melhores estrat��gias, planos de comunica����o e sistemas continuos de di��logo com o p��blico alvo, incorporando os seus insights e promovendo os consumidores como embaixadores na dissemina����o da inova����o das empresas no Mercado Os resultados empiricos desta tese, constru��dos com a informa����o obtida nos cinco casos realizados, sugerem que as empresas precisam de se re-orientar do paradigma do Design thinking para a inova����o, para um sistema de inova����o mais holistico, multidimensional e integrado. O contexto da Inova����o �� complexo, por isso as empresas precisam de sistemas mais profundos e n��o apenas de ���f��rmulas comerciais��� como o Design thinking para a inova����o advoga. As Empresas precisam de aprender como mudar a sua cultura organizacional, como capacitar sua for��a de trabalho e colaboradores, como incorporar os p��blicos externos no processo de inova����o, como medir o processo de inova����o criando indicadores chave de performance e obter dados para um tomada de decis��o mais informada, como integrar significado e prop��sito na sua filosofia de inova����o. Por fim, precisam de perceber que uma estrat��gia de inova����o n��o passa por ter ���sucesso uma vez���, mas sim por criar um fluxo cont��nuo de intera����o e di��logo com os seus clientes com uma mentalidade de ���cadeia de cria����o de valor���

Portuguese Adaptation of Students Engagement in Schools International Scale (SESIS)

The importance of student���s engagement has been recently pointed out in research. However, there has been a lack of engagement assessment instrument, pertaining psychometric qualities. Objective: This paper presents the Portuguese adaptation of the ���Student���s Engagement in School International Scale��� (SESIS), drawn up from a12 countries international study (Lam et al., 2012; Lam et al., in press). Method: Psychometric properties of this scale were examined with data from 685 students from different grades (6th, 7th, 9th and 10th), from both sexes, and different regions of the country. Results: Factorial analysis of the results, with varimax rotation, lead to three different factors which explain 50.88% of the variance. The scale integrates the original 33 items, and cognitive, affective and behavioural dimensions. For the external validity study, the relationship between student���s engagement in school results and other school variables ��� academic performance, self-concept ��� was considered, and significant relations were observed, as expected. Conclusion: The data presented highlights the qualities of SESIS, as well as its usefulness for research purposes. Suggestion: It is suggested the investigation of the extension of SESIS���s three-dimensionality, in future studiesKeywords: Innovation, technology, research projects, etc. [Arial 10-point, justified alignment].