Collaborative business networks evaluation of technological tools for decision support making

Nowadays, companies are living great difficulties on managing their business due to constant and unpredictable economic market fluctuations. Recent changes in market trends (such as the constant demand for new products and services, mass customization and the drastic reduction of delivery time) lead companies to adopt strategies of creating partnerships with other companies as a way to respond effectively to such difficult economical times. Collaborative Networks’ concept born by the consequence of companies could no longer consider their internal business processes’ management as sufficient and tend to seek for a collaborative approach with other partners for their critical processes. Information technologies (ICT) assumed a major role acting as “enablers” of these kinds of networks, enhancing information sharing and business process integration. Several new trends concerning ICT architectures have been created to support collaborative networks requirements, but still doesn’t exist a common platform to reduce the needed integration effort on virtual organizations. This study aims to investigate the current technological solutions available in the market which enhances the management of companies’ business processes (specially, Collaborative Planning). Finally, the research work ends with the presentation of a conceptual model to answer to the constraints evaluated.

e-Health and Health literacy: a revision of research methods

E-health provides powerful tools to improve health, but users’ health literacy – their ability to obtain, process, and act appropriately on health information – plays a role in their ability to make the most of e-health applications. This project reviewed research focused on e-health and health literacy, coding 94 articles to provide an overview of the field including use of theory and research methods. Findings indicate a lack of theory and use of established health literacy measures.

Práticas de liderança para uma escola inclusiva

Pensar numa escola de todos e para todos é pensar e reconhecer a heterogeneidade dos alunos que a frequentam e responder a cada um deles segundo as suas necessidades. Assim, uma liderança forte é absolutamente vital para o desenvolvimento de ofertas educativas orientadas para a diversidade, incentivando todos os intervenientes a construir uma cultura de colaboração e reflexão. A escolha do problema a ser investigado, tendo como pergunta de partida, que práticas de liderança levar a cabo num projeto educativo para uma escola efetivamente inclusiva, surgiu da reflexão autobiográfica, das atuais funções da investigadora, enquanto elemento da Direção de uma escola, e da caracterização do agrupamento de escolas ao qual pertence. Com base na revisão de literatura, procurou-se clarificar e definir conceitos, aprofundar conhecimentos, de forma a reconhecer o que já foi feito, através de uma reflexão sobre o desenvolvimento do agrupamento em estudo, e propor ações/práticas de liderança a melhorar ou outras ainda não realizadas, com o objetivo que o mesmo seja efetivamente inclusivo.