Information professionals in business context: new professionals, old skills

This communication aims to present some reflections regarding the importance of information in organizational context, especially in business context. The ability to produce and to share expertise and knowledge among its employees is now a key factor in the success of any organization. However, it’s also true that workers are increasingly feeling that too much information can hurt their performance. The existence of skilled professionals able to organize, evaluate, select and disseminate information in organizations appears to be a prerequisite for success. The skills necessary for the formation of a professional devoted to the management of information and knowledge in the context of business organizations will be analysed. Then data collected in two focus group discussion with students from a graduate course in Business Information, from Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal, a will be examined.

Influence of entrepreneurial orientation in export performance

This study aims at investigating the influence that entrepreneurial orientation has on export performance of Portuguese footwear small and mediumenterprises (SMEs). Therefore, a quantitative methodological approach was used, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese companies exporting footwear. The research results suggest that entrepreneurial orientation enhances export performance in the analysed SMEs, particularly innovation and proactiveness, through the amount of funds invested, human resources dedicated to this activity, number of new products or services introduced in the market and frequent change in product lines or services and materialization of a long-term perspective, which is accompanied by innovative activities or new businesses. Therefore, the findings sustain the necessity to invest in entrepreneurial orientation as a strategic determinant, which contributes to the growth of small firms in foreignmarkets. Finally, the main limitation of this study is related to the sample size, since it was difficult to find companies willing to collaborate with this kind of research.

An organizational culture approach to performance in information technology micro-firms

This study aims to analyze and compare micro-firms’ organizational culture related to organizational performance. A case study methodology was used based on four firms, competitors among themselves in the Information Technology business, focusing on the years between 2008-2013. Findings pointed out many similarities to larger firms, but some specificities of micro-firms were found and propositions were defined: clan culture predominance is related to best performing micro-firms; the configuration of several culture types seemed to be the most suitable for obtaining good organizational results, provided that they do not focus only on hierarchy and market types of culture; the market culture predominance perception by employees is associated with low job satisfaction; and, after a certain time in business, micro-firms, as do larger companies, seek to standardize and control processes. Recognizing that organizational culture is considered important to firms’ results, this study sheds some light on that important factor for micro-firms.

O capital intelectual e a performance das empresas do PSI 20

Num contexto de crescente complexidade e disponibilidade de informação, a gestão do capital intelectual assume cada vez mais preponderância como vantagem competitiva para as empresas que procuram maximizar o valor gerado. Esta investigação usa como metodologia príncipal o VAIC (coeficiente intelectual do valor adicionado), para assim estudar a existência de relação entre capital intelectual e a performance bolsista e financeira das empresas do PSI20. O VAIC é decomposto nos seus três indicadores de eficiência, tais como: capital humano, capital estrutural e capital físico. Os dados contemplam quinze empresas e nove anos de análise (2003 - 2011). Elaborou-se uma abordagem que recorre à utilização de técnicas econométricas para reduzir potênciais falhas no tratamento de dados em painel. Os resultados da análise demonstram uma relação positiva entre a aposta em capital intelectual a performance bolsista e financeira, ou seja, a utilização e gestão eficientes do capital intelectual contribuem de forma significativa na avaliação bolsista e financeira das empresas do PSI20.