Motivations which influence volunteers' satisfaction

In this paper we attempt to find out which motivations influence volunteers satisfaction. So, in a first moment, we categorize satisfaction through a factor analysis and then use linear regression models to find out the relations previously mentioned. Furthermore we analyse the existence of correlations between some demographic attributes and the other variables. In this research the population under study includes volunteers that work in the health area, more precisely volunteers that work in hospital and have direct contact with patients and their families. We obtained a total of 327 questionnaires and after excluding incomplete answers we get 304 questionnaires which embody a response rate of 36%. The outcomes of our analysis reveal that we can categorize satisfaction into intrinsic and extrinsic categories and show that motivations related to belonging and protection and career recognition are the ones influencing extrinsic satisfaction; motivations associated to development and learning and altruism are the ones with higher effect in intrinsic satisfaction. There are some negative correlations between age and extrinsic satisfaction, between years of participation and extrinsic satisfaction, between education and the motivation related to belonging and protection and between age and the motivation related to career recognition. There is only one positive correlation between hours per week and intrinsic satisfaction. The results offer new insights for research about volunteers’ motivations, motive fulfillment and volunteer satisfaction. Furthermore the outcomes advocate that to ensure satisfied volunteers, their motivations must be identified in a timely and appropriate moment, meaning that should happened as early as possible.

On the Sensor Classification Scheme of Robotic Manipulators

This paper analyzes the signals captured during impacts and vibrations of a mechanical manipulator. The Fourier Transform of eighteen different signals are calculated and approximated by trendlines based on a power law formula. A sensor classification scheme based on the frequency spectrum behavior is presented.

Initial dilemmas in IST research: design science and design research, a clarification of concepts

The inter-disciplinarity of information systems, applied discipline and activity of design, and the study from different paradigms perspectives explains the diversity of problems addressed. The context is broad and includes important issues beyond technology, as the application, use, effectiveness, efficiency and their organizational and social impacts. In design science, the research interest is in contributing to the improvement of the processes of the design activity itself. The relevance of research in design science is associated with the result obtained for the improvement of living conditions in organizational, inter-organizational and Society contexts. In the research whose results are artifacts, the adoption of design research as a process of research is crucial to ensure discipline, rigor and transparency. Based on a literature review, this paper clarifies the terms of design science and design research. This is the main motivation for presenting this paper, determinant for the phase in research in technologies and information systems which are the three research projects presented. As a result the three projects are discussed in relation to the concepts of design science and design research.

Interpretative research in information systems: two qualitative research design projects

In a scientific research project is important to define the underlying philosophical orientation of the project, because this will influence the choices made in respect of scientific methods used, as well as the way they will be applied. It is crucial, therefore, that the philosophy and research design strategy are consistent with each other. These questions become even more relevant in qualitative research. Historically, the interpretive research philosophy is more associated to the scientific areas of social sciences and humanities where the subjectivity inherent to human intervention is more explicitly defined. Information systems field are, primarily, trapped in computer science field, though it also integrates issues related with management and organizations field. This shift from a purely technological guidance for the consideration of the problems of management and organizations has fostered the rise of research projects according to the interpretive philosophy and using qualitative methods. This paper explores the importance of alignment between the epistemological orientation and research design strategy, in qualitative research projects. As a result, it is presented two PhD projects, with different research design strategies, that are being developed in the technology and information systems field, in the light of the interpretive paradigm.

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo e a sociedade portuguesa

Sendo certo que as estruturas sociais condicionam e, muitas vezes, determinam a identidade dos indivíduos que se inserem numa sociedade e cultura específica, pareceu-nos importante analisar o modo como Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo conseguiu romper com algumas estruturas de pensamento e criar novas práticas sociais que conferiram à mulher um novo papel social. Em que medida a transformação política, económica, social e cultural que ocorreu em Portugal na segunda metade do século XX, possibilitou a Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo a representação do papel de mulher, técnica, representante política e eclesial? Quais as estruturas culturais que entretanto se alteraram e influenciaram o desenvolvimento da condição da mulher na sociedade portuguesa? Como é que a sociedade nacional e internacional representa Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo? A pesquisa documental e bibliográfica que realizámos permitiu a análise dos códigos culturais que regularam as práticas sociais vigentes na sociedade portuguesa durante a ditadura do Estado Novo. Numa época e num país em que as mulheres se viam arredadas da participação ativa na vida política, Maria de Lourdes destaca-se. Acreditamos que, para o prestígio e projeção que alcançou a nível nacional e internacional, muito contribuiu a sua constante necessidade de confrontação, a sua criatividade intelectual e a sua fé.

Impact of design options in zero energy building conception: the case of large buildings in Portugal

The new recast of Directive 2010/31/EU in order to implement the new concept NZEB in new buildings, is to be fully respected by all Member States, and is revealed as important measure to promote the reduction of energy consumption of buildings and encouraging the use of renewable energy. In this study, it was tested the applicability of the nearly zero energy building concept to a big size office building and its impact after a 50-years life cycle span.

Comparison of contaminant removal effectiveness and air change efficiency as indicator of air diffusion quality.

The ventilation efficiency concept is an attempt to quantify a parameter that can easily distinguish the different options for air diffusion in the building spaces. Thirteen strategies of air diffusion were measured in a test chamber through the application of the tracer gas method, with the objective to validate the calculation by Computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Were compared the Air Change Efficiency (ACE) and the Contaminant Removal Effectiveness (CRE), the two indicators most internationally accepted. The main results from this work shows that the values of the numerical simulations are in good agreement with experimental measurements and also, that the solutions to be adopted for maximizing the ventilation efficiency should be the schemes that operate with low speeds of supply air and small differences between supply air temperature and the room temperature.

Cartografia de zonamento geotécnico no apoio ao planeamento e valorização da exploração do georrecurso: o caso do maciço rochoso da Curviã (Joane)

Este trabalho centra-se no estudo do aproveitamento expectável do maciço rochoso da pedreira da Curviã N.o 2 (Joane, Vila Nova de Famalicão, no N Portugal), através da obtenção de um bloco unitário tipo que forneça indicações para a exploração do recurso geológico para fins industriais e/ou ornamentais. Desta forma, investiga-se se num dado limite de zona geotécnica do maciço rochoso e propicio a obtenção de blocos com dimensão, avaliados apos o processo de transformação, nomeadamente, para enrocamento em obras marítimas ou balastro em obras ferroviárias. Foram seleccionados diversos afloramentos, tendo-se recorrido a técnica de amostragem linear as superfícies expostas do maciço. Esta técnica e uma das formas mais expeditas de coligir dados geológico-geotécnicos relativos as descontinuidades. Procedeu-se, ainda, a um tratamento estatístico das descontinuidades, bem como dos parâmetros geológico-geotécnicos e geomecânicos a estas associadas, propostos pela Sociedade Internacional de Mecânica das Rochas (ISRM). Todos os dados foram representados cartograficamente numa base apoiada pelos Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG) e utilizadas as ferramentas de geologia estrutural, analise morfotectónica, modelação digital de terreno e cartografia de zonamento geotécnico. O zonamento geotécnico do maciço granítico foi realizado sempre em estreita ligação com o conhecimento das características do maciço ”in situ”. Pretende-se que esta metodologia contribua para um melhor conhecimento da compartimentação dos maciços rochosos em geral e, em particular, do modelo geotécnico comportamental do maciço rochoso da Curviã N.o2.

El multiculturalismo en la Unión Europea organización y acceso a la información: el ejemplo de los centros de documentación europea

Este texto parte de la caracterización del concepto de multiculturalismo en general y específicamente en el contexto de la UE. A continuación, intentamos demostrar el carácter multicultural de una red de información, la red de los CDE, presente en todo el território de la EU, a partir de los resultados de encuestas distribuídas a los responsables, a sus utilizadores y en base a los datos recogidos durante visitas a algunos de ellos. Efectivamente, se verifica la existência de diferencias substanciales Finlandia, Irlanda, Hungría y Portugal en lo que respecta a la localización de los CDE, las tipologías de utilizadores, al uso de lenguages sistemáticos y alfabéticos para la organización de la información. Estas diferencias son menos marcadas pero también existen en lo que respecta a las áreas temáticas mas buscadas y los aspectos que los utilizadores de los CDE consideran que facilitan su acceso a la información. Por lo que se refiere a las formas de búsqueda en el catálogo y a los aspectos que se apuntan como obstáculos en el acceso a la información parece haber más coincidencia entre los diferentes países.

La recuperación de la información en la biblioteca escolar: la necesidad de competencias transdisciplinares

En este artículo tratamos la relación interdisciplinar entre las Ciencias de la Documentación y las Ciencias de la Educación, principalmente en lo que se refiere al papel que la alfabetización informacional puede desempeñar en la ejecución de modelos educativos orientados al currículum integrado o al aprendizaje basado en recursos, teniendo en cuenta el desarrollo de competencias transdisciplinares necesarias para el aprendijaze a lo largo de la vida. Intentamos demostrar que la alfabetización informacional presenta una relación muy estrecha con el aprendizaje, ya que una persona competente, en términos de información és aquélla que ha aprendido a aprender, sabe encontrar la información, sabe utilizar la información y sabe cómo organizarla. En este sentido, presentamos un estudio de caso, centrado en el análisis de las actitudes, de los hábitos de lectura y de las prácticas informaciónales de los alumnos del municipio de Vila do Conde, con base en la utilización de las collecciones disponibles en el espacio de la biblioteca escolar y de los recursos tecnológicos, principalmente las formas de localización y uso de los documentos de libre acceso, así como la busquéda de información. Presentamos una breve caracterización generale de esta red municipal de bibliotecas escolares, pero centramos el análisis del universo de la investigación en tres escuelas del 1º Ciclo, una EB 2,3 y una Secundaria, con la aplicación de una encuesta. Para una mejor contextualización de nuestro estudio haciemos también la caracterizacion y el encuadrimiento de cada biblioteca escolar en el medio en que está inserto (urbano, rural y pesquero), a fin de realizar puntualmente un análisis comparativo de los resultados.

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.

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.

Access and information behaviour of European Documentation Centres users in Portugal and Spain: a comparative study

The aim of this study was to undertake a comparative analysis of the practices and information behaviour of European information users who visit information units specialising in European information in Portugal and Spain. The study used a quantitative methodology based on a questionnaire containing closed questions and one open question. The questions covered the general sociological profile of the respondents and their use of European Document Centres, in addition to analysing aspects associated with information behaviour relating to European themes. The study therefore examined data on the preferred means and sources for accessing European information, types of documents and the subjects investigated most. The use of European databases and the Internet to access material on Europe was also studied, together with the reasons which users considered made it easy or difficult to access European information, and the aspects they valued most in accessing this information. The questionnaire was administered in European Document Centres in 2008 and 2010.