What makes people stay in or leave shrinking cities? An empirical study from Portugal

The relative attractiveness of cities as places to live determines population movements in or out of them. Understanding the appealing features of a city is fundamental to local governments, particularly for cities facing population decline. Pull and push attributes of cities can include economic aspects, the availability of amenities and psychological constructs, initiating a discussion around which factors are more relevant in explaining migration. However, a pull–push approach has been underexplored in studies of shrinking cities. In the present study, we contribute to the discussion by identifying pull and push factors in Portuguese shrinking cities. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire survey of 701 residents in four shrinking cities: Oporto, Barreiro, Peso da Régua and Moura. Factor analysis and automatic linear modelling were used to analyse the data. Our results support previous findings that the economic activity of a city is the most relevant feature for retaining residents. However, other characteristics specific to each city, especially those related to heritage and natural beauty, are also shown to influence a city’s attractiveness as a place to live. The cause of population shrinkage is also found to influence residents’ assessments of the pull and push attributes of each city. Furthermore, the results show the relevance of social ties and of place attachment to inhabitants’ intention to continue living in their city of residence.

Viajar no Feminino – As palavras das Imagens: Viagem de Egéria à Terra Santa, séc. IV

Egéria was a 4th century A.D. nun who undertook a long journey from her homeland, the roman province of Gallaecia, to the Near East. Her itinerary, which described the segment between Mount Sinai and Constantinople, revealed the enthusiasm which graced her original decision to embark on the journey, and the determination with which she faced every stage. She kept a Diary throughout her journey. Probably, it constitutes one of the first known Travel Diaries. Her reports describe her observations and the splendor of the Christian cult sites. Her text is affectionately dedicated to her fellow nuns that remained in the West of the Empire, keeping their uniting bond strong. Our study aims to search all references to visited sites in Egéria’s text, as the information contained therein serves as a precious descriptor of their locations, spatial organization and environment. Egéria visits unique, historical sites, which will influence her writing style. She is, in fact, a pilgrim to a recently created historical site, The Holy Land. Egéria lived during a fundamental historical and artistic Framework, that of the architectural forms of expression of the First Christianity. Her words can be translated into images, as a partitions script, a visualization of lights and ambiences, and a testimonial of places that no longer exist. We hope to see, in Egéria’s written work, the images she observed, for her words are images. We expect a complementary approach among the research methods given by Archeology, composed by Architecture and explained by the sensible text from Egéria’s journey - a religious and artistic journey written from a powerful feminine point of view.

Self-initiation expatriation: A focus on Italian and Portuguese students

The purpose of this work project is to analyze the phenomenon of self-initiated expatriation (SIE) through its link to the Protean Career and Career Capital theories, focusing in particular on Italian and Portuguese students attending a Master in the business area. The main research questions are to understand the reasons driving the intention to expatriate, after the conclusion of the academic path, using three main categories (Adventure Motivation, Work Characteristic Motivation and instrumental Motivation) and the intention to repatriate. A sample of Italian and Portuguese students was obtained. Italians show a higher intention to expatriate relative to Portuguese; nevertheless, no other significant differences were found among the two populations, because of the similar cultural background and economic situation. Additionally, several heterogeneities were observed considering other clusters defined by Gender, Teaching Language of the Master and Past International Experiences, across the two nationalities. Furthermore, possible future researches and practical implications were discussed.

A vanguarda europeia: entre a "Globalienação" e a "Unidade Humana

A presente tese de doutoramento visa analisar o conceito de vanguarda artística, bem como investigar se é possível existir uma vanguarda artística no século XXI. Apresentada ao longo da história segundo diferentes perspectivas, a genética vanguardista deve ser sempre reestudada e redesenhada definindo-se a sua ligação ao modernismo e ao cosmopolitismo, assim como identificando os seus objectivos e as suas dinâmicas geo-sociais. Se no início do século XIX o saint-simoniano e matemático francês Olinde Rodrigues considerava urgente, mas também impossível, que uma vanguarda artística vingasse politicamente, então interessa saber o que mudou para que a frente artística possa avançar no campo da batalha. É essencialmente sobre a reinterpretação desse primeiro “manifesto” que esta investigação estabelece as suas fundações. É também de assinalar a utilidade que certos conceitos como a “cólera” e a “globalização” detêm, à qual os estudos do filósofo alemão Peter Sloterdijk servem como ponto de partida. A terminologia militar da vanguarda também não pode ser ignorada. O exército artístico deve ter um treino específico para atacar com toda a sua força, bem como saber identificar os seus diferentes alvos ao longo da história. Sublinhe-se que o campo de investigação é o europeu. A vanguarda europeia tem um perfil singular que se liga tanto à memória, quanto ao sentido utópico de unidade e à singularidade da sua crítica. A actualidade do conceito de vanguarda deve ser posta em causa no século XXI. Esta é uma Europa definida pela queda do muro de Berlim e amedrontada por ataques terroristas, definida pelo regresso de grupos extremistas no seio europeu e por uma Rússia que perde os seus pudores ofensivos. É um tempo em que as guerras se fazem com drones e a internet permite reorganizar o activismo, mas também vincar uma realidade de controlo. Neste panorama é difícil não ser cínico.

Work satisfaction and affective commitment of classical musicians: The European Union Youth Orchestra

This work project investigates career paths in the music field, by testing the application of general career and social theories for musicians. Using a sample from the European Union Youth Orchestra’ Alumni, the Boundaryless Career Theory, Intelligent Career Framework and Social Identity Theory were analysed through the impact on individual outcomes - musicians’ Overall work satisfaction and Affective commitment to the orchestra. Results suggest support for the three theories, and show their applicability for classical musicians’ careers.

The economics of Vieira da Silva

This paper investigates the time valuation and the age valuation profile of art-works created by the Portuguese female painter Maria Helena Vieira da Silva. It uses data from records from her paintings auction sales between 1986 and 2014, taken from Artprice.com. The study explores three aspects regarding her artistic career: (1) estimation of Age-valuation profile, defining her creativity pattern and the age at which she produced her most valuable paintings; (2) estimation of time valuation profile, through a creation of an individual hedonic price index for Vieira da Silva; (3) internationalization phenomenon of the artist, investigating whether selling prices are primarily set in euros or in US dollar. The results suggest that Vieira da Silva peaked quite early in her career; her paintings prices are not very sensible to economic cycles and tends to slightly increase afterlife; the empirical results are not suggestive on which currency is the best predictor of her paintings’ price.

Empirically testing the dimensions of consumer trust in e-commerce

In the fields of marketing and general management, many are the contributions of literature relating trust and e‐commerce. Trust is perceived as an issue that concerns the consumers’ intention to purchase. As so, in this research, a path model is empirically tested in order to develop solutions for Internet vendors on how to deal with consumers and increase their trust. The path model measures how the dimensions of trust, named as competence, integrity and benevolence positively influence the overall trust of the consumers and at the same time how the sources of trust – consumer characteristics, firm characteristics, website infrastructure and interactions influence those dimensions. The data used to test the model was collected in Portugal, through 365 valid cases. Findings revealed that consumers, which have high level of overall trust, are more likely to intent to purchase online.

Relatório de estágio curricular realizado na Câmara Municipal de Lisboa

The experience of an internship is always considered an experience that should be enriching, a first contact with the employment world. The intention is to build a bridge between the theory and practice - applying what has been learnt throughout the course. Therefore, it was started a new learning phase that seeks to take advantage and obtain experiences useful for a professional life based in efficiency and efficacy. The curricular internship was carried out within the Masters in Public Law and held by Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FDUNL)(Law School Of University New Of Lisbon) in the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (CML) (Lisbon's Town Hall), in the Departamento de Política de Solos e Valorização Patrimonial (DPSVP) (Soil Politics and Patrimonial Valuation Department) of the Direção Municipal de Planeamento, Reabilitação e Gestão Urbanística (Municipal Direction of Planning, Rehabilitation and Urban Management) between September and December 2013. Throughout this internship, several activities within the DPSVP were developed. In an early stage, there was a presentation of the organic structure of Lisbon's Town Hall, and the Department where I was going to do the internship, and its competencies. Therefore I acquired key concepts and researched jurisprudence and legislation needed to the analysis and understanding of the activities done in the internship. In a second stage, it was done the analysis and understanding of the division into lots administrative procedures, as well as the solving of the problems occurred throughout that analysis. Besides that, there was the need to help preparing some procedural acts to be applied regarding the Department competencies, namely within the alienation, procurement, encumbrance and rental of immovable assets owned by the Municipality of Lisbon.

Managing talent through developmental job experiences (DJE): The mediating role of DJE between HPWS and employees' outcomes

In the competitive landscape of the 21st century, effectively managing human capital in firms is considered to be a potential source of sustainable performance. Therefore, in this study, we tested the influence of high-performance work systems, as a talent management tool, on employees’ experience of developmental jobs. Then, we tested the mediating effect of such experiences on employees’ engagement, exhaustion, performance and turnover intention. With a sample of 254 employees of a diversity of companies and sectors of activity, our findings demonstrated that high-performance practices increase engagement, via the promotion of developmental experiences of fit, which improves performance and decreases turnover intention. Besides, those practices do not control for the pressure dimension of the developmental job experiences that increases exhaustion and turnover intention despite not worsening performance.

Gallo Worldwide: Sustainability of competitive position in Brazil

Case Study

The role of humor in television advertisement: A study regarding Portuguese consumers’ emotions and reactions

The purpose of this study is to explore the humorous side of television advertisement and its impact on Portuguese consumers’ hearts, minds and wallets. Both qualitative (through in-depth interviews) and quantitative (through an on-line survey and subsequent statistical data analysis) methods were used, guaranteeing a more consistent, strong and valid research. Twenty-five interviews with randomly chosen consumers were conducted face-to-face and three interviews via e-mail with marketers and television advertisers were performed in order to explore profoundly the subject. Moreover, 360 people have answered the on-line survey. Through the analysis of the data collected humor perception was found to be positively correlated with persuasion and intention to purchase the product; intention to share the advert; message comprehension; product liking and development of positive feelings towards the brand and brand credibility variables. The main implication of these findings relies on the fact that humor in advertising is able to boost its effectiveness.

In what extent can a segmented packaging make children choose healthier breakfast cereals?

Field lab in marketing: Children consumer behaviour

Environmental sustainability adoption

Double degree

Questionário de satisfação do utente e do profissional : impacto num laboratório de análises clínicas

RESUMO: Temos assistido a uma evolução impressionante nos laboratórios de análises clínicas, os quais precisam de prestar um serviço de excelência a custos cada vez mais competitivos. Nos laboratórios os sistemas de gestão da qualidade têm uma importância significativa nesta evolução, fundamentalmente pela procura da melhoria continua, que ocorre não só ao nível de processos e técnicas, mas também na qualificação dos diferentes intervenientes. Um dos problemas fundamentais da gestão e um laboratório é a eliminação de desperdícios e erros criando benefícios, conceito base na filosofia LeanThinking isto é “pensamento magro”, pelo que é essencial conseguir monitorizar funções críticas sistematicamente. Esta monitorização, num laboratório cada vez mais focalizado no utente, pode ser efetuada através de sistemas e tecnologias de informação, sendo possível contabilizar número de utentes, horas de maior afluência, tempo médio de permanência na sala de espera, tempo médio para entrega de análises, resultados entregues fora da data prevista, entre outros dados de apoio à decisão. Devem igualmente ser analisadas as reclamações, bem como a satisfação dos utentes quer através do feedback que é transmitido aos funcionários, quer através de questionários de satisfação. Usou-se principalmente dois modelos: um proposto pelo Índice Europeu de Satisfação do Consumidor (ECSI) e o outro de Estrutura Comum de Avaliação (CAF). Introduziram-se igualmente dois questionários: um apresentado em formato digital num posto de colheitas, através de um quiosque eletrónico, e um outro na página da internet do laboratório, ambos como alternativa ao questionário em papel já existente, tendo-se analisado os dados, e retirado as devidas conclusões. Propôs-se e desenvolveu-se um questionário para colaboradores cuja intenção foi a de fornecer dados úteis de apoio à decisão, face à importância dos funcionários na interação com os clientes e na garantia da qualidade ao longo de todo o processo. Avaliaram-se globalmente os resultados sem que tenha sido possível apresentá-los por política interna da empresa, bem como se comentou de forma empírica alguns benefícios deste questionário. Os principais objetivos deste trabalho foram, implementar questionários de satisfação eletrónicos e analisar os resultados obtidos, comparando-os com o estudo ECSI, de forma a acentuar a importância da análise em simultâneo de dois fatores: a motivação profissional e a satisfação do cliente, com o intuito de melhorar os sistemas de apoio à decisão. ------------------------ ABSTRACT: We have witnessed an impressive development in clinical analysis laboratories, which have to provide excellent service at increasingly competitive costs, quality management systems have a significant importance in this evolution, mainly by demanding continuous improvement, which does not occur only in terms of processes and techniques, but also in the qualification of the various stakeholders. One key problem of managing a laboratory is the elimination of waste and errors, creating benefits, concept based on Lean Thinking philosophy, therefore it is essential be able to monitor critical tasks systematically. This monitoring, in an increasingly focused on the user laboratory can be accomplished through information systems and technologies, through which it is possible to account the number of clients, peak times, average length of waiting room stay, average time for delivery analysis, delivered results out of the expected date, among other data that contribute to support decisions, however it is also decisive to analyzed complaint sand satisfaction of users through employees feedback but mainly through satisfaction questionnaires that provides accurate results. We use mainly two models one proposed by the European Index of Consumer Satisfaction (ECSI), directed to the client, and the Common Assessment Framework (CAF), used both in the client as the employees surveys. Introduced two questionnaires in a digital format, one in the central laboratory collect center, through an electronic kiosk and another on the laboratory web page, both as an alternative to survey paper currently used, we analyzed the results, and withdrew the conclusions. It was proposed and developed a questionnaire for employees whose intention would be to provide useful data to decision support, given the importance of employees in customer interaction and quality assurance throughout the whole clinical process, it was evaluated in a general way because it was not possible to show the results, however commented an empirical way some benefits of this questionnaire. The main goals of this study were to implement electronic questionnaires and analyze the results, comparing them with the ECSI, in order to emphasize the importance of analyzing simultaneously professional motivation with customer satisfaction, in order to improve decision support systems.