Product communication strategies: Emotional versus rational communication strategies and attitude change on children consumers

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Supply chain integration model: practices and customer values

Dissertation to obtain PhD in Industrial Engineering

Support in decision-making under uncertainty: a project risk assessment tool development and supplementary advances

A foremost dispute that persists on the contemporary world���s agenda is change. The on-going social/technological/economic changes create a competitive and challenging environment for companies to endure. To benefit from these changes, world economies partially depend on emerging Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their adaptability skills, and subsequently the development of an integrated capability to innovate has become the prime strategy for most of SMEs to subsist and grow. However, innovation and change are always somewhat bonded to an inherent risk development, which subsequently brings on the necessity of a revision of risk management approaches in innovative processes, whose importance SMEs tend to disregard. Additionally, little efforts have been made to improve and create empirical models, metrics and tools to assist SMEs managing latent risks in their innovative projects. This work seeks to present and discuss a solution to support SMEs in engaging on systematic risk management practices, which consists on an integrated risk assessment and response support web-based tool - Spotrisk�� - designed for SMEs. On the other hand, an inherent subjectivity is linked with risk management and identification processes, due to uncertainty trait of its nature, for each individual perceives situations according to his own idiosyncrasy, which brings complications in normalizing risk profiles and procedures. This essay aims to bring insights concerning the support in decision-making processes under uncertainty, by addressing issues related with the risk behavior character among individuals. To address such issues, subjects of neuroscience or psychology are explored and models to identify such character are proposed, as well as models to improve presented tool. This work attempts to go beyond the restrictive aim of endeavoring on technical improvement dissertation, and in embraces an exploratory conceptualization concerning micro, small and medium businesses��� traits regarding risk characters and project risk assessment tools.

Effects of team task structure on team climate for innovation and team outcomes

In this cross-sectional study we analyzed, whether team climate for innovation mediates the relationship between team task structure and innovative behavior, job satisfaction, affective organizational commitment, and work stress. 310 employees in 20 work teams of an automotive company participated in this study. 10 teams had been changed from a restrictive to a more self-regulating team model by providing task variety, autonomy, team-specific goals, and feedback in order to increase team effectiveness. Data support the supposed causal chain, although only with respect to team innovative behavior all required effects were statistically significant. Longitudinal designs and larger samples are needed to prove the assumed causal relationships, but results indicate that implementing self-regulating teams might be an effective strategy for improving innovative behavior and thus team and company effectiveness.

Analysis of the interaction of polycyclic aromatic compounds in a model organism: integration of genotoxic and histopathological effects

Due to their toxicity, especially their carcinogenic potential, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) became priority pollutants in biomonitoring programmes and environmental policy, such as the European Water Framework Directive. The model substances tested in this study, namely benzo[b]fluoranthene (B[b]F), considered potentially carcinogenic to humans and an effector carcinogenic PAH to wildlife, and phenanthrene (Phe), deemed a non-carcinogenic PAH, are common PAHs in coastal waters, owning distinct properties reflected in different, albeit overlapping, mechanisms of toxicity. Still, as for similar PAHs, their interaction effects remain largely unknown. In order to study the genotoxic effects of caused by the interaction of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic PAHs, and their relation to histopathological alterations, juvenile sea basses, Dicentrarchus labrax, a highly ecologically- and economically-relevant marine fish, were injected with different doses (5 and 10 ��g.g-1 fish ww) of the two PAHs, isolated or in mixture, and incubated for 48 h. Individuals injected with B[b]F and the PAH mixture exhibited higher clastogenic/aneugenic effects and DNA strand breakage in blood cells, determined through the erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) and Comet assays, respectively. Also, hepatic histopathological alterations were found in all animals, especially those injected with B[b]F and the PAH mixture, relating especially to inflammation. Still, Phe also exhibited genotoxic effects in sea bass, especially in higher doses, revealing a very significant acute effect that was accordant with the Microtox test performed undergone in parallel. Overall, sea bass was sensitive to B[b]F (a higher molecular weight PAH), likely due to efficient bioactivation of the pollutant (yielding genotoxic metabolites and reactive oxygen species), when compared to Phe, the latter revealing a more significant acute effect. The results indicate no significant additive effect between the substances, under the current experimental conditions. The present study highlights the importance of understanding PAH interactions in aquatic organisms, since they are usually present in the aquatic environment in complex mixtures.

O processo de d��diva de sangue do dador de primeira vez no Hospital do Esp��rito Santo - ��vora, EPE : satisfa����o e retorno para a d��diva seguinte

RESUMO - Introdu����o: Com este trabalho, pretendeu-se averiguar em que medida a satisfa����o no processo de d��diva de sangue afeta o regresso dos dadores que doam pela primeira vez na vida, ou que se apresentaram pela primeira vez no Servi��o de sangue do HESE. Material e m��todos: Estudo observacional transversal descritivo. Dos dadores com uma ��nica inscri����o no per��odo de 2011 a 2012 inclusive, (531+541 dadores) foram retirados os que entretanto completaram 66 anos (idade limite para a d��diva); os que n��o tinham contacto telef��nico v��lido; e os que tinham morada fora do Distrito de ��vora. Os dadores restantes (327 + 330 dadores), foram ent��o inquiridos atrav��s de um question��rio efetuado telefonicamente para determinar as causas de n��o regresso. Resultados: Obtiveram-se 360 respostas v��lidas ao question��rio, correspondentes a 50% da amostra com um IC de 95%. Apesar de estar amplamente demonstrado que a satisfa����o na d��diva contribui decisivamente para o retorno �� d��diva seguinte, apenas 12% da amostra referiu n��o regressar por algum motivo de insatisfa����o decorrente do processo de d��diva. Evidentemente, o m��rito destes resultados �� devido �� equipa do Servi��o de Imunohemoterapia do HESE. Por��m uma outra realidade fica aqui patente, os dadores de primeira vez est��o a decrescer h�� v��rios anos, e destes, os que regressam s��o cada vez menos. A manter-se esta tend��ncia, a taxa de renova����o da bolsa de dadores poder�� tornar-se insuficiente para a manuten����o da atual bolsa de dadores. Se o HESE conseguisse recuperar para a d��diva metade da amostra de dadores de primeira vez que n��o regressam, a sua autonomia em termos de consumo de sangue sairia refor��ada, com o incremento de proveitos financeiros consequente. Conclus��o: Este trabalho concretiza os objetivos a que se prop��s, nomeadamente o de produzir conhecimento ��til e de suporte �� decis��o no ��mbito da administra����o hospitalar. O HESE tem agora ao seu dispor, a carateriza����o dos dadores de primeira vez e a descri����o de como se est�� a processar a renova����o da sua bolsa de dadores.

Outcomes of communication competence: A study on a Portuguese restaurant chain

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

From a project to an organisation: a Strategic Communication���s approach

Relat��rio de Est��gio apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necess��rios �� obten����o do grau de Mestre em Ci��ncias da Comunica����o, ��rea de especializa����o em Comunica����o Estrat��gica

A strategic plan for ���ADHD Project���

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Cost-to-serve customers��� optimization: Macro project Unilever ��� Jer��nimo Martins

The objective of this work project is to analyse and discuss the importance of the ���Cost to Serve��� as a differentiation key factor, by accessing cost to serve customers of a Portuguese subsidiary of a multinational company, which is operating in the sector of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) ��� Unilever ��� Jer��nimo Martins (UJM). I will also suggest and quantify key proposals to decrease costs and increase customers��� value. Hence, the scope of this work project is focused on logistics and distribution processes of the company supply chain.

Assessment by doppler ultrasound of entheseal lesions in spondyloarthritis : a longitudial study to determine structural damage and disease activity lesions

RESUMO: Enthesitis is the hallmark of spondyloarthritis (SpA), and is observed in all subtypes. Wide information on SpA abnormalities, including synovitis, tendinitis and enthesitis, can be efficiently perceived by Doppler ultrasound. Furthermore, several studies on imaging of enthesis showed that imaging techniques are better than clinical examination to detect enthesis alterations; and vascularized enthesitis detected by Doppler ultrasound appears to be a valuable diagnostic tool to confirm SpA diagnosis. However, data published until now concerning entheseal elementary alterations that characterize SpA enthesitis (enthesis inflammatory activity) or enthesopathy (permanent structural changes) reflect rather the authors��� empiric opinion than a methodological validation process. In this sense it seems crucial to identify elementary entheseal lesions associated with activity or damage, in order to improve monitoring and treatment response in SpA patients. The development of better assessment tools is today a challenge and a need in SpA. The first study of this thesis focused on the analysis of the reliability of inter-lector and inter-ultrasonography equipment of Madrid sonography enthesitis index (MASEI). Fundamental data for the remaining unrolling project validity. In the second and third studies we concerned about two entheseal elemental lesions: erosions and bursa. In literature erosions represent a permanent structural damage, being useful for monitoring joint injury, disease activity and therapeutic response in many rheumatic diseases; and to date, this concept has been mostly applied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Unquestionably, erosion is a tissue-related damage and a structural change. However, the hypothesis that we decided to test was if erosions represent a permanent structural change that can only grow and worsen over time, as occurs in RA, or a transitory alteration. A longitudinal study of early SpA patients was undertaken, and the Achilles enthesis was used as a model. Our results strongly suggested that previously detected erosions could disappear during the course of the disease, being consistent with the dynamic behavior of erosion over time. Based on these striking results it seems reasonable to suggest that the new-bone formation process in SpA could be associated with the resolution of cortical entheseal erosion over time. These results could also be in agreement with the apparent failure of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies to control bone proliferation in SpA; and with the relation of TNF-��, Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk-1) and the regulatory molecule of the Wnt signaling pathway in the bone proliferation in SpA. In the same model, we then proceeded to study the enthesis bursa. Interestingly, the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) enthesopathy definition does not include bursa as an elementary entheseal lesion. Nonetheless, bursa was included in 46% of the enthesis studies in a recently systematic literature review, being in agreement with the concept of ���synovio-entheseal complex��� that includes the link between enthesitis and osteitis in SpA. It has been clarified in recent data that there is not only a close functional integration of the enthesis with the neighboring bone, but also a connection between enthesitis and synovitis. Therefore, we tried to assess the prevalence and relevance of the bursa-synovial lesion in SpA. Our findings showed a significant increase of Achilles bursa presence and thickness in SpA patients compared to controls (healthy/mechanical controls and RA controls). These results raise awareness to the need to improve the enthesopathy ultrasonographic definition. In the final work of this thesis, we have explored new perspectives, not previously reported, about construct validity of enthesis ultrasound as a possible activity outcome in SpA. We performed a longitudinal Achilles enthesis ultrasound study in patients with early SpA. Achilles ultrasound examinations were performed at baseline, six- and twelve-month time periods and compared with clinical outcome measures collected at basal visit. Our results showed that basal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are higher in patients with Doppler signal in enthesis, and even that higher basal ESR, CRP and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) predicted a higher Doppler signal (an ultrasound alteration accepted as representative of inflammation) six months later. Patients with very high disease activity assessed by ASDAS (>3.5) at baseline had significantly higher Achilles total ultrasound score verified at the same time; and ASDAS <1.3 predicted no Doppler signal at six and twelve months. This seems to represent a connection between classical biomarkers and clinical outcomes associated with SpA activity and Doppler signal, not only at the same time, but also for the following months. Remarkably, patients with inactive disease (ASDAS < 1.3) at baseline had no Doppler signal at six and twelve months. These findings reinforce the potential use of ultrasound related techniques for disease progression assessment and prognosis purposes. Intriguingly, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) didn���t show significant differences between different cut-offs concerning ultrasound lesions or Doppler signal, while verified with ASDAS. These results seem to indicate that ASDAS reflects better than BASDAI what happens in the enthesis. The work herein discussed clearly shows the potential utility of ultrasound in enthesis assessment in SpA patients, and can be important for the development of ultrasound activity and structural damage scores for diagnosis and monitoring purposes. Therefore, local promotion of this technique constitutes a medical intervention that is worth being tested in SpA patients for diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis purposes.

An essay on agile project management practices

The main goals for the current dissertation is to research on how practices and concepts from Agile Project Management can be applied in a non-IT context and to discover which aspects should be considered when deciding if whether an Agile approach should be implemented or not. Previous studies reflect on the adoption for the identified context. However, the recognition of these practices and concepts by the Project Management field of studies still remains unresolved. The adoption of Agile Project Management emerges as a manifestation against traditional approaches, mainly due to their inability of accepting requirements��� changes. Therefore, these practices and concepts can be considered in order to reduce the risks concerning the increase of competition and innovation ��� which does not apply to the IT sector solely. The current study reviews the literature on Agile Project Management and its adoption across different sectors in order to assess which practices and concepts can be applied on a non-IT context. Nine different methods are reviewed, where two of these show a higher relevance ��� Scrum and Extreme Programming. The identified practices and concepts can be separated into four different groups: Cultural and Organizational Structures, Process, Practices, and Artefacts. A framework based on the work by Boehm & Turner in 2004 is developed in order to support the decision of adopting agile methods. A survey intended for project managers was carried in order to assess the implementation of the identified practices and concepts and to evaluate which variables have the highest importance on the developed decision support framework. It is concluded that New Product Development is the project type with the highest potential to implement an agile approach and that the Project Final Product���s Innovativeness, Competitiveness, and the Project Member���s Experience and Autonomy are the most important aspects to consider an implementation of an Agile approach.

On project finance and the first road concession in Portugal

In broad sense, Project Financing1 as a mean of financing large scale infrastructural projects worldwide has had a steady growth in popularity for the last 20 years. This growth has been relatively unscathed from most economic cycles. However in the wake of the 2007 systemic Financial Crisis, Project Financing was also in trouble. The liquidity freeze and credit crunch that ensued affected all parties involved. Traditional Lenders, of this type of financial instrument, locked-in long-term contractual obligations, were severely hit with scarcity of funding compounded by rapidly increasing cost of funding. All the while, Banks were ���rescued��� by the concerted actions of Central Banks and other Multi-Lateral Agencies around the world but at the same time ���stressed��� by upcoming regulatory effort (Basel Committee). This impact resulted in specific changes to this type of long-term financing. Changes such as Commercial Banks��� increased risk aversion; pricing increase and maturities decrease of credit facilities; enforcement of Market Disruption Event clauses; partial responsibility for project risk by Multilateral Agencies; and adoption of utility-like availability payments in other industrial sectors such as transportation and even social infrastructure. To the extent possible, this report is then divided in three parts. First, it begins with a more instructional part, touching academic literature (theory) and giving the Banks perspective (practice), but mostly as an overview of Project Finance for awareness��� sake. The renowned Harvard Business School professor ��� Benjamin Esty, states2 that Project Finance is a ���relatively unexplored territory for both empirical and theoretical research��� which means that academic research efforts are lagging the practice of Project Finance. Second, the report presents a practical case regarding the first Road Concession in Portugal in 1998 ending with the lessons learned 10 years after Financial Close. Lastly, the report concludes with the analysis of the current trends and changes to the industry post Financial Crisis of the late 2000���s. To achieve this I���ll reference relevant papers, books on the subject, online articles and my own experience in the Project Finance Department at a major Portuguese Investment Bank. Regarding the latter, with the signing of a confidentiality agreement, I���m duly omitting sensitive and proprietary bank information.