A gestão de recursos humanos nas pequenas e médias empresas em Portugal: Definição de um modelo de atuação

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências Empresariais

Modelação de governo electrónico para países emergentes: O caso de São Tomé e Príncipe

Tese de Doutoramento em Tecnologias e Sistemas de Informação

Inventory and description of disease management programs in Switzerland

Background: Disease management, a system of coordinated health care interventions for populations with chronic diseases in which patient self-care is a key aspect, has been shown to be effective for several conditions. Little is known on the supply of disease management programs in Switzerland. Objectives: To systematically search, record and evaluate data on existing disease management programs in Switzerland. Methods: Programs met our operational definition of disease management if their interventions targeted a chronic disease, included a multidisciplinary team and lasted at least 6 months. To find existing programs, we searched Swiss official websites, Swiss web-pages using Google, medical electronic database (Medline), and checked references from selected documents. We also contacted personally known individuals, those identified as possibly working in the field, individuals working in major Swiss health insurance companies and people recommended by previously contacted persons (snow ball strategy). We developed an extraction grid and collected information pertaining to the following 8 domains: patient population, intervention recipient, intervention content, delivery personnel, method of communication, intensity and complexity, environment and clinical outcomes (measures?). Results: We identified 8 programs fulfilling our operational definition of disease management. Programs targeted patients with diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, obesity, alcohol dependence, psychiatric disorders or breast cancer, and were mainly directed towards patients. The interventions were multifaceted and included education in almost all cases. Half of the programs included regularly scheduled follow-up, by phone in 3 instances. Healthcare professionals involved were physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, psychologists and dietitians. None fulfilled the 6 criteria established by the Disease Management Association of America. Conclusions: Our study shows that disease management programs, in a country with universal health insurance coverage and little incentive to develop new healthcare strategies, are scarce, although we may have missed existing programs. Nonetheless, those already implemented are very interesting and rather comprehensive. Appropriate evaluation of these programs should be performed in order to build upon them and try to design a generic disease management framework suited to the Swiss healthcare system.

A study of governance practices in corporate foundations

Implementation of social investments through corporate foundations is growing and, therefore, it is important to study their governance aspects better. Governance is conceptualized as a set of control and incentive mechanisms to overcome the so-called agency conflicts, which originate from the separation of property and management in for-profit organizations, a concept also applied to nonprofit institutions. It is argued that corporate foundations have the characteristics both of companies and of civil society organizations, which distinguishes them from both types of organizations. This paper analyses a study in which a set of governance mechanisms, adapted from those identified by a literature review of corporate and nonprofit governance, was selected for study. It is an exploratory descriptive case study, which analyzed data about eight organizations collected through publications and interviews with their CEOs. The data analysis indicates that it is appropriate to distinguish the different organization types and to apply the agency theory. Research results indicate that the selected governance mechanisms may be adapted and used in corporate foundations. However, they are only partially applied in the observed cases, which suggests the need for further studies that might consolidate these practices in such organizations.

Desafios da gestão e liderança feminina em Cabo Verde: como exercer a liderança em espaços de identidade masculina

O objectivo do presente estudo é identificar, caracterizar e entender os factores que contribuem para a eficácia da gestão e liderança da mulher cabo-verdiana num cenário de chefia de topo, em espaços caracterizados pela predominância masculina, transformando-se assim num desafio constante para as mulheres a nível mundial e em particular, para as mulheres cabo-verdianas. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre liderança e sobre género, mais especificamente, sobre o papel da mulher no contexto do trabalho. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza exploratória, utilizando uma abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa. Neste sentido, foi analisado o processo da liderança feminina no contexto mundial e nacional, a evolução da sua participação nas chefias de topo, os factores que contribuem para o seu desempenho, e o que fazer para vencer os desafios e atingir a eficácia. O método de pesquisa utilizado foi a pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa, através de aplicação de um questionário a trinta gestores de primeira linha, com o objectivo de avaliar a forma como o líder se auto percepciona, bem assim como ele é percepcionado pelo seu superior hierárquico, pelos colegas e pelos subordinados directos. As conclusões do estudo apontam para a existência de divergências entre as percepções dos líderes e dos outros membros da organização em relação à liderança exercida. Por outro lado, a questão do género parece ter pouca influência na eficácia da liderança. The aim of this paper is to identify, characterize and understand the factors that contribute to effective management and leadership of the Cape Verdean women in male dominated areas characterized by a background of top management. This scenario is characterized by a high male predominance, which represents a constant challenge for women worldwide and in particular for the Cape Verdean women. A literature search on the topics of leadership and on gender, specifically on the role of women in the work context was carried out. It is an exploratory research, using a qualitative and quantitative approach. In this sense the process of women's leadership in global and national context, the evolution of their participation in top leadership, the factors that contribute to their performance as well as how to overcome challenges and achieve efficiency were considered. The research method used was a qualitative and quantitative research through application of a questionnaire to 30 first line managers, in order to assess how the leader perceives itself, as well as, how he is perceived by his superior, colleagues and direct reports. The conclusions indicate that there are important differences between the perception of the leaders and other members of the organization in relation to the leadership exercise. On the other hand, gender seems to have little influence on leadership effectiveness.

The politics of contaminated sites management : institutional regime change and actor's mode of participation in the environmental management of the Bonfol Chemical Waste Landfill in Switzerland

By the end of the 1970s, contaminated sites had emerged as one of the most complex and urgent environmental issues affecting industrialized countries. The authors show that small and prosperous Switzerland is no exception to the pervasive problem of sites contamination, the legacy of past practices in waste management having left some 38,000 contaminated sites throughout the country. This book outlines the problem, offering evidence that open and polycentric environmental decision-making that includes civil society actors is valuable. They propose an understanding of environmental management of contaminated sites as a political process in which institutions frame interactions between strategic actors pursuing sometimes conflicting interests. In the opening chapter, the authors describe the influences of politics and the power relationships between actors involved in decision-making in contaminated sites management, which they term a "wicked problem." Chapter Two offers a theoretical framework for understanding institutions and the environmental management of contaminated sites. The next five chapters present a detailed case study on environmental management and contaminated sites in Switzerland, focused on the Bonfol Chemical Landfill. The study and analysis covers the establishment of the landfill under the first generation of environmental regulations, its closure and early remediation efforts, and the gambling on the remediation objectives, methods and funding in the first decade of the 21st Century. The concluding chapter discusses the question of whether the strength of environmental regulations, and the type of interactions between public, private, and civil society actors can explain the environmental choices in contaminated sites management. Drawing lessons from research, the authors debate the value of institutional flexibility for dealing with environmental issues such as contaminated sites.

Provision of health care actions and services for the management of HIV/AIDS from the users’ perspective

Objective To analyse the provision of health care actions and services for people living with AIDS and receiving specialised care in Ribeirão Preto, SP. Method A descriptive, exploratory, survey-type study that consisted of interviews with structured questionnaires and data analysis using descriptive statistics. Results The provision of health care actions and services is perceived as fair. For the 301 subjects, routine care provided by the reference team, laboratory tests and the availability of antiretroviral drugs, vaccines and condoms obtained satisfactory evaluations. The provision of tests for the prevention and diagnosis of comorbidities was assessed as fair, whereas the provisions of specialised care by other professionals, psychosocial support groups and medicines for the prevention of antiretroviral side effects were assessed as unsatisfactory. Conclusion Shortcomings were observed in follow-up and care management along with a predominantly biological, doctor-centred focus in which clinical control and access to antiretroviral therapy comprise the essential focus of the care provided.


A importância da demonstração do fluxo de caixa e o paradigma da utilidade

No contexto mundial, em virtude da complexidade da economia, da expansão e competitividade dos mercados, verifica-se uma crescente necessidade das empresas em buscarem instrumentos que as auxiliem no planeamento e controle de seus recursos para que estes sejam usados de maneira adequada, a fim de salvaguardar a actividade empresarial e alcançar o objectivo almejado pela empresa. O sucesso empresarial demanda cada vez mais o uso de práticas financeiras apropriadas. A realidade aponta para gestores sedentos de informações relevantes que irão auxiliar o seu processo decisório. Assim sendo, o trabalho ora intitulado: A Importância do Fluxo de Caixa, e o paradigma da utilidade foi elaborado através de pesquisa bibliográfica e exploratória sobre o assunto em questão, tendo como base artigos, livros e dissertações. O seu objectivo principal é enfatizar a importância do demonstrativo de Fluxo de Caixa como ferramenta para os gestores obterem eficiência na administração financeira da sua entidade. Para tanto, iniciamos com uma resenha histórica do mapa em estudo. Num segundo momento fazemos um enquadramento teórico onde referimos ao conceito de fluxo de caixa, seus objectivos, as suas normas legais nacionais e internacionais, e a presença da demonstração de fluxo de caixa no mercado Cabo-verdiano antes de 2009. Em seguida temos a metodologia de elaboração do mapa, onde fazemos referências ao aspecto conceptual, aos métodos de elaboração o método directo e indirecto, as vantagens e desvantagens sem deixar de lado o paradigma da utilidade do mapa. Finalizando, apresentamos uma parte prática onde o objectivo é expressar em números tudo o que foi divulgado teoricamente. In the global context, along with the virtue of the economic complexity, from the expansion and the competition of the markets, there is an essential increase of the companies looking forward for instruments that will assist them in planning and control the resources so that these would be used in the most adequate way, in a way to guaranty company’s activity and to accomplish the objectives intended by the company. Company’s success requires more and more the use of appropriated financial practice. The reality demonstrates managers eager for relevant information that will support his/her process of decision. So therefore the work entitled “The Importance of Cash Flow” and its paradigm of utility was elaborated according to the bibliographic and exploratory research about the topic in question, having as support articles, books and dissertations. Its main objective is to emphasize the importance of the Cash Flow Statement as an instrument for the managers to obtain efficiency in the financial management of its corporation. For that, we start with an historical review of the statement in study. Secondly we make a theoretical approach where we reflect on the Cash Flow, its objectives, its national and international official standards and the statement of Cash Flows in Cape Verdean market before 2009. After that, there is the methodology of the design of the statement, where we refer to the conceptual aspects, the direct and indirect methods of design, the advantages and disadvantages without letting out the paradigm of utility of the statement. Finally, we present a practical case illustrating in numbers the whole thing that was presented theoretically.

Avaliação de Desempenho no Sector Bancário em Cabo Verde

Presentemente, o controlo de gestão está vocacionado para agir antes de os factos indesejáveis ocorrerem, assegurando que os objectivos estabelecidos pela gestão são atingidos dentro do timing fixado. Além disso, o controlo de gestão deve ser o motor que permita alcançar as melhores performances nas áreas críticas da empresa, não só no domínio económico e financeiro, mas também nas áreas do crescimento, segurança e produtividade. Um dos mais importantes objectos das administrações actuais, é determinar se o desempenho da organização está de acordo com o que foi estabelecido previamente, ou seja, seus objectivos e metas. O meio através do qual se verificaria este desempenho seria a utilização de métodos e sistemas de avaliação de desempenho eficazes. Neste contexto, o presente estudo consiste em fazer um estudo exploratório descritivo identificando e averiguando de que forma as instituições bancárias de Cabo Verde efectuam a gestão de alguns aspectos, especialmente a avaliação de desempenho e o controlo estratégico, e que indicadores utilizam. Não obstante os objectivos específicos do trabalho serem outros, também damos especial atenção às características do mercado cabo-verdiano e à importância do sector bancário para a economia. Finalmente, apresentamos o Balanced Scorecard como uma ferramenta capaz de suprir as dificuldades da avaliação de desempenho e o conjunto de indicadores que vemos como o mais adequado. Neste ponto, concentramos nas quatro perspectivas básicas e no mapa estratégico, referindo o papel do Balanced Scorecard no alinhamento estratégico e na avaliação do desempenho organizacional. Para concluir, reforçamos o estudo, entrevistando um especialista (Director Financeiro) de um dos bancos da praça, cujo nome prometemos não publicar. Dessa forma, esperamos contribuir para uma melhor percepção da realidade em estudo, tanto do ponto de vista teórico, quanto da verificação das práticas no sector. Presently, the management control is oriented to act before the undesirable facts happen, assuring that the management established objectives are being achieved in the fixed timing. Besides, the management control must be an engine that permits to achieve the best performances at critical company areas, not only in the economic and financial areas, but at the growth, security and productivity areas too. One of the most important administration objects nowadays is to know if the organization performance is according to the fixed targets. The performance measurement could be done through effective methods and performance measurement systems. That’s why this assignment consists in doing an exploratory and descriptive study, identifying and investigating how the bank institutions of Cape Verde manage some things, particularly the performance measurement and the strategic control, and to know which indicators they use. Although the specific objectives of this assignment are others, we also give special attention to the Capeverdean market characteristics, and to the relevance of the banking industry to the economy of the country. Finally, we present the Balanced Scorecard as a competent tool to supply the measurement performance difficulties and a number of indicators that we find appropriate. In this point, we focus in the four basic perspectives and the strategic map, referring to the role of the Balanced Scorecard in the strategic alignment and organization performance measurement. We conclude this study with an interview to an expert (A Financial Manager) of a bank working in Cape Verde, whose name we promise to preserve. In this way, we hope to contribute to a better perception of this reality, in the theoretical point-of-view as much as in the practical check of this industry’s labour.

Criteria for EASO-collaborating centres for obesity management.

Obesity is recognised as a global epidemic and the most prevalent metabolic disease world-wide. Specialised obesity services, however, are not widely available in Europe, and obesity care can vary enormously across European regions. The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO, www.easo.org) has developed these criteria to form a pan-European network of accredited EASO-Collaborating Centres for Obesity Management (EASO-COMs) in accordance with accepted European and academic guidelines. This network will include university, public and private clinics and will ensure that the obese and overweight patient is managed by a holistic team of specialists and receives comprehensive state-ofthe-art clinical care. Furthermore, the participating centres, under the umbrella of EASO, will work closely for quality control, data collection, and analysis as well as for education and research for the advancement of obesity care and obesity science.

Doctoral education's reform in Switzerland and Norway : a public management analyis

This doctoral thesis examines a recent phenomenon in European higher education, namely the reform of doctoral education. On the basis of a number of case studies, consisting of Swiss and Norwegian doctoral schools, and their institutional, national and international context, it demonstrates to what extent changes appear in doctoral education and its governance. Findings indicate new practices regarding doctoral students' recruitment, curricular component, supervision, scientific exchange, follow-up and their career. Doctoral education's character is not anymore exclusively determined by individual supervisors, but increasingly by interdisciplinary and interinstitutional colleges of academics. Finally, general governance patterns are identified: according to the type of scientific discipline and higher education institution, the institution's size and national political system, the field of higher education is more or less dominated by New Public Management or Network Governance characteristics.

Transportation Program Management System, HR-394, 2003

HR-394 was a software and database development project. Via funding provided by the Iowa Highway Research Board, the Iowa County Engineer's Association Service Bureau oversaw the planning and implementation of an Internet based application that supports two major local-government transportation project activities: Project programming and Development tracking. The goals were to reduce errors and inconsistencies, speed up the processes, link people to both project data and each other, and build a framework that could eventually support a 'paperless' work flow. The work started in 1999 and initial development was completed by the fall of 2002. Since going live, several 'piggy back' applications have been required to make the Programming side better fit actual work procedures. This part of the system has proven adequate but will be rewritten in 2004 to make it easier to use. The original development side module was rejected by the users and so had to be rewritten in 2003. The second version has proven much better, is heavily used, and is interconnected with Iowa DOT project data systems. Now that the system is in operation, it will be maintained and operated by the ICEA Service Bureau as an ongoing service function.

Muutosjohtaminen liikkeenjohdon konsultointiyrityksissä, Case: Kolme konsultointiyritystä

Tutkielma tutkii konsultointiyritysten harjoittamaa muutosjohtamista. Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää millaisia menetelmiä konsultointiyritykset käyttävät muutoksen johtamiseen. Tutkielma esittää organisaatiomuutoksen ilmiönä ja selvittää miten muutosta johdetaan. Tutkielma keskittyy konsultointiyritysten muutoksen johtamisessa käyttämiin muutosmalleihin ja -palveluihin. Tutkimusmetodologiana tutkielmassa käytettiin laadullista tapaustutkimusta ja tutkimusaineistonakonsultointiyritysten internet - sivuja. Tutkielmassa havaittiin kirjallisuudessa esiteltyjen muutosmallien identtisyys konsultointiyritysten käyttämien mallien kanssa. Tutkielman tuloksena luotiin synteesi muutosjohtamisen malleista. Tutkielmassa selvisi myös muutospalveluiden kehittyminen laajaksi, kaikkia palveluita tukevaksi funktioksi liikkeenjohdon konsultointiyrityksissä.

Performance Measurement as Part of Management

To achieve success in a constantly changing environment and with ever-increasing competition, companies must develop their operations continuously. To do this, they must have a clear vision of what they want to be in the future. This vision can be attained through careful planning and strategising. One method of transforming a strategy and vision into an everyday tool used by employees is the use of a balanced performance measurement system. The importance of performance measurement in the implementation of companies' visions and strategies has grown substantially in the last ten years. Measures are derived from the company's critical success factors and from many different perspectives. There are three time dimensions: past, present and future. Many such performance measurement systems have been created since the 1990s. This is a case study whose main objective is to provide a recommendation for how the case company could make use of performance measurement to support strategic management. To answer this question, the study uses literature-based research and empirical research at the case company's premises. The theoretical part of the study consists of two sections: introducing the Balanced Scorecard and discussing how it supports strategic management and change management. The empirical part of this study determines the company's present performance measurement situation through interviews in the company. The study resulted in a recommendation to the company to start developing the Balanced Scorecard system. By setting up this kind process, the company would be able to change its focus more towards the future, beginning to implement a more process-based organisation and getting its employees to work together towards common goals.

Kokonaistoimittajan operatiivisen toiminnanohjauksen tietojärjestelmät imuohjatun tuotannon verkostossa

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kehittää kansainvälisesti toimivan suuren yrityksen johtaman verkoston kokonaistoimittajatason yritysten käyttöön yksinkertainen viitekehys, jota yritykset voivat käyttää operatiivista toimintaa ohjaavien tietojärjestelmien hallinnassa. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen lisäksi suoritettiin empiiristä tutkimusta tarkastelemalla verkostoyritysten toimintaa operatiivisten toiminnanohjausjärjestelmien kehitysprojektien kannalta. Samalla tarkasteltiin kahden pohjoiskarjalaisen yritysverkoston kokonaistoimittajien nykytilannetta toiminnanohjauksen tietojärjestelmien osalta ja verkostotoiminnan vaikutusta niihin. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että kokonaistoimittajien on kasvatettava osaamistaan nykyaikaisten tietojärjestelmien osalta kyetäkseen vastaamaan kansainvälisen päähankkijan asettamiin vaatimuksiin kiristyvässä kilpailutilanteessa. Imuohjatun verkoston toiminnanohjauksen kannalta on ensiarvoisen tärkeää että verkoston toiseksi ylimmällä portaalla toimivien kokonaistoimittajien tietojärjestelmät tukevat moderneja toimintatapoja niin sanomavälityksen kuin tuotannon- ja materiaalin ohjauksen osalta. Tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että tyypillisen kokonaistoimittajayrityksen tietämys tietojärjestelmäasioista on varsin matalalla tasolla. Tutkimuksen tuloksena syntyi myös kuusiportainen viitekehys operatiivisen toiminnanohjauksen tietojärjestelmien jatkuvan kehittämisen tueksi.