Essays on cultural and institutional dynamics in economic development using spatial analysis

This thesis seeks to research patterns of economic growth and development from a number of perspectives often resonated in the growth literature. By addressing themes about history, geography, institutions and culture the thesis is able to bring to bear a wide range of inter-related literatures and methodologies within a single content. Additionally, by targeting different administrative levels in its research design and approach, this thesis is also able to provide a comprehensive treatment of the economic growth dilemma from both cross-national and sub-national perspectives. The three chapters herein discuss economic development from two broad dimensions. The first of these chapters takes on the economic growth inquiry by attempting to incorporate cultural geography within a cross-country formal spatial econometric growth framework. By introducing the global cultural dynamics of languages and ethnic groups as spatial network mechanisms, this chapter is able to distinguish economic growth effects accruing from own-country productive efforts from those accruing from interconnections within a global productive network chain. From this, discussions and deductions about the implications for both developed and developing countries are made as regards potentials for gains and losses from such types and levels of productive integration. The second and third chapters take a different spin to the economic development inquiry. They both focus on economic activity in Africa, tackling the relevant issues from a geo-intersected dimension involving historic regional tribal homelands and modern national and subnational administrative territories. The second chapter specifically focuses on attempting to adopt historical channels to investigate the connection between national institutional quality and economic development in demarcated tribal homelands at the fringes of national African borders. The third chapter on the other hand focuses on looking closer at the effects of demarcations on economic activity. It particularly probes how different kinds of demarcation warranted by two different but very relevant classes of politico-economic players have affected economic activity quite distinguishably within the resulting subnational regions in Africa.

Development Of Interpersonal Relationships in Global Virtual Teams

This study investigates the development of relationships in same global virtual team working on different projects. The purpose is to explore how do interpersonal relationships develop in terms of characteristics of virtuality and if there is any influence of project lifespan on the development of these relationships. Since relationships are dynamic in nature and are influenced by multiple levels of variables including individual, group and organizational level, therefore characteristics of virtuality have been considered from all these aspects so as to study their influence on development of relationships. In this study, relationships have been studied at two different levels. At first, dyadic relationships between two members of a GVT have been analyzed and thereafter, focus has been on the development of relationships among the team, based on these dyads. Characteristics having influence on development of relationships include trust, physical distance, time zone difference, cultural and language differences, level of formalization in the organization and means of communication used by team members. Level of formalization and means of communication are two characteristics which emerged after empirical study and are found to have direct influence on development of relationships. Remaining characteristics have been identified through literature review. In order to conduct the study, qualitative methodology has been applied. Empirical data has been collected based on a single case study while using semi-structured interviews as data gathering technique. Data analysis has been performed by applying thematic analysis along with the utilization of company documents such as work sheets, minutes of meetings and recordings of conferences. Findings of the study indicate that development of relationships, both at dyadic level and team level, is influenced by different events taking place among different members of GVT. These events have either positive or negative influence on the characteristics of virtuality, which leads to development of the relationships. It has been found that, trust, among all factors plays a greater role in development of these relations. Contrary to the belief that most conflicts arise among members of different cultures, they are equally likely to happen among the members from same culture in GVT environment. Study suggests that relationship development is not a smooth process but it fluctuates based on different events in teams. For further research, teams within large firms shall be studied along these lines. This study is an early attempt towards bringing different characteristics of virtuality together which previously, have been studied individually. It is therefore plausible to conduct similar studies so as to generalize the findings of this study which has provided a starting point.

Business model evolution and firm performance of entrepreneurial companies

This research explores the business model (BM) evolution process of entrepreneurial companies and investigates the relationship between BM evolution and firm performance. Recently, it has been increasingly recognised that the innovative design (and re-design) of BMs is crucial to the performance of entrepreneurial firms, as BM can be associated with superior value creation and competitive advantage. However, there has been limited theoretical and empirical evidence in relation to the micro-mechanisms behind the BM evolution process and the entrepreneurial outcomes of BM evolution. This research seeks to fill this gap by opening up the ‘black box’ of the BM evolution process, exploring the micro-patterns that facilitate the continuous shaping, changing, and renewing of BMs and examining how BM evolutions create and capture value in a dynamic manner. Drawing together the BM and strategic entrepreneurship literature, this research seeks to understand: (1) how and why companies introduce BM innovations and imitations; (2) how BM innovations and imitations interplay as patterns in the BM evolution process; and (3) how BM evolution patterns affect firm performances. This research adopts a longitudinal multiple case study design that focuses on the emerging phenomenon of BM evolution. Twelve entrepreneurial firms in the Chinese Online Group Buying (OGB) industry were selected for their continuous and intensive developments of BMs and their varying success rates in this highly competitive market. Two rounds of data collection were carried out between 2013 and 2014, which generates 31 interviews with founders/co-founders and in total 5,034 pages of data. Following a three-stage research framework, the data analysis begins by mapping the BM evolution process of the twelve companies and classifying the changes in the BMs into innovations and imitations. The second stage focuses down to the BM level, which addresses the BM evolution as a dynamic process by exploring how BM innovations and imitations unfold and interplay over time. The final stage focuses on the firm level, providing theoretical explanations as to the effects of BM evolution patterns on firm performance. This research provides new insights into the nature of BM evolution by elaborating on the missing link between BM dynamics and firm performance. The findings identify four patterns of BM evolution that have different effects on a firm’s short- and long-term performance. This research contributes to the BM literature by presenting what the BM evolution process actually looks like. Moreover, it takes a step towards the process theory of the interplay between BM innovations and imitations, which addresses the role of companies’ actions, and more importantly, reactions to the competitors. Insights are also given into how entrepreneurial companies achieve and sustain value creation and capture by successfully combining the BM evolution patterns. Finally, the findings on BM evolution contributes to the strategic entrepreneurship literature by increasing the understanding of how companies compete in a more dynamic and complex environment. It reveals that, the achievement of superior firm performance is more than a simple question of whether to innovate or imitate, but rather an integration of innovation and imitation strategies over time. This study concludes with a discussion of the findings and their implications for theory and practice.

Administrative justice and the control of bureaucratic decision-making: A study investigating how decision-makers in local authority education departments respond to the work of redress mechanisms

This socio-legal thesis has explored the factors responsible for explaining whether and how redress mechanisms control bureaucratic decision-making. The research considered the three principal institutions of administrative justice: courts, tribunals, and ombudsman schemes. The field setting was the local authority education area and the thesis examined bureaucratic decision-making about admissions to school, home-to-school transport, and Special Educational Needs (SEN). The thesis adopted a qualitative approach, using interviews and documentary research, within a multiple embedded case study design. The intellectual foundations of the research were inter-disciplinary, cutting across law, socio-legal studies, public administration, organization studies, and social policy. The thesis drew on these scholarly fields to explore the nature of bureaucratic decision-making, the extent to which it can be controlled and the way that learning occurs in bureaucracies and, finally, the extent to which redress mechanisms might exercise control. The concept of control was studied across all its dimensions – in relation both to ex post control in specific cases and the more challenging notion of ex ante or structuring control. The aim of the thesis was not to measure the prevalence of bureaucratic control by redress mechanisms, but to understand the factors that might explain its presence or absence in a particular area. The findings of the research have allowed for a number of analytical refinements and extensions to be made to existing theoretical and empirical understandings. 14 factors, along with 87 supporting propositions, have been set out with the aim of making empirically derived suggestions which can be followed up in future research. In terms of the thesis’ contribution to existing knowledge, its comparative focus and its emphasis on the broad notion of control offered the potential for new insights to be developed. Overall, the thesis claims to have made three contributions to the conceptual framework for understanding the exercise of control by redress mechanisms: it emphasizes the importance of ‘feedback’ in relation to the nature of the cases referred to redress mechanisms; it calls attention to the structure of bureaucratic decision-making as well as its normative character; and it discusses how the operational modes of redress mechanisms relate to their control functions.

O Lean Management e os desafios da gestão de recursos humanos na FAP

O estudo que se apresenta teve como objetivo analisar a implementação do modelo de Serviços Partilhados, com recurso à metodologia lean, nos serviços de apoio de pessoal do Complexo de Alfragide que decorreu no contexto da sua implementação na Força Aérea Portuguesa, determinada pelo Despacho do CEMFA n.º 59/2015, de 31 de julho. Para desenvolver este trabalho foi utilizada uma estratégia de investigação mista (quantitativa e qualitativa), seguindo o raciocínio hipotético-dedutivo. O desenho de pesquisa utilizado foi o estudo de caso, recorrendo a entrevistas, à análise documental e a um questionário para recolha de dados. Os resultados apurados através das entrevistas e do inquérito permitem concluir que a implementação do novo modelo alcançou alguns dos objetivos a que se propunha, nomeadamente, a melhoria dos serviços de apoio de pessoal prestados aos militares e civis. Apesar de se antever um elevado potencial ao nível da racionalização de Recursos Humanos, de momento, esse objetivo ainda não foi inteiramente alcançado. Conclui-se a presente investigação sugerindo a reavaliação numa fase mais adiantada da implementação do modelo de Serviços Partilhados no Complexo de Alfragide e o alargamento a outras Unidades de modo a obter uma visão mais abrangente da realidade na Força Aérea. Abstract: The study aimed to analyze the implementation of the Shared Services model, using the lean methodology, in the personnel support services in Complexo de Alfragide. This process took place in the context of implementation of this model in the Portuguese Air Force, determined by CEMFA Order No. 59/2015 of 31 July. To develop this work was used a mixed research strategy (quantitative and qualitative), following the hypothetical-deductive reasoning. The research design used was the case study, interviews, document analysis and a questionnaire. By the results obtained through the views expressed in the interviews and in the investigation, it can be concluded that the implementation of the Shared Services model has achieved some of the goals that it proposed like the improvement in personnel support services. Although foreseen great potential in terms of gains of Human Resources rationalization and due to several factors, has not yet been possible to achieve this goal. This research is concluded suggesting a reevaluation at a later stage of the implementation of the Shared Services model in the Complexo de Alfragide and extension to other Units for a more comprehensive view of reality in the Air Force.

Supervisão e colaboração no ensino das ciências : estudo de caso realizado numa escola do ensino básico em Díli

O sistema educativo de Timor-Leste tem assistido, desde o momento da independência do país, a uma reorganização e a um desenvolvimento no sentido de aperfeiçoar os níveis de formação e de qualificação dos cidadãos timorenses. A intencionalidade é a de permitir o progresso social, económico, tecnológico e cultural de que o país precisa. Neste quadro, a formação inicial e contínua de professores assume um papel fulcral para o cumprimento das metas estabelecidas, sendo este o contexto principal onde a minha atividade profissional se desenvolveu. Este estudo situou-se na supervisão e colaboração de práticas letivas com uma professora de ensino básico, do sexto ano, no ensino das ciências, tendo por base os pressupostos teóricos da educação em ciências. O estudo que foi desenvolvido numa Escola Básica Central, em Díli, Timor- Leste, tem por base os pressupostos inerentes à supervisão, designadamente: os encontros de pré observação, observação e pós-observação, sustentados pela colaboração da investigadora no processo de desenvolvimento profissional da professora participante Os principais objetivos do estudo centraram-se em identificar e compreender quais as conceções da professora participante no estudo relativamente ao ensino das ciências e, simultaneamente, a implementação de práticas de ensino relacionadas com a didática das ciências, assumindo como referencial que as conceções em ciências que os professores possuem têm implicações no modo como ensinam (Praia, Cachapuz & Pérez, 2002). Mais especificamente, pretendeu-se analisar e compreender a forma como a professora responsável pelo ensino da disciplina de estudo do meio no numa turma do 6º ano desenvolve as suas atividades letivas . A disciplina de estudo do meio contém conteúdos da área das ciências da natureza e das ciências sociais, no entanto, este estudo desenvolveu-se apenas no âmbito das ciências naturais, por se tratar da minha área específica de formação e aquela que escolhi para aprofundar os meus conhecimentos. A investigação desenvolvida assumiu o paradigma qualitativo/interpretativo e enquadrou-se num design de estudo de caso. Para Coutinho & Chaves (2002), um aluno, um professor, uma turma, uma escola, a prática de um professor ou uma política educativa são apenas alguns exemplos de variáveis educativas para as quais o estudo de caso é a metodologia que melhor se aplica. A recolha de informação para a investigação realizou-se no decorrer dos encontros de preparação das atividades letivas, da observação de aulas e do registo realizado, dos encontros pós-observação, das entrevistas e da análise documental de interesse sobre o tema.

Building genre knowledge: a case study of efl student perceptions of the argument essay

Dissertação de mest. em Didáctica das Línguas e Culturas Modernas Especialização Inglês, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Univ. do Algarve, 2003

Contributos para uma visão estratégica da investigação na área do design em Portugal

Dissertação para a obtenção do grau de Doutor em Design, apresentada na Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Arquitectura.

O lugar da educação patrimonial no currículo escolar

Esta dissertação pretende contribuir no âmbito da gestão e valorização do Património Histórico-Cultural, para o estabelecimento de uma estratégia de valorização e enriquecimento dos currículos escolares portugueses do Ensino Básico, como forma de divulgar, preservar e educar para o Património de um país. Neste contexto emergiu um design de investigação que se afigura pertinente e centrado na prática docente ao fazer um estudo de caso, baseado na opinião recolhida junto dos alunos do 1º ciclo do ensino básico de um agrupamento de escolas sobre a noção que os mesmos têm de Património. A compreensão e valorização da Educação Patrimonial num processo contínuo de descoberta e aprendizagem são tarefas que só a "Escola" pode fazer, formando os indivíduos tomando-os competentes nesta área do conhecimento. Os objectos patrimoniais, monumentos, sítios e centros históricos, ou o património imaterial e natural, são recursos educacionais importantes, permitem a aquisição de competências motivacionais, para qualquer área do currículo ou aproximam áreas aparentemente distantes no processo de ensino e cidadania. ABSTRACT: This thesis aims to contribute in the management and enhancement of Cultural - Heritage for the establishment of a strategy for recovery and enrichment of school curricula elementary Portuguese as a means to educate, preserve and disclose to the heritage of a country. ln this context emerged a research design that seem relevant and focused on teaching to make a case study, based on the feedback gathered from pupils of 1 primary school, a grouping of schools on the notion that their balance sheets. Understanding and appreciation of Heritage Education in a continuous process of discovery and learning are tasks that only the “School” can do, forming the individuals making them competent in this field of knowledge. Heritage objects, monuments, sites and historical centres, or intangible and natural heritage, are important educational resources, enable the motivational skills acquisition, to any area of the curriculum or assemble seemingly distant areas in education and citizenship.

Preeclampsia prevention: a case-control study nested in a cohort

Introduction: Preeclampsia is the main complication of pregnancy in developing countries. Calcium starting at 14 weeks of pregnancy is indicated to prevent the disease. Recent advances in prevention of preeclampsia endorse the addition of conjugated linoleic acid. Objective: To estimate the protective effect from calcium alone, compared to calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid in nulliparous women at risk of preeclampsia. Methods: A case-control design nested in the cohort of nulliparous women attending antenatal care from 2010 to 2014. The clinical histories of 387 cases of preeclampsia were compared with 1,054 normotensive controls. The exposure was prescriptions for calcium alone, the first period, or calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid, the second period, from 12 to 16 weeks of gestational age to labor. Confounding variables were controlled, allowing only nulliparous women into the study and stratifying by age, education and ethnic group. Results: The average age was 26.4 yrs old (range= 13-45), 85% from mixed ethnic backgrounds and with high school education. There were no differences between women who received calcium carbonate and those who did not (OR= 0.96; 95% CI= 0.73–1.27). The group of adolescents (13 to 18 yrs old) in the calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid was protected for preeclampsia (OR= 0.00; 95% CI= 0.00–0.44) independent of the confounder variables. Conclusions: 1. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy did not have preventive effects on preeclampsia. 2. Calcium plus Conjugated Linoleic acid provided to adolescents was observed to have preventive effect on Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia prevention: a case-control study nested in the cohort

Introduction: Preeclampsia is the main complication of pregnancy in developing countries. Calcium starting at 14 weeks of pregnancy is indicated to prevent the disease. Recent advances in prevention of preeclampsia endorse the addition of conjugated linoleic acid. Objective: To estimate the protective effect from calcium alone, compared to calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid in nulliparous women at risk of preeclampsia. Methods: A case-control design nested in the cohort of nulliparous women attending antenatal care from 2010 to 2014. The clinical histories of 387 cases of preeclampsia were compared with 1,054 normotensive controls. The exposure was prescriptions for calcium alone, the first period, or calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid, the second period, from 12 to 16 weeks of gestational age to labor. Confounding variables were controlled, allowing only nulliparous women into the study and stratifying by age, education and ethnic group. Results: The average age was 26.4 yrs old (range= 13-45), 85% from mixed ethnic backgrounds and with high school education. There were no differences between women who received calcium carbonate and those who did not (OR= 0.96; 95% IC= 0.73–1.27). The group of adolescents (13 to 18 yrs old) in the calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid was protected for preeclampsia (OR= 0.00; 95% CI= 0.00–0.44) independent of the confounder variables. Conclusions: 1. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy did not have preventive effects on preeclampsia. 2. Calcium plus Conjugated Linoleic acid provided to adolescents was observed to have preventive effect on Preeclampsia.

Developing a Process to Create and Validate an Instrument Assessing Student Attainment of Competencies at an Intercultural University in Mexico

This study took place at one of the intercultural universities (IUs) of Mexico that serve primarily indigenous students. The IUs are pioneers in higher education despite their numerous challenges (Bertely, 1998; Dietz, 2008; Pineda & Landorf, 2010; Schmelkes, 2009). To overcome educational inequalities among their students (Ahuja, Berumen, Casillas, Crispín, Delgado et al., 2004; Schmelkes, 2009), the IUs have embraced performance-based assessment (PBA; Casillas & Santini, 2006). PBA allows a shared model of power and control related to learning and evaluation (Anderson, 1998). While conducting a review on PBA strategies of the IUs, the researcher did not find a PBA instrument with valid and reliable estimates. The purpose of this study was to develop a process to create a PBA instrument, an analytic general rubric, with acceptable validity and reliability estimates to assess students’ attainment of competencies in one of the IU’s majors, Intercultural Development Management. The Human Capabilities Approach (HCA) was the theoretical framework and a sequential mixed method (Creswell, 2003; Teddlie & Tashakkori, 2009) was the research design. IU participants created a rubric during two focus groups, and seven Spanish-speaking professors in Mexico and the US piloted using students’ research projects. The evidence that demonstrates the attainment of competencies at the IU is a complex set of actual, potential and/or desired performances or achievements, also conceptualized as “functional capabilities” (FCs; Walker, 2008), that can be used to develop a rubric. Results indicate that the rubric’s validity and reliability estimates reached acceptable estimates of 80% agreement, surpassing minimum requirements (Newman, Newman, & Newman, 2011). Implications for practice involve the use of PBA within a formative assessment framework, and dynamic inclusion of constituencies. Recommendations for further research include introducing this study’s instrument-development process to other IUs, conducting parallel mixed design studies exploring the intersection between HCA and assessment, and conducting a case study exploring assessment in intercultural settings. Education articulated through the HCA empowers students (Unterhalter & Brighouse, 2007; Walker, 2008). This study aimed to contribute to the quality of student learning assessment at the IUs by providing a participatory process to develop a PBA instrument.

Epistemology, Theory, and Methodology in Knowledge Organization: Toward a Classification, Metatheory, and Research Framework

This paper proposes a preliminary classification of knowledge organization research, divided among epistemology, theory, and methodology plus three spheres of research: design, study, and critique. This work is situated in a metatheoretical framework, drawn from sociological thought. Example works are presented along with preliminary classification. The classification is then briefly described as a comparison tool which can be used to demonstrate overlap and divergence in cognate discourses of knowledge organization (such as ontology engineering).

Los mecanismos de influencia en el liderazgo: dos estudios de caso

Este trabajo investigativo busca aportar a la literatura sobre las tácticas de influencia en el liderazgo. Surge como una aplicación, a dos casos específicos, del proyecto de investigación “Los mecanismos de influencia en la relación de liderazgo”, desarrollado por el profesor Juan Javier Saavedra Mayorga e inscrito en la línea de investigación en Estudios Organizacionales del Grupo de Investigación en Dirección y Gerencia. La investigación tiene como objetivo fundamental identificar las tácticas de influencia que utilizan dos líderes organizacionales en su trato cotidiano con sus colaboradores, así como la reacción de estos últimos ante dichas tácticas. El proyecto parte de una revisión teórica sobre tres elementos: el liderazgo, la influencia y el poder, y las reacciones de los colaboradores frente a las tácticas de influencia utilizadas por el líder. La estrategia metodológica empleada es el estudio de caso. El trabajo de campo se desarrolló en dos organizaciones: Microscopios y Equipos Especiales S.A.S. y Tecniespectro S.A.S. La técnica de recolección de información es la entrevista semi estructurada, y el método de análisis de información es el análisis de contenido temático.