A general framework for Business Process Modelling (BPM) based on Formal Temporal Theory with an application to Hospital Patient flows

Existing Workflow Management Systems (WFMSs) follow a pragmatic approach. They often use a proprietary modelling language with an intuitive graphical layout. However the underlying semantics lack a formal foundation. As a consequence, analysis issues, such as proving correctness i.e. soundness and completeness, and reliable execution are not supported at design level. This project will be using an applied ontology approach by formally defining key terms such as process, sub-process, action/task based on formal temporal theory. Current business process modelling (BPM) standards such as Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) and Unified Modelling Language (UML) Activity Diagram (AD) model their constructs with no logical basis. This investigation will contribute to the research and industry by providing a framework that will provide grounding for BPM to reason and represent a correct business process (BP). This is missing in the current BPM domain, and may result in reduction of the design costs and avert the burden of redundant terms used by the current standards. A graphical tool will be introduced which will implement the formal ontology defined in the framework. This new tool can be used both as a modelling tool and at the same time will serve the purpose of validating the model. This research will also fill the existing gap by providing a unified graphical representation to represent a BP in a logically consistent manner for the mainstream modelling standards in the fields of business and IT. A case study will be conducted to analyse a catalogue of existing ���patient pathways��� i.e. processes, of King���s College Hospital NHS Trust including current performance statistics. Following the application of the framework, a mapping will be conducted, and new performance statistics will be collected. A cost/benefits analysis report will be produced comparing the results of the two approaches.

Learning business strategies for competitive electronic marketplaces

This paper presents a Multi-Agent Market simulator designed for developing new agent market strategies based on a complete understanding of buyer and seller behaviors, preference models and pricing algorithms, considering user risk preferences and game theory for scenario analysis. This tool studies negotiations based on different market mechanisms and, time and behavior dependent strategies. The results of the negotiations between agents are analyzed by data mining algorithms in order to extract rules that give agents feedback to improve their strategies. The system also includes agents that are capable of improving their performance with their own experience, by adapting to the market conditions, and capable of considering other agent reactions.

Business micro-location: factors, preferences and indicators to assess the influence factors

The paper presents a study on business micro-location behaviour as well as corresponding factors of in���uence, conducted in two metropolitan areas, Bucharest-Ilfov (Romania) and Greater Porto (Portugal). By business micro-location we refer to a speci���c site such as a building or facility, accommodating a business within a small, compact geographical area (e.g. metropolitan area). At this geographical scale, the macroeconomic layer factors were excluded, applicable when discern between regions or countries. The factors derived from location theory and previous empirical studies were surveyed, completing a cross-sectional analysis in order to ���nd out the speci���c weights of the location factors and preferences, by region and by industry. Based on already established ���rms��� feedback on location, the speci���c weights were granted by each industry to the main location factors, types of areas, and types of accommodation facilities. The authors also suggested a model to integrate these results into a Geographical Information System (GIS).

Dados de reconhecimento facial em Business Intelligence

Vivemos cada vez mais numa era de crescentes avan��os tecnol��gicos em diversas ��reas. O que h�� uns anos atr��s era considerado como praticamente imposs��vel, em muitos dos casos, j�� se tornou realidade. Todos usamos tecnologias como, por exemplo, a Internet, Smartphones e GPSs de uma forma natural. Esta prolifera����o da tecnologia permitiu tanto ao cidad��o comum como a organiza����es a sua utiliza����o de uma forma cada vez mais criativa e simples de utilizar. Al��m disso, a cada dia que passa surgem novos neg��cios e startups, o que demonstra o dinamismo que este crescimento veio trazer para a ind��stria. A presente disserta����o incide sobre duas ��reas em forte crescimento: Reconhecimento Facial e Business Intelligence (BI), assim como a respetiva combina����o das duas com o objetivo de ser criado um novo m��dulo para um produto j�� existente. Tratando-se de duas ��reas distintas, �� primeiramente feito um estudo sobre cada uma delas. A ��rea de Business Intelligence �� vocacionada para organiza����es e trata da recolha de informa����o sobre o neg��cio de determinada empresa, seguindo-se de uma posterior an��lise. A grande finalidade da ��rea de Business Intelligence �� servir como forma de apoio ao processo de tomada de decis��o por parte dos analistas e gestores destas organiza����es. O Reconhecimento Facial, por sua vez, encontra-se mais presente na sociedade. Tendo surgido no passado atrav��s da fic����o cient��fica, cada vez mais empresas implementam esta tecnologia que tem evolu��do ao longo dos anos, chegando mesmo a ser usada pelo consumidor final, como por exemplo em Smartphones. As suas aplica����es s��o, portanto, bastante diversas, desde solu����es de seguran��a at�� simples entretenimento. Para estas duas ��reas ser�� assim feito um estudo com base numa pesquisa de publica����es de autores da respetiva ��rea. Desde os cen��rios de utiliza����o, at�� aspetos mais espec��ficos de cada uma destas ��reas, ser�� assim transmitido este conhecimento para o leitor, o que permitir�� uma maior compreens��o por parte deste nos aspetos relativos ao desenvolvimento da solu����o. Com o estudo destas duas ��reas efetuado, �� ent��o feita uma contextualiza����o do problema em rela����o �� ��rea de atua����o da empresa e quais as abordagens poss��veis. �� tamb��m descrito todo o processo de an��lise e conce����o, assim como o pr��prio desenvolvimento numa vertente mais t��cnica da solu����o implementada. Por fim, s��o apresentados alguns exemplos de resultados obtidos j�� ap��s a implementa����o da solu����o.

Estudo e integra����o de business models e a sua aplica����o em smart-ups e projetos portugueses

Disserta����o apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administra����o do Porto para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Gest��o das Organiza����es, Ramo Gest��o de Empresas Orientador: Professor Doutor Eduardo Manuel Lopes de S�� e Silva Co-orientador: Mestre Maria de F��tima Mendes Monteiro

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.

BIWiki - Using a Business Intelligence Wiki to Form a Virtual Community of Practice for Portuguese Master's Students

Web 2.0 software in general and wikis in particular have been receiving growing attention as they constitute new and powerful tools, capable of supporting information sharing, creation of knowledge and a wide range of collaborative processes and learning activities. This paper introduces briefly some of the new opportunities made possible by Web 2.0 or the social Internet, focusing on those offered by the use of wikis as learning spaces. A wiki allows documents to be created, edited and shared on a group basis; it has a very easy and efficient markup language, using a simple Web browser. One of the most important characteristics of wiki technology is the ease with which pages are created and edited. The facility for wiki content to be edited by its users means that its pages and structure form a dynamic entity, in permanent evolution, where users can insert new ideas, supplement previously existing information and correct errors and typos in a document at any time, up to the agreed final version. This paper explores wikis as a collaborative learning and knowledge-building space and its potential for supporting Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoPs). In the academic years (2007/8 and 2008/9), students of the Business Intelligence module at the Master's programme of studies on Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence at Instituto Superior de Estatistica e Gestao de Informacao of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, have been actively involved in the creation of BIWiki - a wiki for Business Intelligence in the Portuguese language. Based on usage patterns and feedback from students participating in this experience, some conclusions are drawn regarding the potential of this technology to support the emergence of VCoPs; some provisional suggestions will be made regarding the use of wikis to support information sharing, knowledge creation and transfer and collaborative learning in Higher Education.

Comunica����o Externa em Business-to-Business

Esta vers��o n��o cont��m as cr��ticas e sugest��es dos elementos do j��ri

How bank business models relate with risk?: The case of Portugal in times of financial crisis

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

Consulting to social entrepreneurship initiatives - using business skills to help solve social problems: ERG: A sustainable approach

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

Tax policy stance over the business cycle: evidence from Europe

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

Business plan analysis of a Brazilian software company

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

Business plan for the brand My Tea Break

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

Business development in Siemens global shared services delivery center Portugal

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

How to potentiate the business model of Mobitto for B2B?

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