Information Society, Work and the Generation of New Forms of Social Exclusion (SOWING): National Report (Portugal)

The choice over the Portuguese case studies was based on the sample constructed for the application of the firm questionnaires, during the second year of the SOWING project, 1999. This sample was fulfilled of firms among several activity sectors: textile, manufacturing, electronics, transports and software industry, based on NACE – codes (2 – digit level). Thus, we agreed to include in a new database the remaining questionnaires and construct a sample with 113 observations. Concerning the organisational change we make a distinction of three categories of change. First we analyse changes taking place at the inter-firm level (outsourcing, subcontracting, geographic relocation), followed by changes at the organisational level (deconcentration/decentralisation, reduction of hierarchical levels, introduction of cost and profit centres). The third kind of changes analysed will be those taking place at the workplace level (job enlargement/enrichment, changing character of work, work load). The Portuguese studied companies presents a relative uniform pattern considering the variables social competencies, practical knowledge, responsibility and specialized professional qualifications.industry; information technologies; qualification; organisation; work

A Comparison Between Two-Dimensional and Three-DimensionalAnalysis, A Review of Horizontal Wood Diaphragms and a Case Study of the Structure Located at 89 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA

A two-dimensional structural analysis design approach has been the universally accepted method for a small structural engineering design firm. The tools to perform the analysis have been paper and pencil, calculators and more recently personal computers with two-dimensional software. With the introduction of three-dimensional software, a major shift is occurring on how small structural engineering firms approach analysis and design. This thesis research reviews the analysis of an existing building utilizing the standard two-dimensional approach, including horizontal diaphragm-action within wood floors. This study also reviews the research performed on horizontal diaphragms and investigates the use of three-dimensional, finite element modeling (RISA-3D) for the analysis of horizontal diaphragms. It is shown that the three-dimensional model can provide results similar to the two-dimensional hand calculations. However, the thickness of the diaphragm elements has to be significantly modified for flexible diaphragm action. The experience described herein is useful for structural engineer interfacing within three-dimensional CAD systems. The thesis concludes with a discussion on the challenges facing small structural engineering firms, including computer based technologies, engineering expertise to develop contract documents and review shop drawings, and outsourcing of design services

User Innovation in SMEs: Incidence and Transfer to Producers

The contribution of this paper is threefold. Firstly, we measure the incidence of user innovation in a broad sample of firms. Previous work has collected repeated evidence on the frequency of user innovation in a variety of industries and products, but so far its incidence has not been demonstrated in samples of larger business populations. Secondly, we assess if current innovation surveys adequately capture user innovation. Surveys such as the CIS (Community Innovation Survey) take a producer perspective and seem to overlook that in practice many innovation efforts are done by users to satisfy their process needs. Thirdly, we explore to what extent user innovations are transferred to producer firms. In doing so we assess if user innovation is marked by voluntary spillovers which is a strong argument to justify policies for user innovation. Drawing on survey data of 2 416 SMEs in the Netherlands, we find that 21% of all SMEs engage in user innovation, i.e. they develop and/or significantly modify existing techniques, equipment or software to satisfy their own process-related needs. We also find that user innovation is remains largely invisible in the current innovation surveys. Next, in a survey of technology-based small firms in the Netherlands we identified 364 specific user innovations. We found that users tend not to patent or protect their innovations, and that one out of four is transferred to producers. The data suggest a significant feedstock of voluntary knowledge spillovers from users to producer firms. We conclude that future innovation surveys should explicitly capture user innovation, and develop some recommendations to guide this effort. We also plea for more research on policies for user innovation.

Community Reclamation: the Hybrid Building

Reclamation of a city involves reusing abandoned buildings in conjunction with new construction. These negative spaces of disuse generated by a changing infrastructure are often overlooked or destroyed. If they are instead viewed as positive spaces for reuse, a city’s infrastructure and its residents can adapt and grow. Recognizing these newly positive spaces produces a chance to examine what social needs of the community are not being met. Pushing the modern concept of the hybrid building creates a unique opportunity; flexibility of use derived from flexibility of space. A community building can best serve the social needs of its residents by having the ability to adapt to changes in those needs

InSites, 2006

The Annual Newsletter of The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planninghttps://digitalcommons.usu.edu/insites/1006/thumbnail.jp