A Gap analysis methodology for the team software process

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informática e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Can entrepreneurship boost sustainable development in fragile countries?

Fragile countries pose an intricate challenge for governments and traditional aid approaches: they continue to struggle overtime with low resilience and vulnerability, and are now accounting for a growing share of the world’s poor. When every other method has failed, can entrepreneurship be the key ingredient for turnaround? For countries trapped in fragility, little has been researched or elaborated upon. We studied what current authors said about entrepreneurship and fragility, and which diagnoses could we take from the (short) available data. We ran a multiple linear regression that uses three World Bank Doing Business Indicators for “Starting a Business” – number of required procedures, cost and starting days- plus seven coded dummy variables accounting for years and type of country to predict the State Fragility Index (SFI from the Center for Systemic Peace). The data sample includes fragile countries, countries that managed to recover out of fragility, and low-income countries that have never experienced fragility for the years between 2004 and 2010. Along with this analysis we conducted several interviews with field experts in the subject. We discovered that according to the SFI there are 28 highly and extremely fragile countries, which have warily shown any progress in the past two decades. For these countries aid methods should focus on technical assistance rather than on financial, and in improving local capability and easing the business environment: in our regression we found that the SFI variability can be explained in 86% by the predictor variables, which led us to conclude that policy-making in fragile countries should definitely focus in easing entrepreneurial activity. We were successful in constructing a sequential process through which these entrepreneurial activities would lead to development in fragile settings with the help of a framework. To construct this framework we worked upon the findings from a model recently created, applying the principles of Expeditionary Economics for the specific case of Pakistan, by the Kauffman Foundation, whilst integrating the Entrepreneurship Framework Conditions from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, and the Entrepreneurship Model from Carre and Thurik (2002). From this research we draw one conclusion: is high-time both international bodies and governments regarded entrepreneurship as a key driver of sustainable development in fragile settings.Os países frágeis representam um desafio complexo para os governos e para os tradicionais modelos de ajuda externa: estes estados continuam a lutar com a sua condição de vulnerabilidade e pouca resiliência. Quando todas as abordagens têm falhado, será que o empreendedorismo pode constituir a chave para o problema? Pouca pesquisa tem sido realizada à luz deste tema. Nós estudámos o que a presente literatura cobre sobre empreendedorismo e fragilidade, e fomos ver que diagnósticos conseguiamos adiantar com os dados disponíveis. Fizémos uma regressão linear múltipla usando três indicadores do World Bank Doing Business Indicators da secção de “Starting a Business”- número de procedimentos, custos e tempo necessário para abrir um negócio-, mais sete variavéis dummy referentes aos anos e tipo de país, para prever o State Fragility Index (SFI do Center for Systemic Peace). A amostra incluiu países fragéis, países que conseguiram recuperar e países de baixo rendimento que nunca experienciaram fragilidade no período de tempo entre 2004 e 2010. A par deste exercício realizámos várias entrevistas com professionais cuja área se relaciona com o nosso tema. Descobrimos que existem actualmente 28 países fragéis (de acordo com o SFI) e que estes têm mostrado pouco ou nenhum progresso nas últimas duas décadas. Para estes países a ajuda externa deveria focar-se em assitência técnica em vez de dispensar apoio financeiro. Esta assistência deveria ter como prioridade o mellhoramento da capacidade governativa local assim como o facilitamento do clima empresarial: na nossa regressão encontrámos que a variabilidade do SFI podia ser explicada em 86% pelas variavéis independentes, o que nos ajudou a concluir que deveria haver uma atenção redobrada em facilitar actividades empreendedoras. Com sucesso conseguimos construir um processo sequencial através do qual o fenómeno de empreendedorismo pode levar ao desenvolvimento sustentável de países frag+eis, e fizémo-lo com a ajuda duma framework. Para desenhar esta framework recuperámos ensinamentos de três modelos: o do Kauffman Foundation desenvolvido para o caso do Paquistão, o do Global Entreprneeurship Monitor e o trabalhado por Carre e Thurik (2002). Desta nossa pesquisa e framework construída retiramos uma conclusão que consideramos basilar para os novos tipos de abordagem a países fragéis: grande parte da resposta para estes estados reside na capacidade que a força empreendedora da população tem de levar o país em frente

EDP Renewables equity valuation thesis

This dissertation valuates EDP Renewables, a subsidiary company from EDP, listed on PSI20, operating in the Utilities industry - renewables energies field. Due to the energy sector transformations, the continuous search for clean sources of power plus the plausible worldwide utilities industry transformation, becomes imperative to valuate companies that can be game changers. To achieve the value per share it was used the Discounted Cash Flow, both the Free Cash Flow to the Firm & the Free Cash Flow to Equity approaches, giving us an equity value of m7.569€ and m7.564€ respectively – this translates in an 8.68€ and 8.67€ price per share. Based on the Dividend Discount Model, the equity value is m7.555€ meaning a price per share of 8.66€. According with the Multiples EV/Revenue, EV/EBITDA and Price/CF per share, we reached prices of 8.19€, 8.88€ and 8.57€. A real option approach was also developed to quantify a recent investment project (wind farm) in the UK. Due to the uncertainty related with the industry and the markets, sensitivity analysis were incorporated into the model to absorb real life volatility. In the end, we reached a final price of 8.6€ per share and we recommend a buy action (actual price: 7.11€). As benchmark for the final price per share were used valuations from Morgan Staley (8.3€) and Haitong Bank (8.2€) which allowed us to conclude that the value reached in this thesis is in line with the opinion of others financial institutions and provides this dissertation with practical usefulness.Esta dissertação tem como missão avaliar financeiramente a empresa EDP Renováveis, subsidiária da EDP, S.A, listada no PSI20 que opera no mercado das energias renováveis. Devido às transformações do sector, à procura contínua de fontes de energia limpa e a uma plausível transformação do modelo de negócio das Utilities a nível mundial torna-se pertinente avaliar empresas que podem desempenhar um papel crucial nesta mudança. Para obter o valor por acção recorreu-se ao método de Discounted Cash Flow method, foram usados ambos o Free Cash Flow to the Firm e o Free Cash Flow to Equity que indicou um valor de m7.569€ e m7.564€ para o capital próprio o que se traduz num preço por acção de 8.68€ e 8.67€. Com base no modelo Dividend Discount Model o capital próprio é de m7.555€ e um preço por acção de 8.66€. Através dos múltiplos EV/Revenue, EV/EBITDA e Price/CF per share, os preços alcançados foram de 8.19€, 8.88€ e 8.57€ por acção. Foi ainda desenvolvido uma avaliação de um recente projeto de investimento (parque eólico) no UK com base em real options. Devido à incerteza inerente da indústria e dos próprios mercados financeiros foram também criados senários de sensibilidade para incorporar a volatilidade do mundo real. Em termos comparativos, foram revistas avaliações financeiras do Morgan Stanley (8.3€) e do Haitong Bank (8.2€) o que nos permite concluir que os valores alcançados nesta tese estão em harmonia com a opinião de bancos internacionais de investimento e caracteriza esta tese com utilidade prática

Management control systems : a case study on a portuguese law firm

The present study was carried out as part of the curricular internship in the management control department in a law firm in Portugal, between September 2021 and February 2022. This study aims to analyse which management control tools are most used in the legal practice in Portugal. The legal industry in Portugal is very institutionalised and has undergone little external change, limiting the space for innovation. However, this panorama has experienced some changes (S. S. Samuelson, 1989). Through a qualitative case study of the legal industry in Portugal, this paper shows how management control systems have been adapted, through digital tools and artificial intelligence, putting the dominant logic under threat. Through a questionnaire conducted by the ROOX company that characterises the legal industry in Portugal, it is possible to conclude that law firms do not use the potential of Business Process Management and Business Intelligence in their management performance, although there is an awareness for their use. This work contrasts the conservative vision of law firms with innovative practices that the firm under study has been adapting. Consequently, this work contributes to our understanding of digital innovation and digital transformation within highly institutional industries, as well as the interaction between the enterprise resource planning system and the management control system leading to an improvement in firm performance.O presente estudo foi realizado no âmbito do estágio curricular no departamento de controlo de gestão numa empresa de advocacia em Portugal, entre setembro de 2021 a fevereiro de 2022. Este estudo visa analisar quais as ferramentas de controlo de gestão mais utilizadas na advocacia em Portugal. A indústria jurídica em Portugal está muito institucionalizada e tem sofrido poucas mudanças externas, limitando o espaço para inovação. Contudo, este panorama tem experienciado algumas alterações (S. S. Samuelson, 1989). Através de um estudo de caso qualitativo da indústria jurídica em Portugal, este trabalho apresenta como os sistemas de controlo de gestão têm sido adaptados, através de ferramentas digitais e de inteligência artificial, colocando a lógica dominante sob ameaça. Através de um questionário realizado pela empresa ROOX que caracteriza a indústria jurídica em Portugal, é possível concluir que os escritórios não usam o potencial do BPM e BI na sua performance de gestão, embora haja uma consciencialização para a sua utilização. Este trabalho contrasta a visão conservadora dos escritórios de advocacia com práticas inovadoras que a empresa em estudo tem vindo a adaptar. Consequentemente, este trabalho contribui para a nossa compreensão da inovação digital e da transformação digital no seio de indústrias altamente institucionais, bem como a interação entre o sistema de planeamento de recursos empresariais e o sistema de controlo de gestão, levando a uma melhoria do desempenho da empresa

A fase de deformação sarda na Zona Centro-Ibérica

Ao longo da Zona Centro-Ibérica a transição entre as sequências de idade Câmbrica e as sequências ordovícicas sobrejacentes evidencia sempre a actuação da fase Sarda s.l. No entanto, a forma como se manifesta esta deformação de idade pré- Quartzito Armoricano é bastante heterogénea: na generalidade dos casos apenas se evidencia através de um nível erosivo significativo que marca uma disconformidade, enquanto noutros corresponde a uma discordância de alto ângulo, onde por vezes chega a ocorrer inversão da polaridade. Estas relações que são encontradas em toda a Zona Centro-Ibérica sugerem que a fase Sarda s.l. terá correspondido a um episódio de inversão transiente no processo extensivo que afectou o bordo da Gondwana durante grande parte do Paleozóico inferior

Oral health-related quality of life of Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disabilities

Individuals with disabilities are regarded as a highly vulnerable population group, particularly as far as oral health is concern. However, few studies have assessed the impact of the oral condition on the quality of life of these individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to expand knowledge on the oral health status of the Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disability, and to assess how the patient’s oral health is related to their quality of life. A sample of 240 adults with mild intellectual disabilities linked to the Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disability, were interviewed using a previously validated version of the Oral Health Impact Profile. An oral health examination was also conducted using three oral health indexes: Clinical Oral Health Index (COHI); Clinical Oral Care Needs Index (COCNI) and the Clinical Oral Prevention Index (COPI). Sociodemographic characteristics and dental health factors were also collected, following statistical analysis. More than half of the individuals (54,9%) presented one or more problems of major to severe impact on health (COHI level 2); only 4,6% of the individuals do not need treatment or examination (COCNI level 0) and 85% of the study sample needs measures of educational or preventive action (COPI level 1). In 76,9% of the participants, oral health had impact on the quality of life. The most affected dimensions of life were physical pain with 61,9%, followed by psychological discomfort and psychological disability with 45,1% and 45%, respectively. With relation to oral health factors and sociodemographic variables it was verified that fewer teeth and higher self-perception of need for dental treatment had a negative impact on the quality of life. On the other hand, institutionalization and an increase in at least one category in the self-perception of the oral health status had a positive impact on the quality of life. Given the high burden of oral disease and the considerable impact on quality of life found in this study, the establishment of guidelines to improve the oral health and quality of life of these individuals should be regarded as imperative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validation of a Portuguese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile adapted to people with mild intellectual disabilities (OHIP-14-MID-PT)

Background The purpose of this study is to develop a Portuguese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and validate it for people with mild intellectual disability (OHIP-14-MID-PT). Methods The Portuguese version of the questionnaire was drawn up from the original English version, following internationally defined guidelines. Interviews were conducted with 240 individuals living in (or attending) institutions of the central region of Portugal that are affiliated with Humanitas (Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disability) to measure oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). The interview also included a sociodemographic and oral health questionnaire followed by an intraoral examination. Two types of reliability were analyzed: test-retest (ICC) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α, inter-item and item-total correlations). Convergent and divergent validities were also assessed, and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the maximum likelihood method. Results The OHIP-14-MID-PT presented high reliability (ICC = 0.999; Cronbach’s α = 0.922). The inter-item correlation coefficient ranged from 0.277 to 0.749, and the item-total correlation coefficient varied between 0.529 and 0.718. Lower OHIP-14-MID-PT total scores were significantly associated with: a self-perception of better oral health status (r = -0.545, p<0,001) and reduced need for dental treatment (U = 2366.5, p<0,001), more natural teeth (χ2 = 29.74, p<0,001) and better results in the clinical oral health index (COHI) (χ2 = 18.50, p<0,001); the results support the convergent and divergent validities of the questionnaire. Conclusions OHIP-14-MID-PT has proved to be a consistent, valid and reliable instrument with good psychometric properties to determine the impact of oral health on quality of life in adults with mild intellectual disabilities in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Food and beverage collaboration patterns: a systematic literature review

This paper provides a “state of the art” view of the literature about food and beverage collaboration and pinpoints to new research fields related to collaboration in the Food and Beverage industry. Using a systematic literature review methodology, we identify and summarize the published evidence on collaboration in the Food and Beverage industry and thus synthesize previous work to strengthen the topic of collaboration in the Food and Beverage industry. A total of 228 topic-related articles were retrieved from the databases Scopus and Web of Science. After validation, 46 articles were identified as relevant, accessed and reviewed to understand the significance and the critical role played by collaboration, interaction and partnership among the university, industry and the government. Results indicate that the challenges and problems experienced in the food industry can be addressed through innovation and technological advancement. To achieve open innovation there are key players who must come together and facilitate the entire process. The industry, the university, the government and the consumer need to collaborate to yield positive outcomes. This indicates the significance of collaboration to facilitate open innovation.publishe