Força de gestão de recursos humanos: exploração teórica e validação empírica no setor hoteleiro

A Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos coloca a tónica na forma como o sistema de GRH é crítico para a eficácia organizacional. Apesar dos estudos teóricos e empíricos sobre o potencial da GRH no aumento do desempenho e eficácia das organizações, ainda há uma significativa falta de conhecimento no que respeita ao funcionamento dessa associação. Atendendo a esta problemática, Bowen e Ostroff (2004) introduziram o conceito de sistemas de GRH fortes. Estes sistemas comunicam mensagens claras e não ambíguas sobre o conteúdo da GRH, que orientam o comportamento dos colaboradores para o alcance dos objetivos organizacionais. São propostos nove atributos, agrupados em três clusters: distintividade, consistência e consenso. Com base em entrevistas semiestruturadas a diretores de recursos humanos de sete grandes cadeias hoteleiras situadas em Portugal, analisou-se a forma como estas empresas encaram a GRH, mais especificamente se nestas empresas a GRH pode ser considerada forte. Os dados foram comparados com as proposições teóricas de Bowen e Ostroff (2004), e verificou-se que dos nove atributos propostos pelos autores, apenas alguns têm apoio empírico. Os atributos que menos se evidenciam são: compreensibilidade, validade, e justiça. Conclui-se que estas empresas ainda têm um papel importante a desenvolver sobretudo no que respeita a estes aspetos menos valorizados.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development and validation of an instrument measuring the strength of the human resource management system

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cidades educadoras: do conceito ao potencial solidário na prevenção dos maus-tratos na infância

Observamos hoje um mundo global, em constante mudança, onde as políticas sociais vão determinando as dinâmicas das sociedades ao mesmo tempo que procuram responder aos desafios colocados pela permanente instabilidade social. Enquanto o estado de direito social revela uma preocupação crescente com o investimento em políticas do bem-estar dos seus cidadãos a cidade assume, enquanto espaço onde os homens convivem e interagem, importância crescente na resposta consciente ao desenvolvimento integral dos indivíduos que nela habitam providenciando o bem-estar individual e colectivo. Se a cidade é educadora e tem por principal objectivo o bem-estar dos seus membros, então a cidade tem de educar os seus habitantes no sentido da co-responsabilização pelo bem-estar de todos. Mas afinal, quais as características destas cidades? Como respondem à necessidade de criar condições adequadas para um crescimento saudável das crianças e dos seus responsáveis, no sentido de fomentar o bem-estar e prevenir os maus-tratos? Quem são os agentes educativos? Neste contexto, propomo-nos responder a estas questões abordando o conceito de Cidade Educadora e analisando o seu potencial solidário ao serviço da prevenção dos maus-tratos a crianças

Developing and validating a measure of the strength of the HRM system: Operationalizing the construct and relationships among its dimensions

The four studies in this article introduce a questionnaire to measure Strength of the HRM System (HRMSQ), a multidimensional construct, theoretically developed by Bowen and Ostroff (2004). Strength of the HRM System is a set of process characteristics that lead to effectiveness in conveying signals to employees that allow them to create a shared meaning of desired and appropriate work behaviours. Nine characteristics are suggested, grouped in three features: Distinctiveness, Consistency and Consensus. Study 1 developed and tested a questionnaire in a sample of workers from five different sectors. Study 2 cross-validated the measure in a sample of civil servants in a municipality. These two studies used performance appraisal as the reference HRM practice and led to a short version of the HRMSQ. Study 3 and Study 4 extend the HRMSQ to several common HRM practices. The HRMSQ is tested in two samples, of call center and several private and public organizations‟ workers (study 3). In study 4 the questionnaire is refined and tested with a sample from a hotel chain and finally cross-validated with two other samples, in the insurance and batteries sectors, leading to a longer version of the HRMSQ. Content analysis of several interviews with human resource managers and the Rasch model (1960, 1961, 1980), were used to define and select the indicators of the questionnaire. Convergent, discriminant and predictive validity of the measure are tested. The results of the four studies highlight the complexity of the relationships between the proposed characteristics and support the validity of a parsimonious measure of Strength of the HRM System.Research grant by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Strength of the HRM system: the development of a measure

Purpose: The aim of this study is to operationalize the construct Strength of the HRM System theoretically defined by Bowen and Ostroff (2004) as a set of process metafeatures to convey signals to employees about desired and appropriate work behaviors, as well as to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure it, the HRMSQ. Design/methodology/approach: Three studies contribute to this purpose. In the first study we develop a questionnaire and test it with employees from several organizations. In the second study we applied the refined questionnaire in a sample of employees from a large company, and assessed different types of validity. The final study replicated results from the second study. Findings: Psychometric properties reveal good internal consistency reliability, item reliability and construct reliability, as well as convergent and discriminant validity. Pratical implications: Results indicate that the HRMSQ can be used in the study of HR strategy and for HR manager. Originaly/value: The HRMSQ is a friendly instrument that can help HR practitioners to assess whether the HRM system is unambiguously perceived by employees, and identify possible problem areas in terms of the implementation process. It also contributes to research in the strategic HRM field by operationalizing a construct that is likely to improve the understanding of the link between the HRM System and organizational performance.Peer Reviewe

Impact of a virtual reality-based simulation on empathy and attitudes toward Schizophrenia

Virtual Reality (VR) has been identified as one of the most promising resources for developing empathy towards stigmatized groups as it allows individuals to experience a situation close to reality from another person’s perspective. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the impact on empathy, knowledge, and attitudes towards people with schizophrenia of a VR simulation that reproduces the experience of psychotic symptoms while performing a cognitive task compared with watching a 2D video and, thus, how these experiences could reduce stigma towards people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The sample comprised of 102 higher education health students, distributed by the experimental and control groups. The impact of the program was measured by completing multiple questionnaires on levels of empathy, attitudes, and mental health knowledge. Both methods (VR and 2D video) were, to a certain extent, effective. However, VR was more effective at eliciting attitudes and knowledge change compared to the control group. These findings suggest that not only VR but also 2D videos could be interesting strategies to enhance empathy and improve attitudes towards people with schizophrenia in higher education health students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Deficit irrigation strategies in olive orchards: influence on fruit quality

In order to overcome constrains that affect olive groves and its socioeconomic value, new cropping practices focusing on water use efficiency were investigated. The study was conducted in Northeast Portugal and different deficit irrigation strategies (DIS) were investigated: regulated (RDI, 10% ETc during pit hardening and 80% ETc in the remaining stages), sustained (SDI, 27.5% ETc), sustained usually applied by farmer (SDIAF, 21.2% ETc) and fully irrigated (FI, 100% ETc), as control treatment. The fruit metabolites fluctuations and quality parameters were evaluated. Using FI as reference, DIS treatments led to changes in the secondary metabolism in fruits with increased total phenolic compounds (+11% in SDIAF), ortho-diphenols (+25 in SDI and +44% in SDIAF), and flavonoids (+29% in RDI, +26% in SDI, +91% in SDIAF) concentrations, and higher total antioxidant capacity (+41% in SDI). DIS treatments influenced the profile of olive fruit phenolics with changes in oleuropein (-55% in SDIAF), chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3,4‟-di-O-glucoside (non-detected in FI), eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside (+64% in RDI and +95% in SDI), and procyanidin A2 (+59% in RDI and -59% in SDIAF). Olive fruits from DIS treatments also showed higher fat content (22, 29 and 24 % in RDI, SDI and SDIAF, respectively). Fruits from RDI and SDI presented lower palmitoleic and linolenic acids, while no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. When subject to a puncture test in a texture analyser, all DIS fruits presented higher peel break force than FI control. This work show that DIS are essential for sustainable olive growing, as they do not compromise the competitiveness of the sector in terms of olive production and associated quality parameters.This work was funded by the INTERACT project – “Integrative Research in Environment, Agro- Chains and Technology”, no. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000017, in its line of research entitled ISAC, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (North Regional Operational Program 2014/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Olive tree physiology and chemical composition of fruits are modulated by different deficit irrigation strategies

To overcome constrains affecting olive groves, cropping practices focusing on agronomic water use efficiency and their impact on quality parameters must be investigated. We evaluated the response of olive trees (Olea europaea, cv. Cobrançosa) to different water regimes, full irrigation (FI, 100% ETc) and three deficit irrigation strategies (DIS) (regulated (RDI, irrigated with 80% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) in phases I and III of fruit growth and 10% of ETc in the pit hardening stage) and two continuous sustained strategies (SDI), a conventional SDI (27.5% of ETc), and a lowfrequency irrigation adopted by the farmer (SDIAF, 21.2% of ETc). RESULTS The effects of water regimes on the plant water status, photosynthetic performance, metabolites fluctuations and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. All DIS treatments enhanced leaf tissue density, RDI and SDI generally did not affect leaf water status and maintained photosynthetic machinery working properly, while SDIAF treatment impaired olive tree physiological indicators. DIS treatments maintained the levels of primary metabolites in leaves, but SDIAF plants showed signs of oxidative stress. Moreover, DIS treatments led to changes in the secondary metabolism, both in leaves and in fruits, with increased total phenolic compounds, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids concentrations, and higher total antioxidant capacity, as well higher oil content. Phenolic profiles showed the relevance of an early harvest in order to obtain higher oleuropein levels with associated higher health benefits. CONCLUSION Adequate DIS are essential for sustainable olive growing, as they enhance the competitiveness of the sector in terms of olive production and associated quality parameters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in Two Natural Conservation Centers of Wildlife in Portugal: Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization

This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology.Human–wildlife coexistence may increase the potential risk of direct transmission of emergent or re-emergent zoonotic pathogens to humans. Intending to assess the occurrence of three important foodborne pathogens in wild animals of two wildlife conservation centers in Portugal, we investigated 132 fecal samples for the presence of Escherichia coli (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and non-STEC), Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. A genotypic search for genes having virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was performed by means of PCR and Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic (serotyping and AMR profiles) characterization. Overall, 62 samples tested positive for at least one of these species: 27.3% for STEC, 11.4% for non-STEC, 3.0% for Salmonella spp. and 6.8% for Campylobacter spp. AMR was detected in four E. coli isolates and the only Campylobacter coli isolated in this study. WGS analysis revealed that 57.7% (30/52) of pathogenic E. coli integrated genetic clusters of highly closely related isolates (often involving different animal species), supporting the circulation and transmission of different pathogenic E. coli strains in the studied areas. These results support the idea that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected, reinforcing the importance of a One Health approach to better monitor and control public health threats.This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 773830: One Health European Joint Pro- gramme, as part of the DiSCoVeR project (Discovering the sources of Salmonella, Campylobacter, VTEC and Antimicrobial Resistance). S.R., R.C. and V.M. were beneficiaries of fellowships from the same Programme on behalf of ADONIS (S.R.), FedAMR (R.C.) and BeOne (V.M) projects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio