ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems: Critical Analysis of Literature Review

Purpose and Methodology/Approach: This paper follows a previous one focused on a bibliographic review of motivations, benefits and difficulties in implementing quality management systems (QMS) based on ISO 9001 standard (Saraiva et al, 2017). Controversial, conflicting and even contradictory, and/or non-consensual findings in same or different countries have suggested other dimensions were lacking. So, a further and critical analysis was deepened in order to identify possible flaws in dimensions of analysis and in methodological issues, which is the scope of this paper. Findings: Many research works were based on perceptions/opinions (eg. motivations, benefits, difficulties) and tangible results were missing, being conclusions built only on qualitative data. Quantitative data were not used to objectivize and validated qualitative findings. Physical or economic indicators rarely were presented. Researchers may not have asked for quantitative data or even ignore these aspects of organizational reality, or the organizations also do not have this type of data. It is hard to corroborate statements (from company’s managers) or findings (from researchers) without other objective evidences (examples are: motivations influence the QMS performance; cost reduction is a benefit; the biggest difficulties in implementation/certification of QMS are the excessive and complex (bureaucratic) documentation, the weak commitment to quality by management and staff, the high cost/scarce resources and the time spent with the additional tasks for the implementation process; organizations operating an ISO 9001 QMS show a better performance). Another matters such as the relative size of the certification phenomenon in each country or region and their economic and social development were generally unknown or were not taken into account. These contextual factors can distort findings. The scientific affiliation of researchers (eg. Industrial engineering, Management, Sociology, Organizational psychology) may also have implications for the research perspective and aspects that are privileged in analysis and conclusions. Research Limitation/implication: Additionally, other methodological issues can also be related to data collection instruments (eg. questionnaires to collect perceptions/opinions) are not the most appropriate for achieving some desired information or data processing does not validate conclusions. Thus, we will take into account in our future research these limitations we have identified in this one and strongly recommend to other researchers our conclusions. Originality/Value of paper:These reflections and findings suggest further and deeper work for research in QMS and other related topics, looking for those dimensions already identified as missing, and/or considering more dimensions, bearing in mind concerns that quality movement is losing popularity, because it does not appear to managers consistently with quantitative data proving contributions of quality to increase productivity and competitiveness. Finally, we raise methodological questions about research on these topics, and other dimensions of analysis are recommended

Water Planning In Alcobaça Cistercian Lands / O Ordenamento Hidráulico no Território Cisterciense de Alcobaça

This paper concerns the main domain (coutos) of the Cistercian Abbey of Alcobaça (central Portugal), founded in 1153. It shows the involvement of the monks in shaping hydraulic landscapes along time. This monastic territory is limited westwards by the Atlantic ocean with a cliff coast indented by two large gulfs, the former Pederneira and Alfeizerão lagoons, sanded up presently. These landscapes have been consolidated along with the monks’ intervention in the hydrographic plan, particularly through a network of canals, the types of which can be summarized as follows: canals for water conveyance and evacuation, to and from the abbey buildings; canals related with water-powered engines as grain-, oil-, saw- and fulling-mills, forges and other industrial devices; canals consequent to the diversion of rivers and streams with two main purposes: to drain the fields in order to improve the marshes for agricultural use, and to irrigate cultures

The Alcobaça Abbey hydraulic landscape

Introduction: This paper concerns the main domain (“coutos”) of Alcobaça Abbey (central Portugal), founded in 1153. It shows the involvement of the Cistercian monks in shaping hydraulic landscapes along time. This monastic territory is limited westwards by the Atlantic ocean with a cliff coast indented by two large gulfs, the Pederneira lagoon, north , totally sanded up nowadays, and the Alfeizerão lagoon, south, of which only the São Martinho bay still exists. These landscapes have been consolidated along with the monks’ intervention in the hydrographic plan, particularly through a network of canals, the types of which can be summarized as follows: - canals for water conveyance and evacuation, to and from the abbey buildings; - canals related with water-powered engines as grain-, oil-, saw- and fulling-mills, forges and other industrial devices; - canals consequent to the diversion of rivers and streams with two main purposes: . to drain the fields in order to improve the marshes for agricultural use; . to irrigate cultures. Method: The hydraulic landscape planning has been identified and characterized through documentary research, stereoscopic interpretation of panchromatic and infrared “false colour” vertical aerial photographs, and land surveys. Findings / discussion: Flood control seems to have been one of the main hydro technical concern of the Cistercians. Their strategy was to subdivide some hydrographic basins, so that the fields would not be flooded. This was observed in the fields of the ancient Pederneira lagoon, for which an important cartography is available. But the same strategy was probably applied in the Alfeizerão fields. Besides the canals which were analyzed, other canal networks existed but it has not been possible to identify them till now because of the soil erosion or the topographic transformations together with the documental lack of knowledge. The more blatant situation concerns the old Valdeventos monastic farm, at the eastern limit of the “coutos”, where was found a large water storage structure, a tank, presumably to supply an irrigation canal network. Conclusion: Between the early 12th century and the mid 18th century, the Cistercian monks of the Alcobaça Abbey conceived and set in their “coutos” a hydraulic landscape composed by a network of canals with different purposes, and other water devices. This waterscape presents a high heritage value and deserves to be protected and developed.UID/HIS/00057/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007702

How to use social media to promote portuguese soccer club benfica: social media communication plan season 2013/2014

Classificação: M31,L83O principal objetivo desta Tese é estudar como usar a internet e, mais especificamente, as plataformas de Social Media, para promover o clube de futebol “Sport Lisboa e Benfica”, elaborando um Plano de Comunicação de Social Media para a época 2013/2014, de modo a melhorar a comunicação online feita atualmente pelo Benfica. Estas plataformas de Social Media proporcionam uma excelente oportunidade para os clubes de futebol promoverem os seus produtos/serviços e para manterem uma relação permanente com os seus adeptos. Comparativamente com outros tipos de Media como a televisão, estas plataformas apresentam várias vantagens: são gratuitos, fáceis de usar, estão em permanente evolução e desenvolvimento e permitem comunicar em tempo real com utilizadores em todo mundo. Inicialmente foi feita uma análise teórica sobre três grandes temas fundamentais à realização deste trabalho: Marketing Desportivo, Internet e Social Media e Desporto na Internet. Depois, foi realizada uma análise sobre a comunicação feita atualmente pelo Benfica nestas plataformas e um questionário para perceber a opinião dos adeptos sobre o que está a ser feito pelo Benfica nessa área. Finalmente foi elaborado um novo Plano de Comunicação de Social Media com um conjunto de ações que visam otimizar a comunicação com os adeptos nestas plataformas no futuro. Com a realização desta Tese foi detetado que, apesar de o Benfica já estar presente nestas plataformas de Social Media, há ainda vários fatores que podem ser melhorados de modo a otimizar a sua comunicação e a sua relação com os adeptos.The main objective of this Thesis is to study how to use internet and, more specifically, Social Media Platforms to promote “Sport Lisboa e Benfica” soccer club, elaborating a Social Media Communication Plan for the season 2013/2014, in order to improve the online communication made presently by Benfica. These Social Media platforms provide an excellent opportunity for soccer clubs to promote their products/services and to maintain an ongoing relationship with their fans. Compared with other types of media like television, these platforms have several advantages: they are free, easy to use, are in constant evolution and development and allow communicating in real time with users around the world. Initially, it was made a theoretical analysis on three essential subjects for this work: Sports Marketing, Internet and Social Media and Sports in the Web. Then, it was performed an analysis about the communication made today by Benfica on these platforms and a questionnaire to understand the views of fans about what is being done in this area by Benfica. Finally it was designed a new Social Media Communication Plan with a set of actions that aim to optimize the communication with fans on these platforms in the future. With the elaboration of this thesis it has been detected that, although Benfica is already present on these Social Media platforms, there are still several factors that can be improved in order to optimize its communication and its relationship with the fans

Bioclimatic solutions in vernacular architecture: transition spaces

The traditional architecture is founded as a defining element of the identity of a region, and its essence should be preserved and conserved by means of maintenance and recovery actions. Thus, the best solutions and proposals for intervention should be looked for but this doesn’t imply a back to back innovation and at construction progress. This work includes the description of techniques for maintenance and conservation of bioclimatic solutions found and inventoried in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, with special focus on a unique bioclimatic solution known as Transition Spaces (from the interior to the exterior of the buildings and vice-versa), whose main purpose is to ensure protection from the elements when entering or exiting buildings, to contribute to the improvement of the buildings thermal performance and to create sheltered interior/exterior living spaces. This architectural characteristic is based on the building’s solar exposure, predominant winds and geographical and topographic conditions. It is important to recover the historical heritage in a sustainable manner, allowing it to become an engine of development for both urban and small rural centres that exist in the periphery of the bigger cities

Bioclimatic solutions existing in vernacular architecture - geothermal climatization

The traditional architecture is founded as a defining element of the identity of a region, and its essence should be preserved and conserved by means of maintenance and recovery actions. Thus, the best solutions and proposals for intervention should be looked for but this doesn’t imply a back to back on both innovation and construction progress. This work is part of the BIOURB project, a cross-border project between Portugal and Spain, which intended to contribute to the change of the current constructive model towards a more sustainable bioclimatic model, both environmentally and economically, reducing buildings energy consumption and raising the value of bioclimatic heritage along the border region. This paper includes the description of a series of tasks in order to perform buildings maintenance and rehabilitation, dignifying the built heritage and enhancing the use of traditional materials and techniques, with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. It is intended to provide a set of relevant information for those who have the responsibility or the concern to extend the life of buildings and disclose among users, current and potential, good and bad, options for the conservation and rehabilitation as well as anomalies that currently affect buildings. Geothermal climatization is one of the eight bioclimatic solutions identified using renewable energies. This climatization system takes advantage of the thermal characteristics of the in depth ground which presents constant temperatures throughout the year (also, temperature increases with depth). These steady temperatures are easy to find when one get into buried spaces of buildings by checking that they are cooler in summer and have warm temperatures in winter. Taking advantage of the ground characteristics is reflected a bit everywhere in buried constructions that are therefore more protected from the weather. Buried spaces without any day lighting, excavated in earth and stone, were the most often used for preserving food and wine. The main purposes of this work are to analyse this type of bioclimatic solution, to provide conservation, preservation and rehabilitation techniques, as well as to cope with the benefits of the principles of traditional architecture that should integrate and inspire the bioclimatic construction

Exemplos de soluções bioclimáticas existentes na construção tradicional da região transfronteiriça Norte de Portugal Castela e Leão

A arquitetura tradicional constitui-se como elemento definidor da identidade de uma região, devendo ser preservada e mantida a sua essência nas ações de conservação e reabilitação. Deste modo, devem procurar-se as melhores soluções e propostas de intervenção sem que isso signifique voltar costas à inovação e ao progresso construtivo. No âmbito da cooperação transfronteiriça Norte de Portugal-Castela e Leão, foi aprovado o projeto BIOURB – Diversidade Construtiva Transfronteiriça, Edificação Bioclimática e sua adaptação à Arquitetura e Urbanismo Moderno, liderado pela Entidade Regional da Energia de Castela e Leão e que integrou como parceiros o Instituto de la Construcción de Castela y León, a Fundación CIDAUT, o Ayuntamiento de Trabanca, o Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, o município de Mogadouro e o município de Bragança. Pretendeu-se com o mesmo contribuir para a mudança do atual modelo construtivo para um modelo bioclimático mais sustentável, quer em termos ambientais quer em termos económicos, diminuindo o consumo de energia dos edifícios e elevando o valor do património bioclimático transfronteiriço. Um dos objetivos do projeto BIOURB consistiu na elaboração de um manual para a conservação e reabilitação da diversidade construtiva. Pretendeu-se com este trabalho fornecer um conjunto de informações relevantes para quem tem a responsabilidade ou a preocupação de prolongar a vida útil dos edifícios e divulgar, junto dos utentes, as boas e más opções de conservação e reabilitação bem como as anomalias que afetam correntemente os edifícios. Para tal foram estudadas soluções bioclimáticas encontradas e inventariadas na zona fronteiriça entre Portugal e Espanha, mais concretamente entre as zonas abrangidas pelos municípios de Bragança, Miranda do Douro, Vimioso, Mogadouro, Salamanca e Zamora. No presente artigo descrevem-se as várias soluções bioclimáticas representativas da região, em particular a solução singular Estufa Anexa, cuja principal vantagem é contribuir significativamente para as melhorias do desempenho térmico dos edifícios

Bioclimatic solutions existing in vernacular architecture - geothermal climatization

The traditional architecture is founded as a defining element of the identity of a region, and its essence should be preserved and conserved by means of maintenance and recovery actions. Thus, the best solutions and proposals for intervention should be looked for but this doesn’t imply a back to back on both innovation and construction progress. This work is part of the BIOURB project, a cross-border project between Portugal and Spain, which intended to contribute to the change of the current constructive model towards a more sustainable bioclimatic model, both environmentally and economically, reducing buildings energy consumption and raising the value of bioclimatic heritage along the border region. This paper includes the description of a series of tasks in order to perform buildings maintenance and rehabilitation, dignifying the built heritage and enhancing the use of traditional materials and techniques, with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. It is intended to provide a set of relevant information for those who have the responsibility or the concern to extend the life of buildings and disclose among users, current and potential, good and bad, options for the conservation and rehabilitation as well as anomalies that currently affect buildings. Geothermal climatization is one of the eight bioclimatic solutions identified using renewable energies. This climatization system takes advantage of the thermal characteristics of the in depth ground which presents constant temperatures throughout the year (also, temperature increases with depth). These steady temperatures are easy to find when one get into buried spaces of buildings by checking that they are cooler in summer and have warm temperatures in winter. Taking advantage of the ground characteristics is reflected a bit everywhere in buried constructions that are therefore more protected from the weather. Buried spaces without any day lighting, excavated in earth and stone, were the most often used for preserving food and wine. The main purposes of this work are to analyse this type of bioclimatic solution, to provide conservation, preservation and rehabilitation techniques, as well as to cope with the benefits of the principles of traditional architecture that should integrate and inspire the bioclimatic construction

BP2IT : dos processos de negócio às tecnologias de informação

Tese de mestrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200