Internationalization strategies of companies in the wine industry in Portugal – context, forms of action and performance.

This research project aims to analyze the competitive environment of companies in the wine sector in Portugal and assess the implications in the development of contingent strategic guidelines and different performances.Proposes to apply the methodological framework the IKST – Integrated Key for Strategic Thought for international expansion. The research was carried out at two levels: at a preliminary level – a general characterisation was made of the companies as to their resources, and at a central level – the examination of the strategic aspect of the companies was carried out. The research involved the collection of primary data (survey of 164 companies in the sector) and secondary data (from documentary nature). Explores the strategic aspect, analyzing the sector in terms of global and national context, in order to design a diagnostic context of action, using the models of PEST and 5 Forces. Identifies, based on various statistical techniques, the adopted style of strategic thought and the profile in terms of contextual variables, as well as the underlying economic performance

GLOBALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION STRATEGIES OF THE WINE SECTOR COMPANIES IN PORTUGAL

This research aims to analyze the competitive environment of companies in the wine sector in Portugal and assess the implications in the development of contingent strategic guidelines and different performances. Proposes to apply the methodological framework IKST – Integrated Key for Strategic Thought for international expansion. The research was carried out at two levels: at a preliminary level – a general characterisation was made of the companies as to their resources, and at a central level – the examination of the strategic aspect of the companies was carried out. The research involved the collection of primary data (survey of 164 companies in the sector) and secondary data (from documentary nature). Explores the strategic aspect, analyzing the sector in terms of global and national context, in order to design a diagnostic context of action, using the models of PEST and 5 Forces. Identifies, based on various statistical techniques, the adopted style of strategic thought and their profile in terms of contextual variables, as well as the underlying economic performance

STRATEGY AND INNOVATION IN ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD; an evolutionary analysis of the emerging wine sector pole of São Francisco Valley (Brazil).

Globalized and fragmented, the wine production sector reconfigures itself. The New World Wine Producers innovate in wine sector management by means of industrial production logics. Brazil faces the challenge of reaching a wider global insertion. The emerging pole of Vale do São Francisco, through a comparative and exploratory multiple case study (2006 to 2010), shows an evolutionary phenomenology with some innovative features. The objective is to analyze the regional innovative strategic positioning and to present proposals to accrued innovative competitiveness

Training health professionals in patient-centered communication during magnetic resonance imaging to reduce patients’ perceived anxiety

Objective: We examined how a patient-centered communication training program for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) affected health professional (HP) practice and patients’ perceived anxiety (PA). Methods: We implemented an intervention program. Six of the 17 eligible HPs completed the study. The proportion of observed desired behaviors (PODBs), including MRI procedure explanation (MRI-PE), communication, and MRI checking procedures was measured using an observation grid. We tested 182 patients (85 pre-, 58 post-, and 39 at follow-up) for PA pre- and post-MRI. Results: The Bayesian ANOVA effect size suggested moderate evidence of improvement in HP PODBs, preto post-intervention. Use of MRI-PE declined between post-intervention and follow-up (6 months later). Observed changes in PA, pre- to post-MRI, could be related to time constraints and perceived pressure to explain the exam in detail once institutional routines are reestablished. Conclusion: In MRI units, time constraints condition the performance of HPs who address patients’ PA. Practice implications: “Real workplace” interventions that promote better patient-centered communication and provide each patient with a comprehensive explanation of MRI procedures also appear to improve HP PODBs

GLOBAL COMPETITIVE DYNAMICS AND INNOVATION IN THE BRAZILIAN WINE SECTOR: An analysis of Vale do São Francisco pole

The wine sector is currently facing a transformation all over the world. Facing a surplus, it rebuilds itself. In Brazil, firms assist to the decline of their market share (but reflecting a tendency to protectionism) to imported wines although per capita consumption begins to overcome discreetly an historical stagnation with perspectives of sustainable growth. Thus, it is of utmost importance to look for new capabilities in order to achieve greater integration in a globally fragmented market and with low attractiveness rates. The wine pole of Vale do São Francisco (VSF), though emergent, already needs to find a new strategic innovative positioning. However, it reveals some innovative features. This study has as its main objectives (a) to analyze the strategic and innovative adaptations of local firms; (b) to propose innovative additional lines of strategic action; and (c) to perspective their success possibilities in the new globalized competitive environment. The methodological positioning is set out through the study of multiple and exploratory cases

ESTRATÉGIAS DE INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO: CONTEXTO, ACTUAÇÃO E PERFORMANCE DAS EMPRESAS DE VINHOS PORTUGUESAS

O presente trabalho de investigação visa analisar o contexto competitivo das empresas do sector vitivinícola e avaliar as implicações no desenvolvimento de orientações estratégicas contingentes e performances diversas. Propõe a aplicação do referencial metodológico Grelha Integrada de Reflexão Estratégica adaptada a um contexto de internacionalização - GIRE(i), estruturando a pesquisa em dois níveis, um preliminar, de caracterização genérica das empresas, e outro central, de análise da sua vertente estratégica. A pesquisa implicou a recolha de dados primários (questionário aos empresários do sector) e secundários (de natureza documental). Explora a vertente estratégica, analisando o contexto do sector em termos mundiais e nacionais, de forma a desenhar um diagnóstico do seu contexto de acção, recorrendo aos modelos PEST e Modelo das 5 Forças. Identifica, com base em diversas técnicas estatísticas, os tipos de reflexão estratégica adoptados e o seu perfil em termos de variáveis contextuais, assim como as performances económicas subjacentes

Public Services Efficiency Provision in Italian Regions: a Non-Parametric Analysis

We measure the performance of public spending in Italian regions regarding the provision of public services, by constructing a so-called total regional performance indicator for strategic sectors such as general administration, energy, water and sewage, solid waste, and transports for 2001. This composite indicator is then the output measure selected to assess expenditure efficiency for the Italian regions, using the non-parametric DEA approach. The computation of efficiency scores allows to rank the regions and to detect some room for improvement in terms of efficiency gains at the regional level

An Assessment of Telecommunications Regulation Performance in the European Union

We assess the performance of National Regulatory Authorities across 16 EU countries regarding economic regulation in telecommunications sector, by constructing a so-called Composite Regulatory Performance Indicator for regulatory aspects such as effectiveness of the national regulatory system, effectiveness of the dispute settlement body, general market access conditions and application of remedies in markets for narrowband voice, mobile, broadband and business services. This composite indicator is the output measure used in the DEA non-parametric approach. The computation of efficiency scores allows to rank the NRAs and to detect some room for improvement in terms of efficiency gains for each national authority

Dasymetric mapping using UAV high resolution 3D data within urban areas

UID/SOC/04647/2019Multi-temporal analysis of census small-area microdata is hampered by the fact that census tract shapes do not often coincide between census exercises. Dasymetric mapping techniques provide a workaround that is nonetheless highly dependent on the quality of ancillary data. The objectives of this work are to: (1) Compare the use of three spatial techniques for the estimation of population according to census tracts: Areal interpolation and dasymetric mapping using control data-building block area (2D) and volume (3D); (2) demonstrate the potential of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology for the acquisition of control data; (3) perform a sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulations showing the effect of changes in building block volume (3D information) in population estimates. The control data were extracted by a (semi)-automatic solution-3DEBP (3D extraction building parameters) developed using free open source software (FOSS) tools. The results highlight the relevance of 3D for the dasymetric mapping exercise, especially if the variations in height between building blocks are significant. Using low-cost UAV backed systems with a FOSS-only computing framework also proved to be a competent solution with a large scope of potential applications.publishersversionpublishe

Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups