Desenvolvimento de recursos de design em pequenas empresas da indústria automóvel : uma abordagem metodológica

ABSTRACT: This paper reflects part of a broader investigation on the development of methodologies to identify, value and manage design capabilities in order to create a sustainable competitive advantage. With the automotive industry and smaller supplier Portuguese companies as background, this paper explores the resource-based view theory (RBV) and the dynamic capabilities theory as a theoretical construct for a further development of research tools. In the automotive industry, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) continue to control the overall design of the vehicle, as part of the ability to manage the offer portfolio and brand communication. However, the industry have been moving towards an increasing participation of smaller suppliers in product development processes, pushed towards capabilities’ development as a requirement to continue competitive in the OEM’s suppliers network. The role of design and design management capabilities have been explored as strategic resources or core competencies. However, Design is not typically found in smaller supplier firms as resource (as opposed to Design studios in larger companies) but found as a process in resourcecapability combinations, establishing the need for a new research approach. Therefore, the RBV is a tool to value the design process as a sustained competitive advantage. The RBV conceptualizes a framework to determine or identify the strategic resources available or needed within a company. At these lenses, the basis for a sustainable competitive advantage lies in the application of the bundle of valuable resources identified and at the firm's disposal and the combinations with its capabilitiesEste artigo reflete parte de uma investigação mais ampla sobre o desenvolvimento de metodologias para identificar, valorizar e gerir os recursos de design, com o objetivo de criar uma vantagem competitiva sustentável. Com a indústria automóvel e as pequenas empresas portuguesas fornecedoras como pano de fundo, este artigo explora a teoria da Resource Based View (RBV) e a teoria das Dynamic Capabili_es (DCT) como um construto teórico para o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de investigação. Na indústria automóvel, os OEM (fabricantes de equipamentos originais) continuam a controlar o design geral do veículo, como parte da capacidade de gestão do seu portfólio assim como a comunicação de marca. No entanto, o setor tem seguido um caminho para uma participação crescente de fornecedores menores nos processos de desenvolvimento de produto, impulsionados para o desenvolvimento de capacidades como requisito de competitividade na rede de fornecedores dos OEM. O papel dos recursos do design e da gestão do design foram já explorados como recurso estratégicos ou competências fundamentais. No entanto, o Design não é normalmente encontrado em empresas de menor dimensão como recurso (em oposição aos estúdios de Design em empresas maiores), mas sim como um processo de combinações de diferentes capacidades e recursos, estabelecendo a necessidade de uma nova abordagem de pesquisa. Portanto, a RBV é uma ferramenta que visa a valorização do processo de design como uma vantagem competitiva sustentada. A RBV concetualiza uma estrutura para determinar ou identificar os recursos estratégicos disponíveis ou necessários dentro de uma empresa. Deste ponto de vista, a base para uma vantagem competitiva sustentável está na aplicação do conjunto de recursos valiosos identificados e à disposição da empresa em forma de combinações das suas diferentes capacidades e recursos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Approach to the Main Task of QA4MRE-2013

This article describes the participation of a group from the University of Évora in the CLEF2013 QA4MRE main task. Our system has a superficial text analysis based approach. The methodology starts with the preprocessing of background collection documents, whose texts are lemmatized and then indexed. Named entities and numerical expressions are sought in questions and their candidate answers. Then the lemmatizer is applied and stop words are removed. Answer patterns are formed for each question+answer pair, with a search query for document retrieval. Original search terms are expanded with synonyms and hyperonyms. Finally, the texts retrieved for each candidate response are segmented and scored for answer selection. Considering only the main questions, the system best result was obtained in the third run, having answered to 206 questions, with 0.24 c@1 and 51 correct answers. When evaluating main and auxiliary questions, the final run continued to have our better results, being answered 245 questions, with 64 right answers and 0.26 for c@1. The use of hypernyms proved to be an improvement factor in the third run, which results had a 12% increase of correct answers and a 0.02 gain in c@1

Neuroscience in marketing : an FMRI-Based Perspective on brands

Doutoramento em GestãoAlthough somewhat outdated, the American Marketing Association definition of brand still is largely accepted. In this case, brands are signs for product differentiation. The present research, instead, finds brands and their logos as meaningful signs that belong to the human communicative lexicon. Logos are ideograms, i.e. graphic representations that convey meanings. These meanings are transferred from one mind to other minds through brands, establishing communication between humans, and which is also used to self-monitoring in a self-reflexive process, i.e., reading the reactions of others to the ideographic messages once sent to them. Brands are intimately connected to meta-representational processes, whether they are seen as the repository of human attributes, whether themselves are perceived as interlocutors, in a quasi-human level. It also finds that the human emotion system is used to perceive, interpret, and classify brands. Founding in the neuro-based model of emotions developed by Damásio, the present research reveals that brands systematically recruits the emotion system when stimulate brains, which leads to posit that brands are felt in order to be perceived. It is also largely relying in the brain structures that support emotion processing, but also based in other regions that support self-relatedness processing, that is trained an artificial neural network that yields predictions of subjects' choices at a level much higher than mere chance. This procedure allows a coarse but promising consumers' "mind reading".Apesar de algo ultrapassada, a definição de marca da American Marketing Association ainda é largamente aceite. Assim, as marcas são sinais usados na diferenciação de produtos. A investigação presente, pelo contrário, sugere que as marcas e os seus logotipos são sinais com significado que pertencem ao léxico comunicativo humano. Os logotipos são ideogramas, i.e. representações gráficas que transmitem significados. Tais significados transferem-se de uma mente para outra através das marcas, estabelecendo uma comunicação entre humanos, e que também é usada na auto-monitorização num processo auto-reflexivo, i.e. lendo as reacções que os outros têm às mensagens ideográficas que lhes foram enviadas. As marcas estão intimamente ligadas aos processos meta-representacionais, seja por elas serem consideradas um repositório de atributos humanos, seja por elas próprias serem consideradas como interlocutores, a um nível quase-humano. Este estudo também constata que o sistema emocional humano é usado para perceber, interpretar, e classificar as marcas. Baseado no modelo neuronal das emoções de Damásio, verifica-se que as marcas recrutam sistematicamente o sistema das emoções sempre que elas estimulam um cérebro, o que leva a avançar que as marcas são sentidas de forma a serem percebidas. É com base em estruturas cerebrais que sustentam o processamento das emoções, mas também com base em outras regiões ligadas a processamentos da auto-reflexão, que é treinada uma rede neuronal artificial, da qual resultam previsões das escolhas dos sujeitos participantes, as quais estão a um nível muito superior ao mero acaso. Este procedimento permite uma "leitura da mente" algo grosseira, mas muito promissora

Segurança nos trabalhos de betonagem em estaleiro

Os acidentes de trabalho na construção continuam a ser uma trágica realidade em Portugal, sendo grande parte das fatalidades resultantes de quedas em altura e esmagamento. Os trabalhos de betonagem de elementos estruturais de edifícios continuam a expor os trabalhadores da construção a riscos que podiam ser evitados, ou minorados, e a contribuir para a elevada sinistralidade neste sector de actividade. Numa análise efectuada aos métodos de trabalho e equipamentos de protecção, actualmente utilizados durante as betonagens, foi possível constatar algumas insuficiências. Neste trabalho aborda-se esta problemática e apresentam-se soluções de prevenção para os riscos profissionais, desenvolvidas no âmbito de um projecto de investigação em curso

Relativistic evaluation of the two-photon decay of the metastable {1s}^{2} 2s 2p~^3\mbox{P}_0 state in berylliumlike ions with an active-electron model

The two-photon {1s}^{2} 2s 2p~^3\mbox{P}_0 \rightarrow {1s}^{2} {2s}^2 ^1\mbox{S}_0 transition in berylliumlike ions is theoretically investigated within a full relativistic framework and a second-order perturbation theory. We focus our analysis on how electron correlation, as well as the negative-energy spectrum can affect the forbidden $E1M1$ decay rate. For this purpose we include the electronic correlation by an effective potential and within an active-electron model. Due to its experimental interest, evaluation of decay rates are performed for berylliumlike xenon and uranium. We find that the negative-energy contribution can be neglected in the present decay rate. On the other hand, if contributions of electronic correlation are not carefully taken into account, it may change the lifetime of the metastable state by 20\%. By performing a full-relativistic $jj$-coupling calculation, we found discrepancies for the decay rate of an order of 2 compared to non-relativistic $LS$-coupling calculations, for the selected heavy ions.Comment: 7 pages, 3 page

Farming system change under different climate scenarios and its impact on food security : an analytical framework to inform adaptation policy in developing countries

Os países em desenvolvimento são considerados extremamente vulneráveis às alterações climáticas, devido ao seu contexto socioeconómico (elevados níveis de pobreza) e à elevada dependência dos seus meios de subsistência dos recursos naturais. As zonas rurais destes países concentram a maior parte das pessoas mais pobres e com insegurança alimentar do mundo, estando os agricultores entre os mais vulneráveis às alterações climáticas. Prevê-se que os impactos das alterações climáticas sejam espacialmente heterogéneos. Neste sentido, este artigo visa explorar o efeito directo e marginal das alterações climáticas na escolha do sistema agrícola e as suas implicações para a segurança alimentar em Moçambique, utilizando uma abordagem espaço-por-tempo. Os nossos resultados sugerem que são esperadas grandes mudanças na escolha do sistema agrícola e na sua distribuição espacial devido às alterações climáticas, o que terá potencialmente impacto nos meios de subsistência e no estado de segurança alimentar dos pequenos agricultores. Os sistemas agrícolas, incluindo culturas alimentares/de rendimento e/ou pecuária, que estão entre os mais seguros em termos alimentares, tenderão a ser substituídos por outros sistemas em todos os cenários climáticos. Os sistemas agrícolas mistos (incluindo alimentação e pecuária) e os sistemas orientados para a pecuária, na sua maioria inseguros em termos alimentares, predominantes em zonas áridas, deverão expandir-se com as alterações climáticas. Os mapas de stress da segurança alimentar e da inovação foram esboçados a partir dos resultados da modelização, identificando áreas prioritárias para intervenção pública. Destacamos também como a nossa abordagem pode ser um quadro eficaz e facilmente replicável para abordar este tipo de questões noutras regiões em desenvolvimento que enfrentam problemas semelhantes.Developing countries are considered extremely vulnerable to climate change, due to their socioeconomic context (high levels of poverty) and high dependence of their livelihoods on natural resources. Rural areas in these countries concentrate most of the poorest and food-insecure people in the world, with farmers being among the most vulnerable to climate change. The impacts of climate change are expected to be spatially heterogeneous. In this sense, this paper aims at exploring the direct, marginal effect of climate change on farming system choice and its implications to food security in Mozambique, using a space-for-time approach. Our results suggest that major changes are to be expected in farming system choice and their spatial distribution due to climate change, which will potentially impact the livelihoods and food security status of smallholder farmers. Farming systems including food/cash crops and/or livestock, which are among the most food secure, will tend to be replaced by other systems in all climate scenarios. Mixed farming systems (including food and livestock) and livestock-oriented systems, mostly food insecure, predominant in arid areas are expected to expand with climate change. Food security and innovation stress maps were sketched out from the modelling results, identifying priority areas for public intervention. We also highlight how our approach can be an effective and easily replicable framework to address this type of issues in other developing regions facing similar problems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

BINLI: An Ontology-Based Natural Language Interface for Multidimensional Data Analysis

Current technology facilitates access to the vast amount of information that is produced every day. Both individuals and companies are active consumers of data from the Web and other sources, and these data guide decision making. Due to the huge volume of data to be processed in a business context, managers rely on decision support systems to facilitate data analysis. OLAP tools are Business Intelligence solutions for multidimensional analysis of data, allowing the user to control the perspective and the degree of detail in each dimension of the analysis. A conventional OLAP system is configured to a set of analysis scenarios associated with multidimensional data cubes in the repository. To handle a more spontaneous query, not supported in these provided scenarios, one must have specialized technical skills in data analytics. This makes it very difficult for average users to be autonomous in analyzing their data, as they will always need the assistance of specialists. This article describes an ontology-based natural language interface whose goal is to simplify and make more flexible and intuitive the interaction between users and OLAP solutions. Instead of programming an MDX query, the user can freely write a question in his own human language. The system interprets this question by combining the requested information elements, and generates an answer from the OLAP repository

Contributions of artificial intelligence to decision making in nursing: a scoping review protocol

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and methodologies for problem solving are emerging as formal tools essential to assist in nursing care. Given their potential to improve workflows and to guide decision making, several studies have been developed; however, little is known about their impact, particularly on decision making. Objective: The aim of this study was to map the existing research on the use of AI in decision making in nursing. With this review protocol, we aimed to map the existing research on the use of AI in nursing decision making. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search strategy was tailored to each database/repository to identify relevant studies. The contained articles were the targets of the data extraction, which was conducted by two independent researchers. In the event of discrepancies, a third researcher was consulted. Results: This review included quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies. Primary studies, systematic reviews, dissertations, opinion texts and gray literature were considered according to the three steps that the JBI has defined for scoping reviews. Conclusions: This scoping review synthesized knowledge that could help advance new scientific developments and find significant and valuable outcomes for patients, caregivers and leaders in decision making. This review was also intended to encourage the development of research lines that may be useful for the development of AI tools for decision making.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio