The level of preparedness and response of nonprofit organizations in a pandemic crisis: an exploratory qualitative research

A crisis can occur with little or no warning, anywhere, and at any time. Crisis management seeks to help organizations cope with specific, unexpected, and non-routine events that create high levels of uncertainty and threat. Although the crisis management literature is plentiful regarding the business sector, little has been written on this subject when it comes to nonprofit organizations (NPOs). This article aims to identify the level of crisis management preparedness and response of the North Portugal NPOs, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, with enormous numbers of spread disease and deaths, mainly in the senior segment. A qualitative approach is developed with an exploratory and explanatory study based on six semi-structured interviews, carried on in May 2020. The findings of the study suggest that NPOs were not prepared or had any type of planning to face a crisis, and simply reacted following the guidelines of official bodies and creating contingency plans oriented by these entities. Further, this study argues that NPOs need to actively engage in everyday maintenance and updating to prevent crisis activities to build organizational security, transparency, and accountability. The study adds to previous research on crisis management on NPOs, by proposing the identification and exploration of a set of activities that accurately enables the assessment of crisis management strategies within the context of NPOs, on an emergency event.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Actitudes de aculturación y valores personales de los adolescentes autóctonos

Los valores personales determinan en gran medida las actitudes que se mantienen. Por este motivo, el conocimiento de aquellos que propician una mejor predisposición hacia la integración de los inmigrantes puede ser un aspecto clave para la intervención en este campo. Los estudios al respecto han demostrado que existe una serie de valores que se relacionan con el mantenimiento de unas actitudes positivas hacia la inmigración, mientras que otros valores lo hacen con actitudes negativas. Sin embargo, la gran mayoría han sido realizados con población adulta, por lo que existe un menor conocimiento en cuanto a la situación de poblaciones más jóvenes. En esta investigación se estudia la relación de los valores (utilizando la teoría de valores personales de Schwartz) de 482 adolescentes autóctonos residentes en España con la actitudes que presentaban hacia la aculturación de los inmigrantes (utilizando el modelo de aculturación bidimensional de Berry). Los resultados fueron similares, aunque no completamente coincidentes, a los encontrados en población adulta. Mostraron principalmente que mantener valores universalistas y benevolentes predispone hacia una aceptación de los inmigrantes, mientras que valores basados en el poder lo hacen hacia un rechazo de los mismos.Attitudes are determined to a great extent by personal values. Due to this, the knowledge of the values that propitiate a better predisposition to immigrants’ integration may be a key aspect for the intervention in this field. Previous studies have showed there are values related with the support of positive attitudes towards immigration, while other ones are related with negative attitudes. Nevertheless, the majority of these studies have been done with adults, so we know less about younger population. In this research we study the relation between the values (using the Swartz’s values theory) of 482 native adolescents resident in Spain with their attitudes towards immigration (using Berry’s model of acculturation). Our results were similar –but not complete coincident— to the ones found in adult population. They show that having benevolent and universalistic values predispose towards the acceptation of immigrants, while values based on power predispose towards the rejection of them

Brand´s image perceptions during crisis: Brazil versus Portugal on COVID-19

The future will no longer be like the past as the world witnesses constant changes that affect people’s everyday life. In fact, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations were challenged to adapt their business to the changes, and brands were forced to quickly manage their business to survive and be connected to the new world. Several approaches were carried on using different communication strategies. This research intends to investigate public perceptions about brands' actions and communication during the pandemic, trying to understand how the different approaches toward the crisis were perceived among the target audiences. This process is related to the participation of brands in the discursive phenomenon “we are together”, the hashtag #vaificartudobem (everything will be fine), or “stay home”, and how their audiences react to it. An exploratory, comparative, and cross-border (Brazil versus Portugal) empirical study is developed, though a quantitative method, applying a survey, territorially based on Portugal, in April and May 2020. The results of this study suggest that brands’ presence and participation have real benefits as their actions are recognized by public opinion (in Brazil and Portugal). Brazilian audiences consider it more important for brands to be present in critical moments such as the current one and to promote the public’s awareness and consciousness. Female respondents believe that brands that embraced the cause and promoted social isolation, improve their image. This sample also recognizes differences in brands and communication changes, during COVID-19, and finds it important that brands embrace the cause and promote social isolation, in order to improve their image.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Motivations for visiting peri-urban natural areas

In the 21st century, tourism has become one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economic sectors in the world, being considered a decisive driver in job creation and local and regional economic development. In Portugal, this is, also, a reality. Additionally, sustainable tourism and protected areas can contribute with public benefits towards a better common future. This paper aims to identify visitorś motivations for a Portuguese protected area (PPA), the Vale do Tua Regional Natural Park (PNRVT). Data were collected through a questionnaire, with 395 respondents. From those, only 100 (34.7%) respondents indicated that they had already visited the PNRVT and were considered for the evaluation of motivations of this protected area. The data obtained were analyzed using Jamovi statistical program, using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. From the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that visitors of PNRVT aim to learn/expand their knowledge and see a specific place.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An exploratory study to understand nonprofit organizations’ crisis leadership competencies: a portuguese analysis on covid-19

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect the Nonprofit Organization’s (NPO) competencies and leadership in a crisis situation, specifically in the Portuguese NPOs during COVID-19. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, this article integrates crisis management literature with leadership literature. Highlighting the leadership perspective of both intermediate employees (technical director) and top management (executive director), this research aims to advance knowledge on the main organizational leadership competencies that NPOs need to have to better cope with crises. One hundred and seventy-four (174) NPOs representatives voluntarily participated in the study which involved a survey questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale for 23 items included in the questionnaire. Principal component analysis using varimax rotation was applied to reduce the number of variables. Reliability tests were performed to assess the items included in the questionnaire. Tests included test-retest reliability, Cronbach alpha, and split-half reliability coefficients. Results show that the most important factors that improve the capability of a NPO to cope with a crisis are: respond to all stakeholders through accountability, plan based on identification of vulnerabilities, and build a foundation of trust through communication. Additionally, it is possible to suggest that staff and top management perceive crisis and leadership competencies differently. It is possible to conclude, that these factors can be used as important lines of action to structure the sustainable development and planning of NPOs’ strategies of other similar crisis to come in the future. Findings, the implications of this work, and avenues for future NPOs crisis management and leadership research are addressed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Statistical optimization of a sustainable fertilizer composition based on black soldier fly larvae as source of nitrogen

In the present work, a statistical optimization of a sustainable coating for core–shell NPK (Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium) fertilizers was investigated. The environmental green coating was enriched in nitrogen using a biomass and renewable source, namely the nitrogen rich fraction of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia Illucens, Diptera: Stratiomyidae) reared on vegetable waste. A rational approach was proposed with the aim of calculating the best formulation of the coating, considering both its manufacturing behavior, such as adhesion to the core, and its physical properties, such as homogeneity or plasticity. From a circular economy perspective, together with the nitrogen-rich fraction from BSFL (from 51 to 90 wt.%), water and glycerol were considered for the coating formulation in different proportion: from 10 to 32 wt.% and from 0 to 17 wt.% respectively. The Design of Experiments technique was implemented to limit the total number of tests for the coating formulation (18 tests). ANOVA was employed, with the aim of obtaining mathematical models to derive a better precise and objective formulation. The results show that the use of glycerol can be avoided, as well as only a limited amount of water (11 wt.%) is necessary to obtain an optimized coating formulation, thereafter, satisfying the more relevant technological and physical properties for the coating manufacturin

A new small supernumerary marker chromosome, generating mosaic pure trisomy 16q11.1–q12.1 in a healthy man

Here we report on a healthy and fertile 30 years old man, who was carrier of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC). The application of molecular techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), microdissection and reverse painting, helped to characterize the sSMC which resulted to be derived from chromosome 16. In fact, the presence of euchromatin material from the long arm (16q) in the sSMC was demonstrated, and the karyotype can be written as mos 47, XY,+min(16)(:p11.1->q12.1:)[20]/46, XY [10]

Relación entre la capitalización bursátil y los múltiplos de valoración relativa bajo las normas internacionales de información financiera en Colombia

Este proyecto analiza si la implementación de las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera en Colombia mejora la calidad de la información contable y financiera con la que se construyen los múltiplos utilizados en la valoración de empresas, evidenciando si esta implementación genera diferencias entre los múltiplos 12 calculados bajo los PCGA locales y bajo las NIIF plenas. A su vez, analiza si el valor bursátil de una entidad se ve alterado debido a la implementación del nuevo marco técnico normativo. Para cumplir con tal finalidad, es importante: - Poner de manifiesto las ventajas y desventajas de la valoración de empresas por medio de la valoración contable (múltiplos) y por medio de la capitalización bursátil. - Identificar las mejoras de información contable que ha generado la implementación de los estándares de información financiera internacional (NIIF) en Colombia. - Establecer si las mejoras de información contable con la implementación de las NIIF en Colombia permiten obtener una mejor estimación del valor de una empresa por el modelo de valoración por múltiplos. - Concluir si la valoración por múltiplos reduce la dispersión de los resultados con la implementación de las NIIF plenas en Colombia y ser usado con mayor aceptación y veracidad por las empresas que aplican NIIF plenas y no cotizan en bolsa.Problemática e introducción. Problemática. Hipótesis. Introducción. Importancia de la información financiera de alta calidad y objetivos de investigación. Estado del arte y generalidades. Estudios previos. Generalidades de la valoración por múltiplos. Marco teórico. El problema de agencia. Metodología y desarrollo del proyecto. Desarrollo del proyecto. Recolección de la información. Cálculo de múltiplos comparables. Prueba empírica. Prueba paramétrica y estadístico U. Prueba de robustez. Limitaciones del estudio.Magíster en Finanzas CorporativasMaestrí