Assessing the drivers of virtual knowledge management impact in European Firm’s performance : an exploratory analysis

E-Business is a phenomenon that has progressed over the past decades at record speed, with considerable promise and hype. It has been embraced with varying degrees of enthusiasm and impact by both large firms and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Parallel with its development, E-Business has attracted research interests, seen in a plethora of new modules, programmes, models and tools. Knowledge Management (KM) is one tool that seams to gain a more relevant role, especially as managing knowledge has become increasingly important to all companies. Appropriate KM practices within organisations can be seen as one of the prerequisites to the enhancement of continuous performance improvement in the interne-based context. Thus, our aim is to develop a conceptual framework related to KM practices in a virtual context and to identify the nature of the relationship existing in those knowledge-driven elements and performance achievements. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the KM and e-business performance-related literatures from the viewpoint of European firms by establishing a model tested in European companies. For this purpose, we used a structural equation modelling analysis. The results show that KM has a positive impact on the maximization of e-business performance and that some elements individually have a positive influence on e-business performance. As limitations of the study, we consider the need for more research into this field and the inclusion of news elements such as technological readiness and management support to KM initiatives. The present study advances knowledge on the nature of the relative importance of different components of Internet-based KM as drivers of e-business performance and reinforces its importance as an integrated e-business tool.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Knowledge management : critical perspectives on e-business activities

This article is both a review and an agenda-setting piece. It argues that knowledge management suffers from conceptual and definitional ambiguity, oversimplification of its development processes, and methodological limitations. Nevertheless, there is a consensus in business and academia that knowledge is a key component of success and allows firms to achieve and sustains competitive advantages. In a digital era, these advantages arise from the potential of data and information that can be gathered, processed, shared, and used to improve e-business activities. Thus, this research bridges the gap in the assessment of knowledge management and e-business relationship, by applying an SEM to a large database sample of KM activities performed by European firms.N/

Internet sales as a new mode of internationalization

The way that organizations explore the Internet has been the focus of a substantial body of scientific studies and non-academic reflection. The main goal of this study is to analyze the potential of the internet as a mode of internationalization and the factors that influence the results of the adoption of this mean to access foreign markets. For this purpose, we examine the determinants of the level of international sales made via internet estimating an ordered probit model. The results show that the importance of previous experience in using the internet and developing international activity, together with the level of internet marketing budget , the level of investment on internet sophistication, the firm dimension, the business age and the type pf activity are variables that determine the results obtain in the international sales trough the internet.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Wages and Job Satisfaction in Portugal

The interest in the analysis of job satisfaction has increased among economists. Indeed, reported levels of satisfaction have been seen as a good predictor of individual behaviour such as job turnover, productivity and absenteeism. Because of this, several studies have tried to identify the determinants of job satisfaction. This paper is concerned with job satisfaction in Portugal. For this purpose, we use the first six waves of the European Household Panel Data (ECHP). The panel nature of the data allows us to use a random effects estimator in order to control for unobservable individual heterogeneity. The results indicate that wages matter for job satisfaction but do not tell the whole story. In particular, having a good health status, a permanent contract and working the public sector influences positively the level satisfaction. We also find a great heterogeneity in satisfaction by regions, even in a small country as Portugal. These findings are valid for overall job satisfaction as well as for satisfaction with specific job domains such as pay, security, type of work and hours worked. Key words: job satisfaction, wages, regions, unobserved heterogeneity JEL Code: J28

Moving towards a safe by design approach for ENM: linking ENM relevant properties to toxicological concerns

Within the Safe by Design concept, the functionality of a material and its toxicity are considered in an integrated way. The central goal of this presentation is to discuss some fundamental principles of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) interactions with biological systems relevant to human exposure and biological responses. Major factors to consider in the ENM safe-by-design approach are surface modification to reduce the potential hazardous properties of target nanoparticles (NP), compatibility between NP coatings and their matrix, as well as biopersistence, considering the relevant exposure scenarios across the life cycle of the target NP and products. This is a cross-disciplinary field that needs to identify, at earlier stages of the ENM R&D process, the physicochemical properties that may act as good predictors of toxicity, e.g. crystal structure/reactivity, zeta potential/surface charge/dynamic properties. Furthermore, it is also needed to build adequate screening in vitro testing strategies (realistic doses, exposure duration and target tissues), incorporating relevant hazard endpoints that can give an insight about the toxicological mode of action (MoA) with relevance to human health and environment, taking into account the uses and applications along the lifecycle (EHS roadmap). These topics will be illustrated by a cytotoxicity and genotoxicity study performed with a set of ENM with identical chemistry but different physicochemical characteristics that highlighted the importance of investigating each ENM individually, instead of assuming a common MoA. The findings, although creating a dilemma for developing criteria for categorization and read-across, are also suggestive of the importance of considering the functionality of a material and its toxicity in an integrated way, enabling a safe-by-design concept. Ultimately, the overall safety data is intended to best support the decision of IND developers and risk managers during the ENM design and development processes

Assessing the Drivers of Virtual Knowledge Management Impact in European Firm's Performance: an Exploratory Analysis

Copyright © 2008 The Authors. Copyright © 2009 Academic Conferences Ltd.e-Business is a phenomenon that has progressed over the past decades at record speed, with considerable promise and hype. It has been embraced with varying degrees of enthusiasm and impact by both large and SME firms. Parallel with its development, E-Business has attracted research interests, seen in a plethora of new modules, programmes, models and tools. Knowledge Management (KM) is one tool that has seemed to gain a more relevant role, especially as managing knowledge becomes increasingly important to all companies. Appropriate KM practices within organisations can be seen as one of the prerequisites of enhancement of continuous performance improvement in the interne-based context. Thus, our aim is to develop a conceptual framework related to KM practices in a virtual context and to identify the nature of the relationship existing in those knowledge-driven elements and performance achievements. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the KM and e-business performance-related literatures from the viewpoint of European firms by establishing a model tested in European companies. For this purpose, we used a structural equation modelling analysis. The results show that KM has a positive impact on the maximization of e-business performance and that some elements individually have a positive influence on e-business performance. As limitations of the study, we consider the need for more research into this field and the inclusion of news elements such as technological readiness and management support to KM initiatives. The present study advances knowledge on the nature of the relative importance of different components of Internet-based KM as drivers of e-business performance and reinforce its importance as an integrated e-business tool

An analysis of Internet Banking in Portugal: the antecedents of mobile banking adoption

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.In recent years, mobile operations have gained wide popularity among mainstream users, and banks tend to follow this trend. But are bank customers ready to move forward? Mobile banking appears to be a natural extension of Internet banking, . Thus, to predict consumer decisions to adopt mobile banking, it’s useful to understand the pattern of adoption of Internet banking (IB). This investigation seeks contribute to an expansion of the knowledge regarding this matter by researching Portuguese consumers’ patterns and behaviors concerning the acceptance and use intention of IB as a foundation for establishing growth strategies of mobile banking. For data collection, we used an online “snowball” process. The statistical treatment used included a factor analysis in order to allow examination of the interrelationships between the original variables. The analysis was made possible by developing a set of factors that expresses the common traits between them. The results revealed that the majority of respondents did not identify problems with the use of and interaction with the IB service. The study generated some interesting findings. First, the data generally supports the conceptual framework presented. However, some points need to be made: (i) trust and convenience, from all the elements referenced in the literature as relevant from the client’ perspective, continue to be a very important elements; (ii) the results did not support the paradigm that the characteristics of individuals affect their behavior as consumers, (iii) individual technological characteristics affect consumer adoption of IB service; (iv) consumer perceptions about the IB service affect their use, as reveal by the existence of three types of customers that show different practices and perceptions of IB; and (v) intention to use IB is dependent upon attitudes and subjective norms regarding the use of IB

Community model of online pedagogical inquiry and mediation: necessary perceptions

This study analyzes the process of online pedagogical mediation in a Distance Education undergraduate Pedagogy course based on the students’ perception of the learning experience in a virtual learning environment (VLE). Online pedagogical mediation is understood in this study as an educational and communicational process that aims at collective and collaborative construction of knowledge involving multiple mediators (human and non-human). To analyze this process, the community of inquiry (CoI) theoretical model played a central role in our study, especially in the interaction between online pedagogical mediation and the elements that constitute this model, considered interdependent and crucial for a successful higher educational experience: teaching presence, social presence, and cognitive presence. Data was collected with a questionnaire survey, which allowed us to identify the student’s conception of online pedagogical mediation and to assess the perception on the development of the presences of the CoI model in the pedagogical mediation used in the course VLE. The results suggest that most students share the perception that online pedagogical mediation is related to the role played by teachers and tutors. Regarding student’s perception of the learning experience, the results show that they positively perceive the development of the presences of the model, while also suggesting aspects of the online pedagogical mediation process that can be improved, aiming at the constitution of a community of inquiry more focused and effective in the development of learning

Studying the Pacific Subtropical Front with multiple assets

We describe a novel approach to physical oceanography by coordinating remote sensing, multiple autonomous vehicles and ship borne sensors. In contrast with conventional oceanography where ships are the single point of sampling in the middle of a big ocean or are used simply as the base of operations from where autonomous vehicles are deployed, we propose a new approach where ship and autonomous vehicles are coordinated together via satellite communications. We conclude with results and lessons learned from a real-world deployment of the R/V Falkor oceanographic ship together with multiple autonomous vehicles to study the Pacific's Subtropical Front, 800 miles off the coast of San Diego

Relatório de estágio auditoria financeira

A elaboração deste projeto pretende descrever os objetivos e procedimentos exigidos na concretização da atividade de auditoria financeira, tendo como âmbito o esclarecimento e abordagem de todos os aspetos essenciais para o desenvolvimento do trabalho de um auditor externo. Numa primeira abordagem será realizado uma contextualização deste relatório com o panorama teórico que rege em Portugal, os aspetos principais como, o planeamento, materialidade, risco de auditoria, e a sua finalidade, Certificação Legal de Contas. Enquadramento importante para o desenrolar das atividades desenvolvidas na auditoria financeira. Pretende-se revelar e descrever os serviços prestados na empresa acolhedora, os procedimentos envolvidos na confirmação de contas, apresentando os trabalhos realizados na sede da entidade, assim como a identificação dos vários procedimentos para validar todas as rúbricas das demonstrações financeiras. Finalizando com as apreciações globais deste estágio.The purpose of this paper is to describe the objectives and procedures required in the execution of the financial audit activity, with the purpose of clarifying and approaching all the essential aspects for the development of the work of an external auditor. In a first approach will be realized a contextualization of this report with the theoretical panorama that governs in Portugal, the main aspects as, the planning, materiality, audit risk, and its purpose, Legal Certification of Accounts. Important framework for the development of the activities carried out in the financial audit. It is intended to disclose and describe the services provided at the host company, the procedures performed in the verification of accounts, the work performed at the entity's headquarters, such as identification of procedures for all validations as headings of the financial industries. Concluding with the general appraisals of this step