Organizational Characteristics and Performance of Export Promotion Agencies: Portugal and Ireland compared

Export Promotion Agencies (EPAs) have been in operation in developed countries since the beginning of the 20th century to improve the competitiveness of firms by increasing knowledge and competences applied to export market development. Some studies exists on the influence of organizational characteristics on EPAs’ performance, but, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have yet been conducted that analyze, detail and explain which of the EPAs’ organizational characteristics are associated to their differing levels of success. In the present paper we compare a laggard (Portuguese) and a highly efficient (Irish) EPA in terms of export promotion. A questionnaire was applied to the employees of the two EPAs who deal directly with firms in terms of exports promotion. Using the non-parametric test of Kruskal Wallis and factor analysis we found that there are clear differences between the agencies regarding organizational dimensions. In particular, Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal (AICEP) emerges as an organization without any clear component of intentionality, being more concerned with internal matters rather than with actions directed at the market. In contrast, Enterprise Ireland (EI)’s philosophy is more market-oriented and taking the clients’ needs into consideration is a priority.Export Promotion Agencies; Organizational Performance; Portugal; Ireland

O ensino étnico nos Estados Unidos: as escolas oficiais portuguesas e a comunidade lusófona

[Resumo] Um dos objectivos fundamentais das Escolas Étnicas Comunitárias, nos Estados Unidos, é o de preservar e transmitir a língua, cultura e etnicidade as gerações vindouras. Um grupo de estudantes Luso-Americanos (G1) com significativa frequencia das Escolas Oficiais Portuguesas foi comparado com um outro grupo de estudantes Luso-Americanos (G2) que nao frequentou as referidas escolas. Foram utilizados dois instrumentos de investigação na recolha de dados estatísticos: 1. BentoRibeiro Cultural Identification Scale (B-RCIS), urna escala dicotómica de 36 itens para medir a identidade cultural em tres categorias; 2. Socio-Educational Portuguese Profile (SEEP), um instrumento de 22 itens construído para este estudo para a obtenção de dados demográficos e atitudes em relação a língua Portuguesa. A população deste estudo (n=236) consistiu em duas amostras: um grupo constituído por todos os alunos Luso-Americanos disponíveis com idades entre os 12 e os 17 anos (n=120) frequentando as Escolas Oficiais Portuguesas na costa leste dos Estados Unidos; Este grupo foi comparado com urna segunda amostra de estudantes Luso-Americanos (n = 116) sem frequencia das Escolas Oficiais Portuguesas. Resultados revelaram que a frequencia nas Escolas Oficiais Portuguesas contribuiu significativamente para a preservação dos valores culturais e linguísticos e para o desenvolvimento e reafirmação da COMUNIDADE LUSÓFONA

Leadership of portuguese community schools in the East Coast of the United States and the public policies of education: a multiple case studies

The Portuguese community schools of the United States located in the areas of larger Portuguese population concentration are social organizations that come materializing throughout decades the designs of the educative policies of the Portuguese government in relation to the expansion and preservation of the language, the culture and the history of Portugal. These designs of the educative policies are enrolled in the Constitution of the Republic (1976), in the Basic Law of Educative System (1986) and, over all, in the successive legislative norms (Decree-laws and ordinances) of the successive governments. Portuguese community schools in the United States are structuralized in analogous way to schools of the Portuguese geographic space. For this qualitative study (multiple case), four directors of Portuguese schools of the East Coast of the United States were interviewed; two schools are in the state of Rhode Island and the other two are in the state of Massachusetts. Also, it was administered the questionnaire on practices of leadership “Leadership Practices Inventory” (LPI) of Kouzes and Posner (2002) to collect additional data about practices of leadership on the directors of the schools. The LPI evaluates practices of leadership classifying them in five domains: (a) Model the way; (b) Inspire a shared vision; (c) Challenge the process; (d) Enable others to act; and, (e) Encourage the heart. Results of this qualitative research indicate that the Portuguese Government has not had an educative policy stimulant, coherent and consistent of support, incentive, maintenance and diffusion of the Portuguese language and culture and the directors of the studied schools they have a proactive and serving leadership style in conducting the management of Portuguese community schools. The five practices of leadership are highly practiced by the directors of the studied schools above all the practices “Enable others to act” and “Encourage the heart”

A narrativa dos afetos no documentário O Samba que mora em mim

This article intents to understand the affectionate look of theBrazilian filmmaker Geórgia Guerra-Peixe. We can see that look in her documentarycalled O samba que mora em mim, winner of the jury special award of the São PauloFilm Festival [Mostra de Cinema de São Paulo], in 2010. For this study we interviewedGeórgia, collected information published in the press when the documentary was release,in february 2011, and we make a film analysis

Musical Practices, Cultural Politics and Human Mobility in the Macau Chinese Orchestra

UID/EAT/00472/2013Political and social transition in a territory raises a set of variables that affect music developed by groupsof individuals involved in this process. The study of musical performance of the Macau Chinese Orchestra allows usto understand how local identities are constructed and represented. The presentation and representation of theOrchestra abroad is made by Chinese instruments and a repertoire that, according to this institution integratesvarious musical genres from traditional Chinese melodies, song adaptations produced in Portugal, western musicand contemporary Chinese music. Founded by the Macau Cultural Institute in 1987, this orchestra has fortymusicians and already has performances in various countries around the world, such as the Special AdministrativeRegion of Macau, China, Portugal and other European countries. The structure and the public presentation of theorchestra is made in accordance with type of audience and performance space and time of year. Musicalperformances carried between this orchestra and Portuguese musicians are one of the main cultural programsdeveloped by Macau Cultural Institute. In addition, most musicians of this orchestra were born in Mainland Chinaand Taiwan, with few exceptions of Hong Kong and Macau. The cultural policies implemented in musical educationstructures and the cultural and regional context are described by these musicians as crucial elements in the musicthey produce, specifically in instrumental performance. Expressive practice produced in the context of thisorchestra is characterized by a specific cultural program that is mediated and communicated by musical practicedeveloped by these musicians and the musical partnerships between them and Portuguese musicians.publishersversionpublishe

Determinantes da actividade física dos adolescentes : estudo de uma população escolar do concelho de Oeiras

Dissertação de mestrado em Psicologia desportiva

Determinants of stakeholder’s participation: The case of Business Combinations under Common Control

The topic of Business Combinations under Common Control is a hot topic in the scientific community. Due to the lack of regulation on these combinations, which is creating too much diversity in the information disclosed, the IASB initiated a research project to explore possible reporting requirements for these transactions. As a result, a Discussion Paper was published in November 2020 where the IASB presents four criteria with the aim to guide the accounting for these combinations. These criteria, as well as the remaining preliminary views, were subsequently discussed by stakeholders through the submission of comment letters. This dissertation investigates what factors influence a stakeholder to agree with the criteria proposed by the IASB. The analysis is conduct through a qualitative methodology, followed by the estimation of an empirical multinomial logistic regression model, using a sample of 102 comment letters submitted by the various stakeholders. The main results indicate that 74.5% of the stakeholders agree with some or all of the criteria proposed by the IASB. The results also show that Europeans, as well as national accounting standard setters, are the stakeholders who have participated the most. The regression designed also reveals that stakeholders from African countries and accountancy bodies are more likely to agree with some of IASB’s criteria in relation to other stakeholders. On the other hand, stakeholders from non common law countries are less likely to agree with some or all the criteria presented by the IASB, compared to stakeholders from common law countries.O tema das Combinações de Negócio sob Controlo Comum é um tópico em destaque na comunidade científica. Devido à falta de regulamentação sobre estas combinações, e consequente excesso de diversidade na informação divulgada, o IASB iniciou um projecto de investigação para explorar possíveis requisitos de reporte para estas transacções. Como resultado, foi publicado em Novembro de 2020 um Discussion Paper onde o IASB apresenta quatro critérios que visam orientar a contabilização destas combinações. Estes critérios, bem como as restantes visões preliminares, foram posteriormente discutidos pelos stakeholders através da submissão de comment letters. Esta dissertação investiga os factores que influenciam um stakehoder a concordar com os critérios propostos pelo IASB. A análise é conduzida através de uma metodologia qualitativa, seguida da estimativa de um modelo empírico de regressão logística multinomial, utilizando uma amostra de 102 comment letters submetidas pelos vários stakeholders. Os principais resultados indicam que 74,5% dos stakeholders concorda com algum ou todos os critérios propostos pelo IASB. Os resultados mostram também que os Europeus, assim como as entidades nacionais de normalização contabilística, são os stakeholders que mais participaram. A regressão realizada revela ainda que os stakeholders de países Africanos e os organismos contabilísticos têm mais probabilidade de concordar com algum dos critérios do IASB, em relação com outros stakeholders. Por outro lado, os stakeholders de países com sistema legal diferente do sistema de common law têm menos probabilidade de concordar com algum ou com todos os critérios apresentados pelo IASB, em comparação com os stakeholders de países de common law

Huawei-ZTE : one feared response to today’s telecommunications equipment market

After the global crisis that started after June 2008, companies have become more wary about maintaining solid financial positions and liquidity. This has made them start to build piles of cash, which are now very large. In addition to this, the recovery of economic growth and the increased global competition created incentives to M&A transactions to happen. Huawei and ZTE are two Chinese Telecom Equipment companies that have comparable background and compete with each other. By engaging on a merger, they would be able to enhance their revenues and cut the costs and be in a better position to face the fiercer than ever competition.Depois da crise global que teve início em Junho de 2008, as empresas passaram a preocupar-se mais com a manutenção de uma posição financeira sólida e líquida. Isto causou uma grande acumulação de meios financeiros líquidos. Além disso, a recuperação económica e o aumento da concorrência a nível global criou incentivos para integração económica. Huawei e ZTE são dois fabricantes chineses de equipamento de telecomunições, partilhando um passado semelhante. Ao procederem a uma fusão entre as duas, estas empresas poderiam potenciar receitas e reduzir custos, conseguindo colocar-se numa melhor posição para fazer face a uma concorrência mais forte do que nunca

Evaluation of the effect of complementary pollination on Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' in northwest Portugal

The objective of this research was to study the effect of complementary pollination on kiwifruit production and quality. For 3 years, complementary application of wet or dry pollen have been done at different stages of flower opening on vines in the Portuguese regions of Entre-Douro e Minho and Beira Litoral. Commercial production data were collected and fruit quality attributes were measured at harvest. Complementary pollination did not affect fruit soluble solids content or firmness in any year, and was beneficial for fruit size and commercial production in the third year only, showing that it is important in some conditions, when natural pollination is inadequate