THE USE of CONSORTIA for the INTERNATIONALIZATION of FIRMS – MOTA-ENGIL CASE STUDY

Internationalization has been widely studied throughout the years. Broadly, it has been predicted as irrevocable and having increasing impact on firm-related strategy. Within entry modes, consortium, has not received as much attention as others. Hence, it seems important to understand how this specific entry mode allows the entrance of firms in the international markets. This study intends to answer the question of “how” to internationalize, anticipating the consortium as the most feasible way for construction firms to enter certain markets. The reasons that determine its choice concern the specificness of the projects, markets and of the firm. In the first part of the study, we review the existent literature on consortia as an entry mode and as a tool of internationalization used by construction firms. Through this review we build a framework that reveals the motivations that lead to this choice. In the second part, we present the case study of Mota-Engil, as a potential source of valuable information which may contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon under study. This case study corroborates the motivations found to create consortia. The paper closes with its contributions, limitations and suggestions for future researches.consortia, internationalization, cooperation, construction

Are there different cultures of retention across Portuguese Regions? Evidence from public primary schools

One of the possible explanations for the high levels of grade retention in Portugal is a prevailing “culture retention” - the set of beliefs embedded in society regarding the benefits and costs of grade retention for pupils - that favours grade retention practice. This paper focuses on checking whether the culture of retention differs across Portuguese regions. This phenomenon can be identified if persistent differences on grade retention rates at the regional level are detected after controlling for grade retention rate determinants. The sample includes all the 4th-grade students enrolled in Portuguese public primary schools between 2007 and 2012. Results suggest that 4 out of 28 NUTS III2 regions have a regional-specific culture of retention

Avaliação do risco cardiovascular numa população da zona Norte do País

As doenças cardiovasculares lideram as causas de mortalidade no mundo e em Portugal. Alguns dos fatores de risco (FR) associados são sexo masculino, idade avançada, hipertensão arterial, hipercolesteremia, tabagismo, obesidade e sedentarismo, cuja sinergia amplifica o risco cardiovascular. Realizou-se um rastreio em indivíduos da região norte de Portugal, com o objetivo de determinar, pela tabela derivada do projeto SCORE, o Risco Cardiovascular Absoluto e o Risco Cardiovascular Relativo e Risco Cardiovascular Absoluto Projetado aos 60 anos. Verificou-se a presença de vários FR na amostra em estudo. A avaliação do risco permite estimar a interação de FR individuais, fundamentando a definição de estratégias interventivas, com potenciais ganhos em saúde.Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality in the world and Portugal. Most common associated risk factors (RF) are male gender, advanced age, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity and sedentary habits, whose interaction increases the cardiovascular risk. We conducted a screening in individuals from Northern Portugal, in order to determine the Absolute and Relative Cardiovascular Risks and 60 years old Risk Projection through the table derived from the SCORE project. We observed the presence of various FR in the sample. The cardiovascular risk assessment allows estimating the interaction of individual RF, enabling the definition of an intervention, with potential gains in health

Feromonas: comunicação por meios químicos

Feromonas são sinais químicos produzidos por um organismo que, mesmo em pequenas quantidades, influenciam o comportamento ou a fisiologia de outros indivíduos da mesma espécie. Teoricamente, todos os organismos libertam feromonas, que têm grande importância a nível da atracção sexual, mas são os insectos que utilizam estes mensageiros químicos como principal forma de comunicação. As feromonas são compostos orgânicos, geralmente voláteis e hidrofóbicos, que podem ser simples hidrocarbonetos ou incluírem grupos funcionais como álcoois, aldeídos, cetonas, entre outros. Pheromones are chemical signals produced by an organism that, even in small quantities, can elicit a behavioural or physiological response in another individual of the same species. In theory, every living organism release pheromones, with great impact in sexual attraction, but these chemical signals have special emphasis on insects, as the chief communication method. Pheromones are organic compounds, usually volatile and hydrophobic, that can be relatively simple hydrocarbons or compounds that include functional groups, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and so on

The use of consortia for the internationalization of firms - Mota-Engil case study

Internationalization has been widely studied throughout the years. Broadly, it has been predicted as irrevocable and having increasing impact on firm-related strategy. Within entry modes, consortium, has not received as much attention as others. Hence, it seems important to understand how this specific entry mode allows the entrance of firms in the international markets. This study intends to answer the question of “how” to internationalize, anticipating the consortium as the most feasible way for construction firms to enter certain markets. The reasons that determine its choice concern the specificness of the projects, markets and of the firm. In the first part of the study, we review the existent literature on consortia as an entry mode and as a tool of internationalization used by construction firms. Through this review we build a framework that reveals the motivations that lead to this choice. In the second part, we present the case study of Mota-Engil, as a potential source of valuable information which may contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon under study. This case study corroborates the motivations found to create consortia. The paper closes with its contributions, limitations and suggestions for future researches

“Optimization and electrification to capitalize the power of the ford brand”

Ford is improving its price mix given the growing demand. It is making non profitable operations more asset light and allocating investment towards electrification. We included this in a DCF analysis, which we consolidated through a comparable companies, sensitivity and scenario analysis.The result wasa BUY recommendation with a share price of $23,20

Factores condicionantes da dádiva benévola de sangue em estudantes universitários em Luanda

A proporção de colheitas de dadores voluntários pode ser usada como indicador não só do potencial de disponibilidade de sangue mas também da sua segurança. Em Luanda, Angola, a dádiva voluntária correspondeu a cerca de 23% das dádivas em 2004. Foi realizado um estudo observacional descritivo transversal pela aplicação de um questionário constituído por itens que captam factores que motivam ou inibem a dádiva benévola de sangue, numa amostra de estudantes universitários em Luanda. Apesar da baixa dádiva voluntária indicada pelos respondentes, verificou-se uma elevada disponibilidade para a dádiva benévola, essencial no combate ao HIV.The proportion of voluntary blood donors can be used as an indicator not only of the potential availability of blood supplies but also its safety. In Luanda, Angola, the voluntary donation was about 23% of all donations in 2004. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study through questionnaire application which captured factors that motivate or inhibit the benevolent blood donation, among a sample of university students in Luanda. Despite the low voluntary donation indicated by respondents there was a high availability for the voluntary donation, essential in fighting HIV