The cultural models in international business research: A bibliometric study of IB journals

Culture has been a widely researched topic in the International Business (IB) literature over the last decades. To better understand what culture actually means and its implication in firms? IB operations, several cultural models and taxonomies have been put forward. In this paper we seek to scrutinize the use of three well known cultural models - Hall?s (1976), Hofstede?s (1980a) and Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner?s (1993) - in the extant research. Using bibliometric techniques of the papers published in the top ranked IB journals, we performed a citation and co-citation analysis to find out the most influential model and to examine the possible linkages between models and to the issues being researched. We conclude that Hofstede?s (1980a) taxonomy is the most cited and his taxonomy has strong linkages to several streams of research. Nonetheless, we also find that there are noticeable differences on how research in different journals make use of the cultural models, probably reflecting not surprising disciplinary emphases.Cultural models, Hofstede, Trompenaars, Hall, bibliometric study

The international entrepreneurial firms' social networks

ABSTRACT This paper investigates theoretically the importance and impact of the international entrepreneurial firms? (IEFs) social networks on selected firms? strategies. We focus specifically on some core attributes of IEFs and the impact of social networks on such strategies as the choice of the foreign markets to operate and the foreign entry modes. The social networks are a major driver of the internationalization from inception and help in overcoming a variety of physical and social resource limitations as well as transactional hazards. We conclude that it is likely that both some fundamental characteristics of the IEFs and those of the foreign markets entered account for these firms reliance on their social networks.entrepreneurship, international entrepreneurial firms, social networks, internationalization

A Study with Benfica, Porto, and Sporting

The various existing social media platforms aim at interaction and connectivity between users within online communities through the production and sharing of content. Similar to sports, social media allows users to obtain experiences that often stirs emotion. This empirical study combines the football component with social media, in which, through multiple linear regression, the performance of posts on social networks, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, of the three biggest Portuguese clubs, is evaluated: Benfica, Porto and Sporting. This research reviews the literature of sports fanaticism, the structure and content of posts, combined with a bibliometric analysis of social media, which allows the understanding of this vast theme in four components: Social media engagement, User Generated Content, Online Communities, and Content Marketing. Through the testing of the hypotheses written for this research, assertive conclusions were obtained about the performance of social media posts in the sports field, such as, the relevance of visual posts, compared to textual posts; the effectiveness of posts that refer to the nostalgia of the supporter; and the determination of the social network most suitable for the accompaniment of a live football match.As várias plataformas de social media existentes, têm como objetivo a interação e conectividade entre utilizadores, dentro de comunidades online através de produção e partilha de conteúdo, desta forma, semelhante ao mundo do desporto, social media permite aos utilizadores obterem experiências que muitas vezes mexem com a emoção. Este estudo empírico alia a componente do futebol ao social media, em que, através de uma regressão linear múltipla, avalia-se a performance de posts nas redes sociais, Facebook, Instagram e Twitter, dos três maiores clubes portugueses: Benfica, Porto e Sporting. Esta investigação revê a literatura do fanatismo desportivo, da estrutura e conteúdo de posts, aliada a uma análise bibliométrica sobre social media, que permite a compreensão deste vasto tema em quatro compontentes: Social media engagement, User Generated Content, Comunidades Online, e Marketing de Conteúdo. Através da testagem das hipóteses redigidas para esta investigação, foram obtidas conclusões assertivas sobre a performance de posts de social media no âmbito desportivo, tais como, a relevância de posts visuais, face a posts textuais; a eficácia de posts que remetem à nostalgia do adepto; e a determinação da rede social mais indicada para o acompanhamento de um jogo de futebol a decorrer ao vivo

Security challenges with virtualization

Tese de mestrado, Segurança Informática, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2009Virtualização é uma palavra em voga no mundo das tecnologias de informação. Com a promessa de reduzir o constante crescimento das infra-estruturas informáticas dentro de um centro de processamento de dados, aliado a outros aspectos importantes como disponibilidade e escalabilidade, as tecnologias de virtualização têm vindo a ganhar popularidade, não só entre os profissionais de tecnologias de informação mas também administradores e directores. No entanto, o aumento da adopção do uso desta tecnologia expõe o sistema a novas preocupações de segurança que normalmente são negligenciadas. Esta tese apresenta o estado da arte das soluções actualmente mais usadas de virtualização de servidores e também um estudo literário dos vários problemas de segurança das tecnologias de virtualização. Estes problemas não são específicos em termos de produto, e são abordados no âmbito de tecnologias de virtualização. No entanto, nesta tese é feita uma análise de vulnerabilidades de duas das mais conhecidas soluções de virtualização: Vmware EXS e Xen. No final, são descritas algumas soluções para melhorar a segurança de acesso a banco online e de comercio electrónico, usando virtualização.Virtualization is a hype word in the IT world. With the promise to reduce the ever-growing infrastructure inside data centers allied to other important concerns such as availability and scalability, virtualization technology has been gaining popularity not only with IT professionals but also among administrators and directors as well. The increasingly rising rate of the adoption of this technology has exposed these systems to new security concerns which in recent history have been ignored or simply overlooked. This thesis presents an in depth state of art look at the currently most used server virtualization solutions, as well as a literature study on various security issues found within this virtualization technology. These issues can be applied to all the current virtualization technologies available without focusing on a specific solution. However, we do a vulnerability analysis of two of the most known virtualization solutions: VMware ESX and Xen. Finally, we describe some solutions on how to improve the security of online banking and e-commerce, using virtualization

Mergers & acquisitions research: A bibliometric study of top strategy and international business journals, 1980–2010

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are important modes through which firms carry out their domestic and international strategies and have been noted as the CEOs favorite strategy. As a significant field of study, M&Aresearch has accumulated substantial knowledge. This bibliometric study examines the extant strategy and international business literature on M&As. Methodologically, we examined a sample of 334 articles published in sixteen leading management/business journals, during a 31 year period — from 1980 to 2010. The results provide a global perspective of the field, identifying the works that have had the greater impact, the intellectual interconnections among authors and works, the main research traditions, or themes, delved upon on M&Arelated research. Structural and longitudinal analyses reveal the changes in the intellectual structure of the field over time. A discussion on the accumulated knowledge and future research avenues concludes this paper.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality control and productivity in oak timber - from forest to the primary processing

Oak timber is valuated for its beauty, good mechanical properties and natural durability and may have multiple uses. An understanding of the factors that affect oak timber quality is essential. It is important to have quality control of physical, mechanical and technological wood characteristics in order to define the better primary processing and end-use. Silviculture may significantly impact wood quality and final stand value. Specific prescriptions will depend on species, site conditions, desired end product and management options. An appropriate silviculture with optimized technological operations allows a well use of wood even with small diameters. Adequate wood classification is required in order to optimize industrial processes and improve product quality. Quality criteria and procedures for round and sawtimber are referenced

Study of the light’s dazzling effect on the EEG signal of subjects performing tasks that require concentration

Tese de mestrado integrado, Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica (Sinais e Imagens Médicas) Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2019The objective of this work is to study the effect of luminous glare on the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals of subjects that perform concentration-based tasks. The increasing access to high-power and directional light sources (such as laser pointers, but also some flashlights) has led to a growing concern with the potential effects of its use. More than the direct damaging of the retina, the focus has been directed at the effects related to the change in states of concentration on individuals performing tasks whose concentration is critical (such as helicopter pilots or heavy vehicles drivers). This effect is known as ”dazzling” and is typically a temporary deleterious effect on the ability to see or concentrate. However, while damage to the retina can be quantified, glare effects, being indirect (based on the effect on the execution of a given task), are typically qualitative (or at least of more subjective quantification). In this context, the use of brain-computer interfaces capable of analyzing the brain response to external stimuli, opens a door towards the creation of a new tool to evaluate the effects of dazzle. Its potential was evaluated by defining a set of strategies involving the illumination process, EEG signal recording and analysis. A continuous performance task commonly used as an assessment in cognitive neuroscience (N-back) was used to test the attention under the effect of dazzling, in parallel with EEG signals acquisition. Statistical data analysis was performed with the R programming language. ANOVA statistical significant results (p<0.001) for answer scores and latency were obtained for differences between the levels of difficulty, both with or without dazzling. Tukey’s test further revealed that these statistical differences were on the 0-back/2-back and 1-back/2-back pairs (p<0.005). The differences in the pair 0-back/1-back were not significant. Peak band frequency statistical tests were not significant with or without dazzling. Statistical differences were found between dazzling conditions for the frequency band power. For the 0-back and 1-back levels, with the AF7-Fp1 electrode pair, T-student tests resulted in an alpha band frequency power increase (p<0.003, in both cases). The electrode pair AF8-Fp2 resulted in an alfa and beta frequency band increase for the 1-back level (p<0.014 and p<0.029, respectively). These results suggest that concentration is affected by dazzling and can be quantified by means of measuring the change in alpha and beta frequency band power. This technique holds potential and, if further researched and developed, may constitute an effective way of measuring the degree of loss of concentration under the effect of dazzling

Industrial network membership: Reducing psychic distance hazards in the internationalization of the firm

The network approach to internationalization of the firms has warranted the research focus of many international business scholars. Firms are increasingly involved in international business endeavors and arguably need to learn to adapt to idiosyncratic milieus they encounter in the foreign markets. This paper proposes a conceptual model suggesting that integration in networks strengthens corporate competitiveness in international markets. Network membership provides access to knowledge that facilitates adaptation to the various dimensions - economic, political, legal, cultural ? of the international business environments. Membership in social and business networks are likely to ease internationalization by reducing firms? perceived psychic distance.Networks, internationalization theories, psychic distance

Climate change impacts on water supply: implications for reservoir management in upper Sabor, northeast Portugal

Climate change scenarios project warmer temperatures and less precipitation in Mediterranean watersheds. This can aggravate drought conditions, with negative impacts on water supply. Here, reservoirs may play an important role to mitigate these impacts. However, the implications of climate change are not always considered in the reservoir planning and management. This study aimed to address this issue for the Upper Sabor watershed, northeast Portugal. This is a medium watershed (403km2), part of the Sabor river, a tributary of Douro (one of the major rivers in the Iberian Peninsula). It is a mountainous watershed (up to 1500m), characterized by humid Mediterranean climate, with three dry months in summer. Almost 52% of the area is occupied by shrubland and 18% agriculture. Water supply for about 33 000 people has been based almost exclusively in one reservoir, but constant problems of water supply in dry summers, which coincide with a doubling of population due to summer holidays, led to the construction of a new reservoir in 2015. The Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used for a climate change impact assessment, considering the current water supply regime (single reservoir) and the construction of the new reservoir. SWAT was calibrated and validated against daily-observed discharge and reservoir volume, with a good agreement between model predictions and observations. Results from four GCMs (General Circulation Models) for two scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were statistically downscaled and bias-corrected with ground observations; climate scenarios for 2021-2040 and 2041-2060 were compared with a control period in 1981-2000. In the future, a general increase of temperatures is expected in the Upper Sabor watershed, especially in the maximum temperature under RCP 8.5 scenario for 2041-2060 (Tmax: +2.88ºC). The change in precipitation is more uncertain, with larger differences according to the selected climate model. Annual precipitation would slightly decrease in RCP 8.5, less than 1% change compared to 1981-2000. However, seasonal changes would be more significant, with more precipitation in winter (+ 6.8%) and much less in spring and summer (-13.2% and -14.9%, respectively). In turn, an annual increase in precipitation is expected under RCP 4.5 for 2021-2040 (+1.8%) and a higher decrease for 2041-2060 (+6.4%), when compared to RCP 8.5. For hydrological impacts, SWAT results showed a small reduction in river discharge, more pronounced under RCP 8.5 for 2041-2060, for the spring and summer months. Results showed that the existence of two reservoirs will solve the water supply problems in current conditions, but in future conditions the reliability of this solution will decrease, especially under scenario RCP 8.5 for 2041-2060 (reliability of water supply below 80%). Here, the variability given by the different climate models simulated in SWAT brings some uncertainty. The main conclusion of this study is that the solution for water supply in this region, calculated taking only present-day climate into account, will be inefficient for water supply management under future climates. Taking climate change into account would have avoided the need for further investment in the near future. It is a mountainous watershed (up to 1500m), characterized by humid Mediterranean climate, with three dry months in summer. Almost 52% of the area is occupied by shrubland and 18% agriculture. Water supply for about 33 000 people has been based almost exclusively in one reservoir, but constant problems of water supply in dry summers, which coincide with a doubling of population due to summer holidays, led to the construction of a new reservoir in 2015. The Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used for a climate change impact assessment, considering the current water supply regime (single reservoir) and the construction of the new reservoir. SWAT was calibrated and validated against daily-observed discharge and reservoir volume, with a good agreement between model predictions and observations. Results from four GCMs (General Circulation Models) for two scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were statistically downscaled and bias-corrected with ground observations; climate scenarios for 2021-2040 and 2041-2060 were compared with a control period in 1981-2000. In the future, a general increase of temperatures is expected in the Upper Sabor watershed, especially in the maximum temperature under RCP 8.5 scenario for 2041-2060 (Tmax: +2.88ºC). The change in precipitation is more uncertain, with larger differences according to the selected climate model. Annual precipitation would slightly decrease in RCP 8.5, less than 1% change compared to 1981-2000. However, seasonal changes would be more significant, with more precipitation in winter (+ 6.8%) and much less in spring and summer (-13.2% and -14.9%, respectively). In turn, an annual increase in precipitation is expected under RCP 4.5 for 2021-2040 (+1.8%) and a higher decrease for 2041-2060 (+6.4%), when compared to RCP 8.5. For hydrological impacts, SWAT results showed a small reduction in river discharge, more pronounced under RCP 8.5 for 2041-2060, for the spring and summer months. Results showed that the existence of two reservoirs will solve the water supply problems in current conditions, but in future conditions the reliability of this solution will decrease, especially under scenario RCP 8.5 for 2041-2060 (reliability of water supply below 80%). Here, the variability given by the different climate models simulated in SWAT brings some uncertainty. The main conclusion of this study is that the solution for water supply in this region, calculated taking only present-day climate into account, will be inefficient for water supply management under future climates. Taking climate change into account would have avoided the need for further investment in the near future