The temporary agency worker’s motivation profile analysis

The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) establishes that human motivations can take different forms (e.g., amotivation, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation), yet it is only recently that the theory has been advanced to explain how these different forms combine to influence temporary agency workers’ (TAWs) affective commitment and their perception over the human resources practices (HRP) applied. We tested this theory with data from seven temporary agency companies (N = 3766). Through latent profile analysis (LPA) we identified five distinct motivation profiles and found that they differed in their affective commitment to the agency and to the client-company, and in their perception of HRP. We verified that temporary agency workers in more intrinsic profiles had more positive outcomes and a better perception of the investment made by the companies, than did TAWs in more extrinsic profiles. Additionally, when TAWs were able to integrate the reasons for being in this work arrangement, the negative effect of the extrinsic motivation was attenuated, and it was possible to find moderated profiles in which TAWs also showed more positive results than TAWs with only extrinsic motives. These differences are consistent with the notion that a motivation profile provides a context that determines how the individual components are experienced. Theoretical and practical implications of this context effect are discussed.publishersversionpublishe

A psychometric assessment of a human resources practice measure for temporary agency workers

Studies have proposed and validated several measures that evaluate employee's perceptions of the human resources practices (HRP). However, given the changes occurring in the labor market, there is a need to develop a measure specially adapted to the contingent workers specific employment relationship. Thus, this study assesses an HRP system scale that was administered to temporary agency workers (TAW) to examine the scale's response process, internal structure and relation to other variables (i.e., affective commitment). The measure was administered to 4,551 Portuguese TAW. The Messick's validation framework (1995) was use and two sectors were compared. Descriptive analyses, scale reliabilities, item characteristics, exploratory, confirmatory, and multiple group analyses demonstrated that the measure had good psychometric properties. Moreover, there were positive correlations between the HRP scale and affective commitment. The results contribute to a better understanding of managing TAW's in agencies and client companies. HRP are a valuable method for "communicating" with these workers, who are then able to recognize and respond to the investment. This is the first study to develop and assess the psychometric properties of an HRP system measure for TAW and to cross-validate it with workers' affective commitment towards both companies that are involved in this employment relation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Life‐Cycle Assessment of olive oil addressing alternative production systems: how to deal with olive pomace valorization

Olive oil is an important product of the so-called “Mediterranean Diet”. In Portugal, about 90 000 tonnes of olive oil were produced yearly in the last agricultural campaigns. The main objective of this paper is to present a comparative life-cycle assessment (LCA) of olive oil produced from four types of cultivation systems (familiar, traditional, intensive and organic) and two olive oil extraction processes (three-phase and two-phase extraction), addressing the valorization of olive pomace. The most remarkable difference between three- and two-phase extraction is related to the co-products and residues produced: the three-phase process results in three fractions (olive oil, olive pomace and olive mill wastewater), whereas the two-phase extraction (a more recent and increasingly used process in order to avoid the production of olive mill wastewater) consumes less water and generates, together with olive oil, a suspension called olive wet pomace. A life-cycle model and inventory was implemented for the entire olive oil chain, including olive cultivation and olive oil extraction (about 5-7 kg of olives are required to produce one liter of olive oil), as well as valorization of olive pomace (three-phase extraction) and olive wet pomace (two-phase) to produce olive pomace oil and extracted pomace. Two approaches for dealing with multifunctionality were analyzed: i) allocation based on market prices of coproducts (olive oil and olive pomace) and ii) substitution (“avoided burdens” approach) of extracted pomace (displacing conventional fuel in energy intensive processes) and olive pomace oil (displacing virgin oil in biodiesel production). The environmental impacts were calculated for four impact categories (ReCiPe method): greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity, terrestrial acidification, freshwater and marine eutrophication. The cumulative energy demand (CED) method was used to calculate non-renewable primary energy (NRPE). The results (price based allocation) showed that olive cultivation was the life-cycle phase which contributed the most to the overall environmental impacts (55-95% to GHG intensity, 80-98% to acidification and 70-100% to eutrophication), except for the familiar cultivation system with no fertilizers and pesticides being applied. Fertilizers production and application contributed more than 43% to the environmental impacts of traditional, intensive and organic cultivation. Results calculated with the “avoided burdens” approach are highly dependent on the type of virgin oil displaced by olive pomace oil. This research shows the importance of olive cultivation practices and olive pomace valorization to reduce the life-cycle impacts of olive oil. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Being a temporary agency worker: A motivation profile analysis

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Dealing with temporariness: generational effects on temporary agency workers’ employment relationships

Purpose: A major trend in the changing nature of work is the increasing use of temporary workers. Although common among students, older employees have joined the ranks of temporary workers as they extend their work lives. Temporary workers tend to report lower affective commitment and consequently poorer work outcomes. However, different generations of workers may conceive temporary work differently from each other. The purpose of this paper is to explore how different generations of temporary workers, respond to human resource practices (HRP), which in turn influences their affective commitment and work performance. Design/methodology/approach: The sample is comprised of 3,876 temporary agency workers (TAWs) from seven temporary employment agencies in Portugal. The authors undertook multiple group SEM analyses to test a moderated mediation model that accounts for TAWs’ affective commitment (toward the agency and the client company) across three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials) in the relationship between human resources practices and overall perceived performance. Findings: After controlling for gender, age and tenure, the authors find generational differences in the perceptions of HRP and perceived performance. The results support the moderator effect of generations in the direct and indirect relationships – through both affective commitments – between TAWs’ perceived HRP and perceived performance. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design limits the possibility to make causal inferences. Originality/value: This study contributes to a better understanding of how different generations respond to temporary employment relationships. The findings suggest important differences in the way in which the same HRP system relates (directly and indirectly thorough affective commitment toward the client) with their perceived performance across different generations.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A Laje da Churra (Paço, Carreço, Viana do Castelo) : estudo monográfico de um lugar gravado

Dissertação de mestrado em ArqueologiaOs vestígios arqueológicos no noroeste português são vastos especialmente no que concerne à arte rupestre de ar livre. Na orla litoral, a norte de Viana do Castelo, o espaço encontra-se repleta de lugares gravados que outrora marcaram e ou celebraram o meio e promoveram a identidades de determinadas comunidades. Um destes lugares é a Laje da Churra. Localizando-se no sopé da vertente oeste da serra de Santa Luzia, entre a montanha e o mar, este lugar encontra-se num terreno propício à acumulação de águas, adjacente ao ribeiro da Fonte Quente. Cingido por casas e parcialmente destruído por muros que dividem propriedades e por uma pequena estrada, a Laje da Churra corresponde, ainda, a um afloramento granítico de aproximadamente 400 m2, bem destacado do solo. Com uma inclinação suave para sul e pendentes mais declivosas para nascente e poente, esta superfície rochosa foi gravada com um grande número de motivos rupestres de diferentes temáticas. Centrámos os objetivos deste trabalho em tentar perceber a biografia deste lugar e entender a importância simbólica e social que teve para as comunidades que viveram nesta área litoral. Desenvolvemos várias metodologias de investigação para alcançar estes objetivos. Reali zámos prospeção no seu espaço circundante e o estudo do afloramento gravado que se focou na sua limpeza, no levantamento gráfico e fotográfico das gravuras rupestres e na escavação de uma área a nascente e adjacente ao afloramento. Tivemos ainda em atenção as características físicas do afloramento e da sua envolvente. Usámos, ainda um Sistema de Informação Geográfica para podermos entender a relação espacial da Laje da Churra com outros sítios e efetuar a simulação da sua área de visualização. Os 1170 motivos gravados, os diferentes motivos e técnicas e as sobreposições sugerem que este lugar foi utilizado e reutilização, sobretudo, por comunidades que habitaram a zona entre o Neolítico / Calcolítico e a Idade do Ferro, embora existam alguns elementos de períodos históricos. As relações entre motivos e as características do afloramento, nomeadamente a sua forma, a exposição solar e a proximidade de águas, indicam que existiu um diálogo e uma intenção de gravar motivos específicos em certos pontos da superfíc ie rochosa. Também colocámos a hipótese de que existiu um certo modo de movimentação da audiência por forma a que todos os motivos da Laje da Churra pudessem ser observados. Estas duas características fazemnos colocar a hipótese de que estamos face a um lugar cerimonial. Depreendemos, igualmente, que a visibilidade da Laje da Churra para o meio envolvente é um pouco restrita, sendo fechada para muitos quadrantes e apenas aberta para áreas de grande potencialidade agrícola, abundantes em linhas de água que desaguam no oceano, pelo que a agricultura e a fertilidade seria importante para as comunidades que gravaram na Churra. No que consta a visualização e a inter-visibilidade deste lugar com outros seus contemporâneos, percebemos que existe pouca visibilidade entre eles, sendo apenas visíveis o monumento funerário da Cova da Moura do Bronze Final e o Castro de Montedor ou Monte da Gandra da Idade do Ferro, pelo que talvez este lugar fosse intencionalmente “escondido”.In the Portuguese northwest, the archaeological vestiges are vast, especially regarding open air rock art. On the coast, north of Viana do Castelo, the space is full of engraved places that in the past marked and or celebrated their surroundings and promoted identity of such communities. One of these places is Laje da Churra. Located at the base of the western facade of Santa Luzia Mountains, between the mountains and the sea, this place is situated on a land prone to water accumulation, near Fonte Quente stream. Surrounded by houses, and partially destroyed by walls that divide proprieties and a small road, Laje da Churra corresponds to a granite outcrop of approximately 400m2, well detached from the soil. With a soft incline to the south and a more accentuated pendent’s to east and west, this rock surface was engraved with a large number of different thematic motifs. The objectives of this study focused on trying to understand the biography of this place and comprehend the symbolic and social importance that it had to the communities that lived in this coastal area. We developed various investigation methodologies to reach these goals. We made a prospection on the surrounding area and studied the engraved outcrop. This was focused on cleaning, graphic tracing and photographic recording of the engravings, and an archaeological excavation on the adjacent area, east of the outcrop. We paid more attention to the physical characteristics of the outcrop and its surroundings. We also used, Geographic Information Systems, so we could understand the spatial relationship to other places and perform the simulation of its visualisation area. Of the 1170 engravings, the different motifs, techniques and overlaps suggests that this place was used and re-used, especially by communities that lived in this area between the Neolithic / Chalcolithic and Iron Age, even though there are some elements of the historic period. The relationship between motifs and the outcrop characteristics, mainly it’s shape, sun exposure, and the proximity to waters, indicate that a dialog existed and there was an intention of engraving specific motifs to certain points of the rock surface. Also, we put the hypothesis that a certain manner in the movement of audiences existed, and in such a way that all the engravings at Laje da Churra could be observed. These two characteristics make us put the hypothesis that we are facing a ceremonial place. We also believe that the visibility from Laje da Churra to its surroundings is a little restricted, being locked to most quadrants and only opened to agricultural areas, abundant in water lines that run into the sea, therefore the agriculture and fertility were important for the communities that engraved in Churra. Regarding the visibility and inter-visibility of this place to others dated the same period, we understand that there is diminutive visibility among them. The only visible sites are the funerary monument Cova da Moura dated Late Bronze Age, and Castro of Montedor or Monte da Gandra dating from the Iron Age, maybe this place was intentionally “hidden”.Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade (COMPETE).Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDE

O efeito do treino de força na performance do lançamento em jovens jogadoras de basquetebol

O objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar os efeitos do treino de força na eficácia do lançamento em basquetebolistas do sexo feminino do escalão de sub14. Vinte raparigas com idades compreendidas entre os 11 e os 14 anos foram divididas em dois grupos. A amostra foi avaliada em quatro exercícios de lançamento: Lance Livre, 2 Pontos, 2 Pontos 60’ e 3 Pontos antes do início do treino de força de 6 semanas, no final do mesmo e após um período de destreino de 4 semanas. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que um programa de treino de força aplicado durante 6 semanas é suficiente para se obterem efeitos positivos em relação à eficácia dos exercícios de lançamento de 2 Pontos. Os dados relativos ao destreino indicam que as 4 semanas de destreino seja um período de tempo insuficiente para que ocorram perdas significativas relativas aos ganhos adquiridos com a aplicação do programa de força.The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of strength training in the accuracy of basketball shooting in young female basketball players. Twenty girls with ages between 11 and 14 years old were divided in two groups. The participants were evaluated in four shooting exercises: Free Throw, 2 Points, 2 Points 60’ and 3 Points before the start of the 6 weeks strength training, in the end of the training period and at the end of a 4 weeks period of detraining. The results of this study showed that a 6 weeks strength training is adequate to have a positive effect on the accuracy of 2 Point shooting exercises. The period of detraining doesn’t present significant changes in the shooting exercises evaluated, suggesting that 4 weeks seemed not enough to occur the loss of previous gains

Competences development and turnover intentions : the serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment

Purpose – This study aims to explore the serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between the organisational practices of competences development and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology was quantitative and is based on a survey with a sample of 313 participants, all of whom were employed in several organisations located in Portugal. Findings – A significant and negative effect of organisational practices of competences development, perceived internal employability and affective commitment on turnover intentions was verified. A total serial mediation effect was also found from perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development (i.e., training, individualised support and functional rotation) and turnover intentions. Practical implications – These practices should be developed by leaders of organisations in order that employees feel that the organisation is investing in their development, which can lead to an increase in their emotional attachment towards the organisation and consequently increase their desire to stay in the organisation. Originality/value – This study makes two important contributions. First, it confirms the existence of a significant and negative relationship between perceived internal employability and turnover intentions. Second, it proves the existence of a total serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development and turnover intentions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Competences development and organisational commitment : mediation through employability and moderation by generation

The main objective of this study is to test the mediating effect of perceived internal employability on the relationship between organisational practices of competences development and affective commitment, and also to test the moderating effect of different generations in this mediation. The sample has 302 participants, who are employees in several organisations based in Portuguese territory. We verified the mediating effect of the employability perception in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development (individualised support and functional rotation) and affective commitment. Regarding the moderating effect of the generations, this effect was verified in the relationship between the organisational competences development practices and the affective commitment in the liaison between the organisational practices of competences development and the perception of internal employability and in the connection between the perception of internal employability and affective commitment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

the case of classical ballet dancers

This study examines how employees assess demands-abilities and needs-supplies across their work lifespan, and how they better adjust to their work. Based on person-environment fit theory, the job design and the lifespan literatures, and using interviews with a sample of 40 professional ballet dancers, our research shows how the interplay between demands, abilities, needs, organizational resources, and regulation strategies contributes to a process of adjustment, and consequently enhances psychological well-being across the work lifespan. Additionally, we contribute to literature on well-being by presenting evidence of how organizational resources are perceived differently across the work lifespan and why. We also extend theory on job crafting by showing that crafting is partly a function of the phases of one's lifetime and by presenting evidence of forms of crafting among older workers. With increased longevity, individuals will need to remain working or recraft a career after reaching retirement age. Addressing age-related changes and considering the importance of organizational resources to well-being can help promote active aging.preprintpublishe