Organizational and Methodological Influence of Risk Management in Projects

Project risk management is essential to managers’ decision making and business success, because it allows the manager to identify, analyse  and  decide  on the most appropriate way to respond to different adversities that may arise during the development of new products, services, processes, projects, continuous improvement, etc. This requires a mind-set that risks have a major influence on the bottom line and use analytical methods or risk management software. It is essential to integrate the entire organizational structure into risk mitigation intervention. The purpose of this paper is to address some of the important topics to consider for well implemented and successful risk management. An approach is taken at both organizational and methodological levels. Keywords: Risk management, PMBOK, Stakeholders, Methods, New product developmen

Proposal of a Conceptual/Functional Model to Support New Product Development Design

Innovation and creativity are fundamental for new product development (NPD). NPD processes are a key factor for the survival of firms, in a market that nowadays is very competitive, instable and aggressive. Thus, life cycle of products it is becoming shorter, and that also due to the markets globalization. So, the development of models that can support NPD processes became a real and needed challenge. This paper aims to propose a comprehensive model of functional nature, which integrates the strategic, organizational and procedural levels, as well as the set of factors to take into account in NPD projects. Based on literature review, a comprehensive and integrated conceptual model is obtained through a deductiveinductive pathway. The conceptual model is validated in the industrial environment through four explanatory case studies, regarding the implementation of new products and services, both incremental and disruptive. After validation the conceptual framework becomes functional. And it was referred as “Systemic and Integrated Model of NPD” - SIMNPD. As a result, it is a tool to measure and evaluate processes, projects and products, dedicated to companies that innovate, design and develop new products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Proposal of a systemic and integrated framework to support new product

New product development (NPD) is crucial for the existence of firms, as a source of competitive advantage and a determinant factor of business success. Several factors, both operational and corporate or even strategic, contribute to the process of innovation that supports the NPD. The holistic assessment of all these factors, taken together, has not been subject of research leading to the proposal of an integrated and systemic framework. Thus, this paper aims to propose a comprehensive framework, which integrates the strategic, organizational and procedural levels, as well as the set of factos to take into account in NPD projects problems to be solved with innovative solutions. Based on literature review, a comprehensive and integrated conceptual framework is obtained through a deductive-inductive pathway. The framework was referred as “Systemic and Integrated Framework of NPD” - SIFNPD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PROPOSAL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED MODEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS

The development of new products (NPD) is crucial for the existence of companies, source of competitive advantage and determinant of their business success. Several factors, both operational and organizational or even strategic, contribute to the innovation process that supports NPD. The holistic assessment of all these factors as a whole has not been the subject of research leading to the proposal for an integrated and systemic model. In this way, this article aims to propose a comprehensive conceptual model that integrates the strategic, organizational and procedural levels, as well as the set of factors to be taken into account in NPD projects. Based on the literature review, a comprehensive and integrated conceptual model of NPD support (MAIDNP) is deductive-inductive. This model can therefore be a tool for evaluating processes, projects and products, dedicated to companies that innovate, design and develop new products

Proposta de um modelo de referência para a concepção e desenvolvimento de novos produtos

Os processos de concepção e desenvolvimento de novos produtos são cruciais para a existência de negócios e empresas competitivas, o que significa a inovação se tornou num dos factores determinantes não só da sobrevivência, mas também do êxito empresarial. O desenvolvimento de novos produtos, nomeadamente os de âmbito industrial, não tem sido alvo preferencial de trabalhos científicos ao nível de doutoramento em Portugal, ou de artigos em revistas indexadas com autoria de investigadores portugueses, tendo sido este um dos mais importantes motivos da opção por esta temática. O primeiro objectivo deste trabalho é a geração de um modelo conceptual holístico que após validação se transforme num modelo efectivamente funcional não existente no actual estado da arte e do conhecimento ou prática existente. Como segundo objectivo garantir utilidades específicas ao modelo, principalmente de índole empresarial. A revisão da literatura foi conduzida de forma explanatória através de uma estratégia dedutiva na senda de um conjunto de constructos previamente estabelecidos o que levará à construção, de forma indutiva, do modelo conceptual referido. Na parte empírica da investigação, que validará o modelo conceptual transformando-o em funcional final, utilizarse-á um painel de especialistas ou painel Delphi (validação interna). Em complementaridade ao painel serão apresentados quatro casos de estudo que não só testarão o modelo e a sua utilidade como ainda lhe acrescentarão adequações que lhe vão garantir a forma funcional final (validação externa). Tratou-se portanto de uma investigação teórico-empírica, indutivadedutiva de carácter qualitativo. Como resultado final da investigação obteve-se um modelo que se designou de MAIDNP, ou seja, modelo abrangente e integrado de desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Esse modelo permitirá duas utilidades distintas: a primeira, de índole puramente científica, que deve permitir utilizar o modelo enquanto cardápio organizado de soluções para problemas ocorridos no DNP com recurso às ferramentas metodológicas e instrumentais conhecidas; a segunda, de índole operacional e aplicada, um subproduto da anterior em que o modelo funcionará como ferramenta de diagnóstico, roadmap ou roteiro de aferição, de processos, projectos e produtos, dedicado às empresas que inovam, concebem e desenvolvem novos produtos

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Background: Up to 30% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 require advanced respiratory support, including high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for failing non-invasive respiratory support in patients treated with severe COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic in high-income countries (HICs) and low middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Clinical Characterisation Protocol. Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospital admission were recruited prospectively. Patients treated with HFNC, NIV, or IMV within the first 24 h of hospital admission were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, random forest, and logistic regression analyses were used to describe clinical characteristics and compare clinical outcomes among patients treated with the different types of advanced respiratory support. Results: A total of 66,565 patients were included in this study. Overall, 82.6% of patients were treated in HIC, and 40.6% were admitted to the hospital during the first pandemic wave. During the first 24 h after hospital admission, patients in HICs were more frequently treated with HFNC (48.0%), followed by NIV (38.6%) and IMV (13.4%). In contrast, patients admitted in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were less frequently treated with HFNC (16.1%) and the majority received IMV (59.1%). The failure rate of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. HFNC or NIV) was 15.5%, of which 71.2% were from HIC and 28.8% from LMIC. The variables most strongly associated with non-invasive ventilation failure, defined as progression to IMV, were high leukocyte counts at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 5.86 [4.83-7.10]), treatment in an LMIC (OR [95%CI]; 2.04 [1.97-2.11]), and tachypnoea at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 1.16 [1.14-1.18]). Patients who failed HFNC/NIV had a higher 28-day fatality ratio (OR [95%CI]; 1.27 [1.25-1.30]). Conclusions: In the present international cohort, the most frequently used advanced respiratory support was the HFNC. However, IMV was used more often in LMIC. Higher leucocyte count, tachypnoea, and treatment in LMIC were risk factors for HFNC/NIV failure. HFNC/NIV failure was related to worse clinical outcomes, such as 28-day mortality. Trial registration This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Background: Up to 30% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 require advanced respiratory support, including high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for failing non-invasive respiratory support in patients treated with severe COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic in high-income countries (HICs) and low middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Clinical Characterisation Protocol. Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospital admission were recruited prospectively. Patients treated with HFNC, NIV, or IMV within the first 24 h of hospital admission were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, random forest, and logistic regression analyses were used to describe clinical characteristics and compare clinical outcomes among patients treated with the different types of advanced respiratory support. Results: A total of 66,565 patients were included in this study. Overall, 82.6% of patients were treated in HIC, and 40.6% were admitted to the hospital during the first pandemic wave. During the first 24 h after hospital admission, patients in HICs were more frequently treated with HFNC (48.0%), followed by NIV (38.6%) and IMV (13.4%). In contrast, patients admitted in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were less frequently treated with HFNC (16.1%) and the majority received IMV (59.1%). The failure rate of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. HFNC or NIV) was 15.5%, of which 71.2% were from HIC and 28.8% from LMIC. The variables most strongly associated with non-invasive ventilation failure, defined as progression to IMV, were high leukocyte counts at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 5.86 [4.83–7.10]), treatment in an LMIC (OR [95%CI]; 2.04 [1.97–2.11]), and tachypnoea at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 1.16 [1.14–1.18]). Patients who failed HFNC/NIV had a higher 28-day fatality ratio (OR [95%CI]; 1.27 [1.25–1.30]). Conclusions: In the present international cohort, the most frequently used advanced respiratory support was the HFNC. However, IMV was used more often in LMIC. Higher leucocyte count, tachypnoea, and treatment in LMIC were risk factors for HFNC/NIV failure. HFNC/NIV failure was related to worse clinical outcomes, such as 28-day mortality. Trial registration This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable