A PERSPECTIVE ON THE EFFECTS OF THE USE OF QUALITY COST INFORMATION ON QUALITY-RELATED LEARNING

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects on quality-related learning resulting from the use of the quality cost information (QCI). More specifically, we intend to analyze to what extent the diagnostic and interactive uses of QCI contribute to the development of quality-related learning. A conceptual model was developed and tested using structural equation modelling. To this end, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Portuguese companies with the ISO 9000 certification. The results of the estimation process shed light on the causal links between the variables, showing that the interactive use of QCI has a positive effect on quality-related learning. Inversely, the diagnostic use hasn’t a direct positive impact on qualityrelated learning. However, the diagnostic use of QCI has an indirect positive impact on learning through the positive effect it on interactive use

The Challenges of Strategic Human Resources Management in Southeast Asian Universities

Nowadays the Higher Education Institutions face major challenges in its development. Demanding from different actors and the orientation of the research, more oriented to innovation and value creation, request news capacities to answer to that. Southeast Asia shows a strong economic growth with a large increase in GDP and a growing improvement in the position of The Human Development Index promoted by United Nations. This reality creates a different pressure on the higher education institutions in southeast Asia that requires a change in the universities, in the way they implement the mission and in the requested capacities, specially the human resources capacities. In this way, a new paradigm and model of human resources management for southeast higher education institutions need be developed to create the conditions to answer to this new reality, where the main analysis variables will be talent, performance, motivation and retention, coaching, cross cultural, integrity and permanent adaptability and flexibility. The main objective of this communication is to reflect and contextualize in terms of theoretical models where we find the assumptions for the implementation of strategic human resources management for southeast Asian universities. What kind of profile is request for the staff in this new reality? What we need to change in human resources management? How can this change be implemented? What HRM tools are most relevant to this reality? These are the main issues on which we will reflect with a critical thinking approach in order to present a set of clues to southeast Asian universities according to our analysis and interpretation, as Portuguese and European

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems: Critical Analysis of Literature Review

Purpose and Methodology/Approach: This paper follows a previous one focused on a bibliographic review of motivations, benefits and difficulties in implementing quality management systems (QMS) based on ISO 9001 standard (Saraiva et al, 2017). Controversial, conflicting and even contradictory, and/or non-consensual findings in same or different countries have suggested other dimensions were lacking. So, a further and critical analysis was deepened in order to identify possible flaws in dimensions of analysis and in methodological issues, which is the scope of this paper. Findings: Many research works were based on perceptions/opinions (eg. motivations, benefits, difficulties) and tangible results were missing, being conclusions built only on qualitative data. Quantitative data were not used to objectivize and validated qualitative findings. Physical or economic indicators rarely were presented. Researchers may not have asked for quantitative data or even ignore these aspects of organizational reality, or the organizations also do not have this type of data. It is hard to corroborate statements (from company’s managers) or findings (from researchers) without other objective evidences (examples are: motivations influence the QMS performance; cost reduction is a benefit; the biggest difficulties in implementation/certification of QMS are the excessive and complex (bureaucratic) documentation, the weak commitment to quality by management and staff, the high cost/scarce resources and the time spent with the additional tasks for the implementation process; organizations operating an ISO 9001 QMS show a better performance). Another matters such as the relative size of the certification phenomenon in each country or region and their economic and social development were generally unknown or were not taken into account. These contextual factors can distort findings. The scientific affiliation of researchers (eg. Industrial engineering, Management, Sociology, Organizational psychology) may also have implications for the research perspective and aspects that are privileged in analysis and conclusions. Research Limitation/implication: Additionally, other methodological issues can also be related to data collection instruments (eg. questionnaires to collect perceptions/opinions) are not the most appropriate for achieving some desired information or data processing does not validate conclusions. Thus, we will take into account in our future research these limitations we have identified in this one and strongly recommend to other researchers our conclusions. Originality/Value of paper:These reflections and findings suggest further and deeper work for research in QMS and other related topics, looking for those dimensions already identified as missing, and/or considering more dimensions, bearing in mind concerns that quality movement is losing popularity, because it does not appear to managers consistently with quantitative data proving contributions of quality to increase productivity and competitiveness. Finally, we raise methodological questions about research on these topics, and other dimensions of analysis are recommended

Improving visual attractiveness to enhance city-river integration - a methodological approach for ongoing evaluation

The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdependence to a progressive relationship of segregation and disintegration. This article uses a planning experiment to explore and discuss some concerns about visual attractiveness of city–river landscapes in promoting spatial integration of cities and rivers. It presents a methodological approach integrating expert opinions and public perception questionnaires. This is a contribution to making operational an ongoing aesthetic assessment of different dimensions and viewpoints at the city scale. This approach is illustrated with a case-study in the Lisbon metropolitan area and its main assessment results are integrated in a city–river profile that can be useful in ongoing evaluation processes of river landscapes and urban planning practice

A Capacity Building for Higher Education ERASMUS+ Project: Strategic Human Resources Management for Southeast Asian Universities (HR4ASIA)

The development and optimization of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is becoming more and more important. Consequently, Human Resources Management (HRM) has gained greater prominence in the management of these institutions. Due to the complexity of academic contexts of HEIs, HRM models need to be able to respond to new challenges. These challenges concern selection, motivation and development of their staff. Currently, especially in Southeast Asian countries, Human Resources approaches need to be more efficient and tailored to current labor and societal needs. In order to support Higher Education organizational changes in Southeast Asia, a consortium of 4 institutions from Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy and Lithuania) and 8 from Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand) lead by the University of Danang (Vietnam), applied to a Capacity Building for Higher Education project under the framework of the Erasmus+ Program. The project “Strategic Human Resources Management for Southeast Asian Universities” (HR4Asia) approved in 2016 and co-funded by the European Commission aims at contributing to Higher Education organizational reform in Southeast Asia by improving HRM at the target HEIs from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Thailand. Each partner has well defined tasks according to the work packages established on the project. This research is focused on the competences that workers need to achieve to have a better performance in the institution. It was necessary to present and deconstruct, among others, the concepts of competence as capacity and competency as performance, to learn how to measure competencies and to manage competency and Human Resources. Staff involved in this project will be able to design and define the competencies model of the structures of each HEI to define the competency model per structure (mapping of organizational competencies and a model of competences of structures). This is one more step to achieve the following final goals: introduce in Southeast Asian HEIs a scheme to developing and implementing innovative HRM approaches, paying attention to transversal and additional skills, such as communication and self-learning. Tailor-made dissemination activities addressing non-partner HEIs, Ministries of Higher Education and other stakeholders will promote the project objectives, paving the way for its sustainability

MOTIVAÇÕES, OBSTÁCULOS E BENEFÍCIOS DA QUALIDADE: O ESTADO DA ARTE

Com a globalização da economia, a família de normas e diretrizes internacionais de gestão da qualidade ISO 9000 ganhou uma reputação universal. Ao contrário dos padrões de qualidade relativos aos produtos e serviços, as normas ISO 9000 aplicam-se ao sistema de gestão da qualidade (SGQ), para garantir que as entidades que o tenham implementado e certificado o mantêm de acordo com os requisitos exigidos, processo não isento de custos e dificuldades. A esta tendência para a implementação e certificação de sistemas de gestão da qualidade estão subjacentes motivações, obstáculos e benefícios, cuja investigação tem sido largamente feita em todo o mundo, por vezes com resultados conflituantes, justificando-se assim mais investigação nesta área. O presente artigo insere-se num projeto de investigação no âmbito do Mestrado em Gestão da Universidade de Évora, subordinado ao título “A relevância do sistema de gestão da qualidade e o papel da contabilidade nas pequenas e médias empresas portuguesas”, tendo como objectivo conhecer o estado da arte no que respeita às motivações, obstáculos e benefícios da qualidade. A revisão da literatura sugere que tanto os motivos externos como os internos são importantes, uns e outros mais ou menos intensos, dependendo do tipo de organização e do contexto onde atua. As maiores dificuldades na implementação / certificação do SGQ residem na burocracia, no fraco compromisso com a qualidade, no custo e no tempo despendido. Regra geral, os trabalhos de investigação consultados apontam para um melhor desempenho das organizações que dispõem de um SGQ ISO 9000. Todavia, também neste caso os estudos não são consensuais, havendo resultados onde a correlação entre a certificação do SGQ e o desempenho das empresas é apenas marginal ou não existe

Quality and Social Responsibility: A view to continuous improvement and excellence in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions, the perspective of the students integrated in mobility programmes

The Total Quality Management (TQM) is increasingly a need for organizations. The growing social concerns have led organizations to think evolutionarily in quality, especially those wishing to make an approach towards excellence. TQM can be used as a determinant of the development of a corporate culture ethically sensitive. Models such as the European Quality Award and European Foundation for Quality Management incorporate an element of social responsibility and management practices compatible with the defender of the ideals of Corporate Social Responsibility (Ghobadian and Woo, 1996 and Martin-Castilla, 2002, cited by Ghobadian et al., 2007). Institutions of higher education are among the group of institutions that demand excellence. The quality and social responsibility are factors that begin to be part of their strategies. Students from Higher Education Institutions (HEI) integrated in mobility programs, increasingly important stakeholders for these institutions, will have their own perspective on these matters which is important on the evaluation of HEI

Total Quality Management and Corporate Social Responsibility. Literature review. The case of Nabeiro Delta Cafés Group

The relationship between the themes of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Social Responsibility (CSR) through the concepts, approaches and models of excellence is a reality of sustainable and stable companies. Being organizations, people, act correctly and rightly do in society go through a quality management and social responsibility thereof. It is based on these two philosophies (Total Quality Management and Corporate Social Responsibility), which developed this literature review work, essentially based on a relational analysis in two papers, namely: "TQM and CSR Nexus" by Ghobadian et al. (2007) and "The Corporate Social Responsibility Audit Within the Quality Management Framework," de Kok et al. (2001) and applied to an organizational situation in concrete: the Nabeiro Delta Cafés Group - SGPS, SA