A. Nuno Martins and Aline Rocha
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role played by small-size non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in slum upgrading, building and incremental housing processes in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role played by small-size non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in slum upgrading, building and incremental housing processes in Brazil and Guinea-Bissau, focusing, in particular, on actions to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance community resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method relied on literature review and fieldwork. It included surveys, activities with the communities, interviews and questionnaires. The data collected were subject to cross-disciplinary and comparative analysis.
Findings
The paper analyses the innovative methods and solutions used by NGOs in informal settlement upgrading and housing improvement works related to disaster risk reduction, namely, community mapping and design, and show how they end up building community resilience.
Research limitations/implications
Grasping the impacts of NGOs’ work whether in slums of Brazil or Africa requires staying with communities for a significant amount of time. However, those stays raise many practical problems regarding security, health and related costs.
Originality/value
The existing literature misses to address from a comparative perspective, the methods used by social workers and designers teams in slums. This paper aims at filling this gap in slum studies. Its originality and value rely on the particular experience of the authors, who were personally involved in the NGOs actions and could deepen the connections between vulnerabilities, risk and successful aid-self-help practices.
Details
Keywords
A. Nuno Martins, José Manuel Mendes and Pedro Pinto Santos
Bruna Kaziano do Amaral Castro, Aline Dresch and Douglas Rafael Veit
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key critical factors that affect the success of Business Process Management (BPM) implementations, considering the literature and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key critical factors that affect the success of Business Process Management (BPM) implementations, considering the literature and experts practical experience.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, and 25 articles from 12 different countries were selected and analyzed. In addition, through a survey, 113 BPM experts were consulted in order to assist in the evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) initially identified in the bibliography.
Findings
All CSFs identified in the literature were accepted as real critical factors according to the tacit knowledge of the experts. Thus, the factors identified in the literature and approved to a large extent by the experts can serve as a basis for organizations and professionals who want to implement BPM to know of their existence, to relate to them, to control them and thus to potentiate the success of the implementation.
Originality/value
The construction of the theoretical framework based on SLR on BPM is a contribution to the bibliographic database. Another contribution is the identification and synthesis of the CSFs most cited by different authors from 12 different countries and its analysis by professionals on BPM.
Details
Keywords
Aline Luiza Brusco Pletsch, Elisete Aparecida Ferreira Stenger and Simone Sehnem
This research centres on how digital technologies are revolutionizing agriculture, affording farmers improved access to information, crop forecasts, markets and innovations, in…
Abstract
Purpose
This research centres on how digital technologies are revolutionizing agriculture, affording farmers improved access to information, crop forecasts, markets and innovations, in addition to facilitating training and other benefits. The purpose of this investigation is to examine how technologies used in the Agro 4.0 industry facilitate agricultural and livestock practices.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough examination of the existing literature on this subject was conducted, encompassing articles published between 2013 and 2023 that have been catalogued in Scopus and the Web of Science.
Findings
The analysis of these studies reveals the growing significance of innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, precision agriculture, the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics in the transformation of agriculture and livestock farming. The implementation of these technologies is occurring across various sectors of agricultural production, including livestock production, shrimp farming, vertical farming, supply chains, irrigation, grain inspection, the dairy sector and smart farms. The impacts identified include improvements in productivity, intelligent analysis systems, operational efficiency, transparency and reliability, management per square metre, optimization, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, enhancement of food security and risk reduction.
Originality/value
Therefore, the contributions of technologies are associated with data-based decision-making, digital skills to maximize agribusiness performance, digital transformation in the field and competitiveness in the global market.
Details
Keywords
Estefania Julia Dierings de Souza, Aline Machado Pereira, Mauro Fontana, Nathan Levien Vanier and Marcia Arocha Gularte
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rice flour obtained from rice grains with different levels of amylose on technological, nutritional and sensory…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rice flour obtained from rice grains with different levels of amylose on technological, nutritional and sensory properties of cookies made with a blend of rice and cowpea flour.
Design/methodology/approach
The cookies preparation was set at a ratio of rice flour and cowpea beans 70:30. The studied formulations were: LA: low amylose rice flour; MA: medium-amylose rice flour; HA: high amylose rice flour. The quality of the obtained cookies was analyzed for proximate composition, in vitro protein digestibility, thickness, diameter, dispersion factor, texture, color, amino acid profile and sensory properties.
Findings
Proximate composition and in vitro protein digestibility showed no differences between the three studied formulations. The medium and low amylose rice flour cookies showed the lowest hardness values. The combination of rice and beans allowed a good balance of essential amino acids. The cookies formulated with high amylose rice flour presented lighter coloration, low hardness and greater sensory preference.
Originality/value
Rice and cowpea flours are an alternative source for the preparation of gluten-free bakery products, such as cookies. The high amylose content of rice flour has less negative interference in the texture characteristics of the cookies. The combination of rice and beans flour provides a balance of essential amino acids.
Details
Keywords
Marcos Fabricio Machado, Daniel Pacheco Lacerda, Maria Isabel Wolf Motta Morandi, Luis Felipe Riehs Camargo and Aline Dresch
The purpose of the present study is to identify and measure economically the losses related to inventory management in an oil refinery.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study is to identify and measure economically the losses related to inventory management in an oil refinery.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory case study was conducted to search for a better understanding of a phenomenon and its implications.
Findings
The results obtained based on the case study suggest the need to observe this phenomenon in other contexts and take managerial actions that will eliminate waste as one of the forms of generating value for the company. The results were related to each other and to the traditional metrics of inventory management and can be used as a base to improve mathematical and computational models for production planning and scheduling and also performance indicators.
Originality/value
No studies have been found that attempt to measure the economic losses derived from inventory management and their capacity in this environment.
Details
Keywords
Jonas Lucio Maia, Aline Lamon Cerra and Alceu Gomes Alves Filho
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the “automaker‐supplier” relationships that exist in a supply chain of the Brazilian automotive sector, based on assumptions and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the “automaker‐supplier” relationships that exist in a supply chain of the Brazilian automotive sector, based on assumptions and variables of transaction cost economics (TCE).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explored case studies carried out at an automotive engine manufacturer and six of its suppliers, applying semistructured interviews.
Findings
The findings indicate that automakers seek to utilize a form of hybrid relationship with their suppliers, which sometimes resembles competition and at other times cooperation; asset specificity tends to be greater in the first‐tier of the supply chain; and asset specificity seems to be mediated by aspects such as the amount of production destined to the manufacturer, the objective of maximizing return on previous investments, and the configuration of higher value‐added supply operations.
Practical implications
The results corroborate that close, long‐lasting, and trustful relationships tend to reduce transaction costs and improve performance, but in some cases, “latent competition” may also lead to reduced costs; managers should not undervalue the self‐reinforcing effects of asset specificity in a context of shared investments; and business strategy should guide every decision made inside supply chains in order to align supply and operations priorities.
Originality/value
Considering the deep restructuring process that Brazilian automotive industry has experienced, this paper brings its contribution in using TCE tools to analyze relationships inside an engine‐producing supply chain, dealing with the links between TCE and supply chain management.
Details
Keywords
Dien Van Tran, Phuong Van Nguyen, Sam Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Thang Nam Huynh and Khanh Van Ma
Open social innovation has become a critical practice for firms competing in volatile markets. Simultaneously, the rise of digital technologies has opened opportunities across…
Abstract
Purpose
Open social innovation has become a critical practice for firms competing in volatile markets. Simultaneously, the rise of digital technologies has opened opportunities across sectors, making digital transformation a key driver of corporate change. This study examines the impact of internal and external factors, such as social capital, absorptive capacity and government support, in facilitating open social innovation and digital transformation activities, which may ultimately enhance business performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a questionnaire survey distributed to management members across various enterprises in a wide range of industries in Vietnam. A total of 289 valid responses were obtained, and the research hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
First, open social innovation positively influences digital transformation, with absorptive capacity mediating this relationship. Second, social capital directly affects open social innovation and indirectly impacts digital transformation through open social innovation. Third, digital transformation directly enhances business performance, while absorptive capacity indirectly influences business performance through digital transformation. Finally, government support directly impacts business performance and indirectly influences digital transformation via open social innovation.
Originality/value
By integrating social capital theory and the resource-based view, this research significantly advances the understanding of the complex relationships among government support, social capital, open social innovation, digital transformation, absorptive capacity and business performance.