In the conventional positive neoclassical economics, the underlying behavioral assumptions concerning government activity clearly contrast with those usually admitted for other…
Abstract
In the conventional positive neoclassical economics, the underlying behavioral assumptions concerning government activity clearly contrast with those usually admitted for other economic agents. While the latter are assumed to seek their own private interest, although accomplishing in that way a social function, governments are assumed to have as their main objective the maximization of social welfare. Hence, the assumption that economic policies are intended to stabilize economic activity follows as a consequence. The inconsistency of this asymmetry between the treatment of government and other agents was clearly stressed by Downs (1957):
Lorena Marcelino dos Santos, Lucas Fedalto Sartori, Luiz Fernando de Lima Luz Junior and Fernando Augusto Pedersen Voll
This research investigates the behavior of granulated sugar particles of different sizes in a rotating drum at varying speeds, using the discrete element method (DEM) as a…
Abstract
Purpose
This research investigates the behavior of granulated sugar particles of different sizes in a rotating drum at varying speeds, using the discrete element method (DEM) as a mathematical modeling approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The study conducted a data scan to determine both static and rolling friction coefficients. Based on benchmark studies, the Hertz–Mindlin contact model with rolling history elastic-plastic spring-dashpot (EPSD) and CDT (directional constant torque) models were employed to simulate the behavior of granulated sugar particles in a rotating drum under varying speeds.
Findings
In this research, the static and rolling friction coefficients presented the best values for granulated sugar near 0.60 and 1.5, respectively, applying the CDT model. The method demonstrated great accuracy in replicating experimental data.
Originality/value
This study enables comprehension of the behavior of the particles and particle system in a rotating drum at different speeds. The method may develop models that characterize and predict the main effects of particle systems to reduce project time and expense, especially in the food industry.
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Luiz Fernando do Nascimento Vieira, Igor dos Santos Caetano and Ricardo França Santos
This study assesses outsourcing risks using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP).
Abstract
Purpose
This study assesses outsourcing risks using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP).
Design/methodology/approach
This descriptive research combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Risks identified in the literature review were classified with FAHP using questionnaire data from respondents in operations, procurement and risk management in Brazilian Navy Industrial Military Organizations (OMPS-I, by its Portuguese acronym).
Findings
The results indicate that FAHP is a method capable of producing relevant information to decision-making in the risk management process. A framework was created incorporating 16 major risks related to outsourcing. The results point to higher inherent risk levels related to outsourcing in the context of OMPS-Is: in order, hidden costs and unrealized savings; loss of knowledge/skills and/or corporate memory and difficulty in reacquiring a function; and loss of opportunities and reputation. The category of economic risk was revealed as the most important.
Originality/value
This study improves understanding of outsourcing risks and improves risk assessment by refining decision-making information and developing a system of decision analysis with several criteria. It also contributes to the development and implementation of a usable version of decision analysis with several criteria at a managerial level.
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Eulalia Santos, Vasco Tavares, Fernando Oliveira Tavares and Vanessa Ratten
Risk is part of corporate activity and a consequence of the businesses' demands, the market and the changes in companies and their surroundings. The way that risk is managed is…
Abstract
Purpose
Risk is part of corporate activity and a consequence of the businesses' demands, the market and the changes in companies and their surroundings. The way that risk is managed is different between family and non-family businesses. The paper aims to compare the different risk types experienced in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic among family and non-family businesses and to analyze whether operational, legal, strategic and image risks influence financial risks.
Design/methodology/approach
The nature of the study is quantitative and based on a questionnaire survey that analyses the perception of risks by 1,090 family businesses and 557 non-family businesses.
Findings
The results show the existence of statistically significant differences in the perception of financial and legal risks between family and non-family businesses, where the former being the businesses that give more importance to these risks. The perception of operational, legal, strategic and image risks have a positive influence on the perception of financial risk in family and non-family businesses.
Originality/value
The results obtained in the study are important because they allow an understanding about the differences in risk management between family and non-family businesses, which can lead to greater corporate sustainability and increased financial performance.
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Pedro Henrique de Oliveira, Fernando César Almada Santos, Marco Antônio Catussi Paschoalotto, Diego Valério de Godoy Delmônico and Ana Cláudia Fernandes Terence
Despite the school organizational culture broad literature, there is still a gap on culture and educational management, mainly in the public environment. To fill out this space…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the school organizational culture broad literature, there is still a gap on culture and educational management, mainly in the public environment. To fill out this space, this article wants to point out the cultural factors that creates school management change in the Brazilian public school context.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample is a polar multi-case approach with two high performance and two low performance Brazilian schools. The authors conducted 12 interviews, three each school, with school principal, pedagogical coordinator and administrative officer. To analyze the data, the authors applied synthetic analysis to identify the cultural factors and your conduciveness to change in schools.
Findings
The results point out organizational culture as low understood in public municipal schools. These results also indicate the cultural dimensions power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, long-term orientation and indulgence as influencers of school management. Therefore, organizational culture is a factor to change and improve performance in public school management.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the low comprehensiveness by the school managers, the authors pointed out the importance of the cultural factors, such as power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, long-term orientation and indulgence, in the school management. Future research could assess quantitatively the cultural factors presented here.
Social implications
The paper provides cultural aspects in the school environment that should be considered in the school management improvement process and school principals’ actions.
Originality/value
The results fulfil the gap of organizational culture and school management in the public sector studies, by pointing out cultural factors of change in the school environment.
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Christian Eric Barrantes Briceño and Fernando César Almada Santos
This paper aims to analyze some knowledge management (KM) frameworks that sustainable development goals (SDGs) can apply to such a challenging implementation.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze some knowledge management (KM) frameworks that sustainable development goals (SDGs) can apply to such a challenging implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
To accomplish this, a systematic scientific literature review was carried out about the KM concept. Searching, analyzing and collecting different KM frameworks were crossed and compared to achieve a standard KM framework list, based on the most important and relevant information collected.
Findings
The study outlines how and which KM frameworks may be applied in an effort to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs, so it can overcome the barriers and pitfalls related to the knowledge management use.
Research limitations/implications
The paper shows some SDG areas that deserve future attention and deep implementation with KM frameworks.
Originality/value
With the enormous potential and vision of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), there is a barrier in its progress and development: the knowledge use, in both the local knowledge aspects and general knowledge management. This paper creates a Knowledge Management Excellence Model (KMEM) linked to SDGs, which will help and promote its use to educate and involve all those interested in meeting these goals.
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Fernando Tavares, Eulália Santos, Ana Diogo and Vanessa Ratten
The purpose of this article is to analyze the experiences experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, based on an experimental marketing perspective and to validate a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to analyze the experiences experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, based on an experimental marketing perspective and to validate a scale of experiences for the quarantine context.
Design/methodology/approach
The life of a human being is a sum of the experiences that occur in their daily life, from experiences at home, to experiences at work, shopping, holidays and, essentially, with other human beings. However, experiences during the quarantine period became limited to experiences at home. For this, we used a questionnaire survey that analyzes the experiences experienced by individuals. The sample consists of 726 individuals who were in Portugal during the quarantine and confinement period.
Findings
The results show that the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis produced a structure with four factors that the authors called Sense and Feel, Pandemic Feel, Pandemic Think and Act. The experiences are manifested with greater intensity in the factors Pandemic Think and Sense and Feel. The scale of experiences used showed to have convergent and discriminant validity and adequate internal consistency. It is expected that the present study will contribute to increase scientific knowledge in the behavioral area and in the area of positive psychology in the context of pandemic and confinement situations.
Originality/value
The results achieved become useful for health and marketing professionals, which allow them to define appropriate strategies to better serve the population in order to improve people's health, well-being and quality of life.
Samara Marques Gomes, David Ferreira Lopes Santos and Leonardo Fernando Cruz Basso
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation strategies of the sugar–energy industry in Central-Southern Brazil with regard to its resource structure and results.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation strategies of the sugar–energy industry in Central-Southern Brazil with regard to its resource structure and results.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected through a questionnaire covering the three-year period from 2015 through 2017. The results were extracted based on a combination of factor analysis and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The innovation strategies of Brazilian sugar–energy companies are characterized as defensive and imitative based on the resources dedicated to innovation and the implementation of innovation with respect to products, processes, eco-innovation and cost reductions.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is representative, but it does not cover all companies in the Brazilian sugar–energy industry. The data were acquired using a survey, and the results could not be compared to the financial results of the companies.
Practical implications
Sugar–energy companies need to define their innovation strategies, as these strategies lead to different results that can be achieved only through the management of resources dedicated to the generation and implementation of innovations. Managers and analysts need to know the profile of these innovation strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of the results based on the resources that were invested.
Originality/value
This study presents an exploratory model that identified two factors related to innovation efforts and three results. It is possible to define the innovation strategies of companies in the Brazilian sugar–energy industry, which is one of the most competitive in Brazil.
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Fernando Morgado, Paula Bacelar-Nicolau, Jaime Rendon von Osten, Paulo Santos, Leonor Bacelar-Nicolau, Harith Farooq, Fátima Alves, Amadeu M.V.M. Soares and Ulisses M. Azeiteiro
Higher education system has a critical role to play in educating environmentally aware and participant citizens about global climate change (CC). And, as shown by the 21st…
Abstract
Purpose
Higher education system has a critical role to play in educating environmentally aware and participant citizens about global climate change (CC). And, as shown by the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Climate Change – COP 21, held in Paris in December 2015, there is still a path to be followed regarding the role played by universities in the negotiations and in influencing decision-making on a matter of such global importance. The purpose of this first study conducted within Portuguese (Europe), Mexican (Spanish-speaking North America University) and Mozambican (Africa) universities is to investigate higher education system students’ perceptions on CC.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected through a questionnaire aiming at characterising students from the socio-demography, and from their perceptions, motivations, attitudes and knowledge relating to the topic of CC. Statistical analysis was used to compare and characterise the three national groups under study.
Findings
This study did not show significant perception differences among the analysed subsamples, although there was a tendency for Mexican students to express lesser belief that CC was happening, and for Mozambicans to show a greater belief in CC issues and motivation to mitigate its effects which may be related to the specifics contexts. The results show that relevant differences among nationalities mostly concerned the magnitude of choices (e.g. most respondents of each nationality expressed interest in CC issues, but the magnitude of this expression differed according to nationality). The principal component analysis (second and third components) clearly embodied nationality profiles (discussed in the context of different cultures, educational structures and CC impacts).
Research limitations/implications
Further research is warranted to understand the integration of CC into higher education curriculum to improve and target educational efforts to suit students’ needs.
Practical implications
How CC perceptions vary cross-nationally and how research studies that examine the integration of CC into higher education curriculum are areas for which more research is needed.
Originality/value
The results highlight the importance of socio-cultural dimensions of each country in relation to the understanding or perception of CC issues, namely, in what concerns aspects related with gender roles, age, active learning and citizenship. This study’s data evidenced that despite the surveyed students being familiarized with CC phenomena, this knowledge does not translate necessarily into concrete mitigation practices and behaviours.