Emerson Wagner Mainardes

Stakeholder theory: issues to resolve

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to collate and debate the main issues driving the stakeholder theory academic debate.Design/methodology/approach – First, a discussion of the stakeholder concept is set out before moving on to the history and nature of stakeholder theory. The work proceeds with an attempt to bring together systematically the points of divergence among researchers interested in stakeholder theory, and, finally, there is a brief discussion of these theoretical loopholes in conjunction with a proposed research agenda for the field.Findings – Based on the unification of the theoretically problematic issues, research agenda are put forward with the objective of clarifying doubts and resolving the controversies ongoing among academics. As regards the formulation of stakeholder theory, one question requiring resolution is that of the stakeholder concept itself. Additionally, further research should focus on the boundaries as to what constitutes a stakeholder group as well as defining the ...

A model for stakeholder classification and stakeholder relationships

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a new model of stakeholder classification and a model for explaining the relationship between the organization and its respective stakeholders.Design/methodology/approach – The new proposed model is based on an empirical study that comprises an exploratory study based on 15 interviews and a confirmatory study based on 684 questionnaires answered by staff of 11 public universities. The main variable deployed is the stakeholders respective level of influence from the organizations management perspective, that is, their level of legitimacy, power and urgency.Findings – The new model proposes six stakeholder types (regulator, controller, partner, passive, dependent and non‐stakeholder). To explain the relationship between the stakeholder and the organization, the traditional needs‐satisfaction vision was expanded. The variables of relevance, mutual influence and participation were found to be important in explaining the organization and stakeholder relationship. This stu...

A Relationship Approach to Higher Education Institution Stakeholder Management

The functions of teaching and research in higher education institutions (HEIs) are being reassessed, with particular emphasis on the contribution they make to the welfare of their economic and social environment. To this end, HEIs need to engage in profitable relationships with various stakeholders and incorporate their respective visions into their own management practices. Hence, HEIs need to identify these stakeholders and their needs before defining priorities and relational strategies for each entity. The approach taken is theoretical and based on the combination of three different areas of study: HEIs, stakeholders and relational marketing. Since this subject is a recent topic in HEIs, the contribution of this paper arises from its overview of the empirical research previously conducted, and in this way, highlighting the current status of studies relating to the three themes, while simultaneously pointing out possible future lines of research.

Identifying stakeholders in a Portuguese university : a case study

The Stakeholder Theory proved highly useful to some specific organisations with dispersed powers, such as is the case of universities. This theory may serve to explain the focus on varying communities in the environments surrounding these organisations as well as the relationships between organisations and communities. However, identifying and prioritising the different stakeholders to a university has not proven an easy question to resolve. Given the effective management of university stakeholders necessarily requires the correct identification of just who they are, this article seeks to identify, classify and rank the stakeholders of a university based upon a case study. To this end, we reviewed previous studies sharing similar objectives. After finding that university stakeholders have rarely been identified by empirical means, we carried out a case study on a Portuguese state university that sought to identify and qualify the importance of the respective stakeholder through such means. A series of interviews were held with fifteen individuals, connected with the institution, three from each hierarchical university level. Following content analysis of these interviews, a list containing 21 stakeholders was resulted, duly classified by importance. The final results found students, the teaching and/or research staff and employers identified as the main stakeholders. Furthermore, findings pointed to stakeholders connected to research are gaining greater importance in the contemporary university environment. Indeed, the list clarifies the complexity of universities in identifying 21 distinct groups of stakeholders making this type of organisation a managerial challenge. Given this, stakeholders need to be attributed priorities, with some prevailing over others as it would seem impossible to attribute equal attention to them all.

Determinants of innovation capacity: Empirical evidence from services firms

Abstract This research aims to analyze the degree of importance of investment and expenditure on innovation activities for innovation capacity, in the scope of Portuguese services firms. The literature review considers three main approaches regarding service innovation: Assimilation, demarcation and synthesis. A conceptual model was proposed and several research hypotheses were empirically tested using secondary data, belonging to the 4th CIS 4, supervised by EUROSTAT. A data set from 1306 services firms was studied. The method used was the logistic regression model. According to the results obtained, the greater the financial investment in acquisition of machinery, equipment and software, in internal research and development, in acquisition of external knowledge, in marketing activities and other procedures, the greater the propensity for firms to innovate in terms of services. This study highlights the contributions that innovation activities can provide in what regards the development of innovation process, giving special emphasis to their service innovation.

Portuguese Public University Student Satisfaction: A stakeholder theory-based approach

In accordance with the importance of the student stakeholder to universities, the objective of this research project was to evaluate student satisfaction at Portuguese public universities as regards their self-expressed core expectations. The research was based both on stakeholder theory itself and on previous studies of university stakeholders. The empirical study began with an exploratory study of students at one university to identify their demands, resulting in 25 indicators. These were the basis of a quantitative study, involving students at 11 Portuguese public universities. We received a total of 1669 correctly filled out online surveys. Data analysis deployed descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. We conclude that the level of course requirements, enhanced student value in the employment market, personal student selffulfilment, the university’s environment, motivating lessons and university bureaucratic processes are the key demands strengthening and deepening student satisfaction with both their course of study and the university. Therefore, these factors should receive priority attention from university management.

Expectations of higher education students: a comparison between the perception of student and teachers

Higher education institutions are ever more interested in the development of tools that enable them to evaluate and manage the expectations of their students with the purpose of attracting and keeping them satisfied. This research compares what the faculty believes the students expect from a higher education institution with the expectations of students entering higher education. A quantitative study was performed with students from a higher education institution through the application of a questionnaire covering 32 different expectations. The perceptions of the faculty were also collected through the same questionnaire, suitably adapted. The results of the investigation demonstrated differences in thinking between students and professors, with 19 variables representing student expectations that showed statistically significant mean differences. In 13 variables the students had greater expectations than the faculty believed, while for six variables the faculty indicated higher expectations than the students declared. Identifying the existence of this gap in knowledge will allow the higher education institution to adjust its services to the expectations of students, leading them to greater satisfaction.

Using expectations and satisfaction to measure the frontiers of efficiency in public universities

Students’ satisfaction with their university and course is of fundamental importance to retain students and promote their positive worth-of-mouth. The objective of this research is to analyse the level of efficiency of Portuguese public universities, according to the expectations and satisfaction of their students. To accomplish the objective, this article uses data envelopment analysis methodology. As our unit of analysis, we selected the faculties making up the universities researched. The analytical input came from the expectations of 1669 students regarding their study programme and their universities. The outputs stem from their satisfaction with their study programmes and their universities. We conclude that university practices do not currently guarantee efficiency. We also observe that efficiency in the relationship between expectations and general satisfaction with the study programme does not represent efficiency in the relationship between expectations and general satisfaction with the university, and vice versa.

O MARKETING SOCIAL E A PROMOÇÃO DE MUDANÇAS ESTRUTURAIS NO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO

To assess the practical implications in relation to the breastfeeding behavior, regarding the dimension of the structural problems in the framework of social marketing, a qualitative exploratory research based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was developed, through in-depth interviews with lactation counselors and consultants in Portugal. The content of these interviews revealed some of the key barriers to breastfeeding behavior in the dimension of the structural problems and in the context of social marketing.To assess the practical implications in relation to the breastfeeding behavior, regarding the dimension of the structural problems in the framework of social marketing, a qualitative exploratory research based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was developed, through in-depth interviews with lactation counselors and consultants in Portugal. The content of these interviews revealed some of the key barriers to breastfeeding behavior in the dimension of the structural problems and in the context of social marketing.

A LIDERANÇA TRANSFORMACIONAL COMO FACTOR DE DESENVOLVIMENTO NA GESTÃO PELA QUALIDADE TOTAL: CRIATIVIDADE, INOVAÇÃO, CONFIANÇA E TRABALHO EM EQUIPA

Diversos estudos de investigacao tem conduzido a identificacao da lideranca como um potencial catalisador da gestao pela qualidade total. Alem disso, estudos empiricos tem demonstrado, de forma consistente, uma relacao positiva e significante entre a lideranca transformacional e indicadores de eficiencia no trabalho. Um sistema estruturado de lideranca deve basear-se em valores claros e em principios organizacionais que sustentem os processos de tomada de decisao e permitam orientar e inspirar a organizacao, comprometendo todos os seus colaboradores, na senda de padroes de excelencia. Assim, e para que se promova uma cultura de excelencia orientada para a qualidade total, e necessaria uma forte concertacao e convergencia das praticas de gestao entre todos os actores organizacionais. Neste contexto, e fundamental que a direccao de topo da organizacao estabeleca um conjunto de valores e principios organizacionais capazes de estabelecer um rumo a seguir, e balizem o comportamento dos seus membros, orientando a accao organizacional para elevados padroes de qualidade. Entre os investigadores e especialistas, e unânime reconhecer que cabe a direccao de topo liderar o movimento pela qualidade. Neste sentido, e expectavel que os lideres definam a missao e a estrategia organizacional, estabelecam valores e principios de gestao inspiradores das melhores praticas de gestao orientadas para a qualidade total. Este trabalho explora a relacao conceptual entre a lideranca transformacional e a gestao pela qualidade total – ao nivel das dimensoes da inovacao, criatividade, confianca e trabalho em equipa – apresentando proposicoes iniciais que podem nortear futuras investigacoes dentro desta area de conhecimento.