Paula Odete Fernandes

Using importance-performance analysis in evaluating institutions of higher education: A case study

A large number of management quality models that are universally applied in the business environment, have been adapted and used in the education sector. The aim of this paper is to assess the quality attributes of higher education from different perspectives, namely from that of School of Technology and Management students, applying the Importance-Performance Analysis. The results show that students are satisfied with their institution.

Training Neural Networks by Resilient Backpropagation Algorithm for Tourism Forecasting

The main objective of this study is to presents a set of models for tourism destinations competitiveness, using the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) methodology. The time series of two regions (North and Centre of Portugal) has used to predict the tourism demand. The prediction for two years ahead gives a mean absolute percentage error between 5 and 9 %. Therefore, the ANN model is adequate for modelling and prediction of the reference time series. This model is an important and useful framework for better planning and development of these two regions as they operate in highly competitive markets.

Pattern Aggregation of Wind Energy Conversion Technologies Using Clustering Analysis

The main objective of this research is the identification of homogeneous groups within a set of wind farms of a major wind energy promoter in Portugal, based on two multivariate analyses: Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and K-means Clustering, using two independent variables, capacity factor and net production, both per year. K-means Clustering output provides the same results as the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Outputs allowed the identification of three homogenous groups of wind farms: (1) medium installed capacity and asynchronous generator based technologies, (2) high installed capacity and direct driven synchronous generator based technology and (3) low installed capacity with no differentiation on the technology concept, but including the wind farms with the higher capacity factors.

Wind farms model aggregation using probabilistic clustering

The main objective of this research is the identification of homogeneous groups within wind farms of a major operator playing in the energy sector in Portugal, based on two multivariate analyses: Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Discriminant Analysis, by using two independent variables: annual liquid hours and net production. From the produced outputs there were identified three homogenous groups of wind farms: (1) medium Installed Capacity and Induction Generator based Technology, (2) high Installed Capacity and Synchronous Generator based Technology and (3) medium Installed Capacity and Synchronous Generator based Technology, which includes the wind farms with the higher annual liquid hours. It has been found that the results obtained by cluster analysis are well classified, with a total percentage of correct classification of 97,1%, which can be considered excellent.

Connecting Funding to Entrepreneurs: A Profile of the Main Crowdfunding Platforms

The general purpose of this chapter is to describe and analyse the financing phenomenon of crowdfunding and to investigate the relations between crowdfunders, project creators and crowdfunding websites. More specifically, it also intends to describe the profile differences between major crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The results showed that both Kickstarter and Indiegogo are among the most popular crowdfunding platforms. Both of them have thousands of users and these users are generally satisfied. Most of them rely on individual approaches for crowdfunding. Despite this, Kickstarter and Indiegogo could benefit from further improving their services. Furthermore, according to the results, it was possible to observe that there is a direct and positive relationship between the money needed for the projects and the money collected from the investors for the projects, per platform.

Acoustic Analysis of Chronic Laryngitis - Statistical Analysis of Sustained Speech Parameters.

This paper describes the statistical analysis of a set of features extracted from the speech of sustained vowels of patients with chronic laryngitis and control subjects. The idea is to identify which features can be useful in a classification intelligent system to discriminate between pathologic and healthy voices. The set of features analysed consist in the Jitter, Shimmer Harmonic to Noise Ratio (HNR), Noise to Harmonic Ratio (NHR) and Autocorrelation extracted from the sound of a sustained vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/ in a low, neutral and high tones. The results showed that besides the absolute Jitter, no statistical significance exist between male and female voices, considering the classification between pathologic or healthy. Any of the analysed parameters is likely to be a statistical difference between control and Chronic Laryngitis groups. This is an important information that these features can be used in an intelligent system to classify healthy from Chronic Laryngitis voices.

Editorial 63 (2) Especial Contabilidad

La Contabilidad es, en esencia, el lenguaje de los negocios y el resumen de los hechos economicos con el fin de brindar informacion financiera para la toma de decisiones. Se materializa en los informes financieros de la empresa, que se difunden periodicamente entre una amplia diversidad de partes interesadas, y que se usan como fuente primaria de percepciones y creencias financieras. Como reflejo de la dinamica de los negocios, la informacion financiera debe ser util al observar las caracteristicas cualitativas fundamentales –relevancia y representacion fiel- y las caracteristicas cualitativas que la refuerzan –comparabilidad, verificabilidad, oportunidad, y comprensibilidad. Este numero especial sobre el alcance de la Contabilidad y otras areas cientificas relacionadas, como Auditoria e Impuestos, fue inspirado por la importancia de la informacion financiera en todo el proceso de toma de decisiones, y por el papel de algunos agentes del Gobierno Corporativo como garantes y controladores de la confiabilidad y transparencia de la informacion. Este numero, que se centra de manera especial en esas areas cientificas, puede, sin duda, ser una contribucion a la teoria y a la practica, enfatizando algunas de las antiguas y actuales paradojas, e impulsando a los lectores hacia direcciones y retos futuros. La organizacion de un numero especial es siempre un reto interesante. Se basa en el deseo de capturar e integrar en el numero especial los mejores y mas recientes desarrollos ocurridos en un area cientifica particular. En efecto, estamos convencidos de que hemos logrado claramente ese objetivo al brindar a nuestros lectores un conjunto de trabajos utiles y originales.

Measuring the Degree of Innovation in Retail and Services’ Micro and Small Enterprises

Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are considered the most dynamic and flexible arrangement of activity. In the economy, the foundation and development of these features is important for the creation of the so-called “normal” economic environment. The main objective of this research is to present a research model of innovation in MSEs to analyse: first, the degree of innovation of MSEs, and second, how the innovation is handled by existing MSEs as a result of its business environment. The research made is based on a sample of 550 MSEs distributed over six cities across the Brazilian State of Piauí. The data were collected using the Innovation Radar application, which is owned by the SEBRAE Local Innovation Agents program. Statistical techniques of descriptive, exploratory, and inferential nature were used for corresponding data treatment and results validation. The results obtained suggest that MSEs have innovation capacity between the “Little Innovative” and “Occasional Innovative” range, and also that the average and the distribution of innovation levels are similar amongst MSEs analyzed.

Management design as a strategic lever to add value to corporate reputation competitiveness in higher education institutions

The purpose of this paper is to aid the convergence of design and management as a strategic lever and innovative tool to improve corporate reputation in higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly in the Polytechnic Institute of Braganca, Portugal (IPB).,SWOT analysis is used to identify strengths and weaknesses in the context of an organization’s internal competencies (identity) and opportunities and threats in an analysis of the organization’s external competitive context (image). Quantitative analysis was used based on questionnaires conducted with IPB community to analyse if differences exist between identity (staff) and image (students) and where there are design structures (website, visual identity, advertising and environment. Corporate character scale developed by Davies et al. (2003, 2004) was used.,With the SWOT analysis, it is possible to outline IPB performance strategies that meet a positive reputation. A positive corporate reputation was found in IPB with the study of corporate character scale. It has been realized where there are differences from the point of view of identity and image, and thus, it is possible to indicate ideas of improvement to increase the competitiveness of HEIs.,The study is restricted to five schools of IPB. It would also be pertinent to broaden the scope of the stakeholders, encompassing the external community of the IPB that is extending the study to the external public, such as parents, companies, suppliers and secondary students.,HEI competitiveness implies student recruitment and public policies. A positive reputation implies a positive brand image. Design competencies of the public higher education sector can go much further acting at the strategic level, establishing its directives of action in the markets where it operates to reflect its corporate reputation in a positive way in the mind of the consumer. Intangible assets such as identity, image and corporate reputation, appear as very valuable elements, presenting an increasing importance in the management of universities that entered a market context where sustainability requires the adoption of more entrepreneurial management guidelines.,The paper is useful for the professionals and academics in perceiving the importance of use management and strategical tools to identify HEI communication and reputation difficulties for a thorough design thinking that delineates solutions that leverage the competitiveness of service organizations such as HEIs.

Probabilistic Clustering of Wind Energy Conversion Systems Using Classification Models

This research intends to give insights on the pattern aggregation of wind energy conversion systems technologies through identification of homogeneous groups within a set of wind farms installed in Portugal. Pattern aggregation is performed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis followed by Discriminant Analysis, in order to validate the results produced by the first one. The clustering support matrix uses three independent variables: installed capacity, net production and capacity factor, in a per year basis. Cluster labelling allows the identification of two homogenous groups of wind farms, whose main attributes are based on the technological conversion system trend: (1) asynchronous generator based technology and (2) direct driven synchronous generator based technology, with higher capacity factors.