Repository logo

Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2017-02-15"

Filter results by year or month
Now showing 1 - 10 of 28
  • A typology of fashion consumers based on motivations to interact with brands in social media : the ZARA case
    Publication . Mata, Maria Duran Pantoja; Afonso, Ana Carolina Baptista
    This thesis main aim is focused on better understand the motivations to interact with brands in social media, applied to Zara. More specifically, the objective is to recognize and explore the fashion consumer profiles, taking into account psychographic (personality) and sociodemographic characteristics. The objective is to provide insights about “who” are the fashion consumers based on their motivations to interact with Zara in social media. In order to assess fashion consumers’ profiles the motivation scale developed by Enginkaya and Yilmaz (2014) and the personality scale developed by Baird et al., (2006) were adapted and used on this study. The study is exploratory and quantitative. An online and self-administered questionnaire was developed and data collection was applied among individuals who are simultaneously Zara clients and followers on the brand social media pages. Cluster analysis was used in order to segment Zara consumers using the 250 valid answers collected in the online questionnaire. Regarding the results, two segments of consumers were identified (Opportunity Motivated and Entertainment & Investigation Motivated). Both segments have identical sociodemographic profiles, however the segments differ on consumers’ personality traits and frequency of shopping at Zara. The Opportunity Motivated segment is consisted mostly by agreeable and open consumers and agreeable and conscious consumers comprise the Entertainment & Investigation Motivated segment. The theoretical framework proposed might help to support organizations to better understand the fashion consumer’s motivations to interact with fashion brands on social networks. It also helps managers and marketers to develop better market strategies for these segments.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Do changes in tax regulation affect firms’ capital structure?
    Publication . Arrója, Gonçalo Maria Tender Sacadura; Bonfim, Diana Carina Ribeiro Guimarães
    The aim of this dissertation is to assess how changing tax regulation may affect the capital structure of firms, in particular, how the introduction of a new tax provision – the Notional Interest Deduction (NID) – impacted firms’ financing decisions in Italy. To perform this study, we gathered company data from 2005 to 2015 and we analysed a sample of 197 Italian public firms, separating them into two distinct groups: (i) Financial companies and (ii) Nonfinancial companies. While for Financial companies it seems that the NID implementation did not translate itself into statistically significant effects, results show that for Non-financial companies there is a slightly increase of 2% in leverage ratios, that is softened for more profitable firms. Results seem to be robust when changing the form of treatment regarding outliers and also when altering the time period of our analysis.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • How fast memory decreases for tasks
    Publication . Vasconcelos, Vasco Monteiro de Mancelos e; Fernandes, Daniel Von Der Heyde
    The main aim of this thesis was to find how fast memory decreases for tasks that people need to do. In order to do that an online survey was conducted where participants were asked to write five tasks they needed to do in the next seven days, then they were asked to wait for a while and finally rewrite those tasks. The results showed that there are two significant decreases in memory performance. First there is a significant decrease between a 10-minute delay period and one hour and the other is between a one hour and 24-hour delay period. The second aim of this thesis was to test some of the results found in previous works. Results show that there seems to exist a primacy effect, however no evidences of a recency effect was found, no evidence that gender affects memory prediction and performance plus, results were negative for an overestimate of participants’ prediction regarding their memory performance. Results contradict previous works since the methodology used in studies on the field of memory are usually done in a laboratory, they usually require participants to learn new things to later be remembered and finally, the tasks and things participants are requested to do are usually abstract or irrelevant for their lives. This study has none of those features thus the results are not as one would predict.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Lemon Jelly : the development from supplying Fashion Brands to an own Fashion Brand
    Publication . Maurer, Karolina; Cardeal, Nuno César de Jesus Guerra
    The thesis, which is hereby presented in the form of a case study, aims to describe the path of a Portuguese company developing a fashion brand. The company that was chosen is Procalçado and its new fashion brand Lemon Jelly. The company is operating in the footwear industry for 43 years already, manufacturing shoe components to big global players. Procalçado was able to grow in the industry in a sustainable way and by making strategic decisions that led them to launch its own fashion brand. Supplying companies like Birkenstock, Gant or Gabor for many years helped to master the production processes and build up crucial know-how to become one of the biggest player in the footwear industry. The dissertation is written in form of a case study. The first part of the case tells the story of Procalçado’s development and how the company was finally creating its own fashion brand. The second part of the case talks more precisely about Lemon Jelly, the brand, its industrial environment and the advantages, which include numerous important resources and capabilities, which it has from its parent company Procalçado. The second part of the work provides the theoretical background to analyze the presented case. It includes the main theories and explanations to create an understanding of how to approach the case. From this follow the teaching notes. This part provides the instructor with a teaching plan and suggests assignment questions to enable application of the theory and creation of a discussion in class. Finally the conclusions are summed up in the fourth part of the thesis. It contains general conclusions of the case, a personal opinion of the author and reveals the limitations of the case.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • The impact of pre-career international experience on graduate’s Career Success
    Publication . Holleczek, Georg; Hafenbrack, Andrew Charles
    This thesis aims to investigate pre-career international experience of university graduates and whether it affects their Career Success or not. I hypothesized that students with international experience are more successful in their career than students without. Also, I expected that this effect would be stronger with a higher degree of international experience and a longer stay. In order to assess this topic, a mixed-method approach was chosen to collect quantitative and qualitative data with two studies. First, insights were collected at interviews with seven Human Resource managers of large German multinational companies. Although all companies are highly internationalized, requirements of candidates depend on the companies’ strategy and corporate culture. Study 2 checked Entrepreneurs in regards to their pre-career international experience and Career Success by measuring collected funding. Results did not show a statistically significant relationship between international experience and Career Success in general. However, among the international founders, the ones with a higher degree of internationality and a longer experience abroad were more successful.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • What is the impact of the access to external finance on the capital structure of SMEs in Europe?
    Publication . Carvalho, Inês Firmino de; Bonfim, Diana Carina Ribeiro Guimarães
    Previous literature has focused on firms’ characteristics to explain changes in capital structure choices. Nevertheless, external capital availability is also an important factor when determining the amount of leverage. Exploring this idea, and using the Survey on Access to Finance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SAFE) as our database, this dissertation examines how the access to external finance impacts changes in the capital structure of SMEs in Europe. The empirical results using a probit model suggest that (i) improvements in firms’ own capital and credit history lead to decreases and increases in leverage levels, respectively, when considering demand conditions. When focusing on supply factors (ii) increases in fees and commissions lead to decreases in leverage, while increases in loan size and loan maturity increase firms’ leverage. Financial constraints have also been analyzed. Considering the failure in external finance applications as a constraint, (i) improvements in own capital have a significant negative impact on unconstrained firms’ leverage, while (ii) increases in loan size and loan maturity has a major positive impact on constrained firms’ leverage.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Medidas promotoras de conforto à família da pessoa em processo de morte em contexto hospitalar
    Publication . Póvoa, Andreia Leandro Rodrigues; Sousa, Patrícia Pontífice
    O presente relatório pretende elucidar o percurso realizado na aquisição e desenvolvimento de competências na área de especialização de enfermagem médico-cirúrgica, propostas pelo plano de estudos do curso e que estiveram na origem dos projetos da Unidade Curricular Estágio. A presente análise crítico reflexiva tem por base as vivências experienciadas nos contextos de estágio nomeadamente, ao nível de unidade de cuidados intensivos, num serviço de urgência central e numa unidade de cuidados continuados e paliativos, em diferentes hospitais da região de Lisboa. Abrangente e adequado a todos os contextos da prática clinica de estágio, foi delineado como objetivo geral o de desenvolver competências relacionais, éticas, técnicas, científicas e comunicacionais na prestação de cuidados especializados à pessoa e sua família. As medidas promotoras de conforto à família da pessoa em processo de morte em contexto hospitalar corresponde ao foco transversal, que acompanhou todo este percurso prático, procurando sensibilizar os enfermeiros para esta problemática, bem como compreender o significado que estes atribuem ao conforto e que estratégias são entendidas como confortadoras. Foi a partir desta problemática que surgiu a necessidade de realizar uma revisão integrativa da literatura, de modo a dar resposta à questão de investigação elaborada: Quais as medidas promotoras de conforto à família no processo de morte em contexto hospitalar? A comunicação comprometida foi um diagnostico de enfermagem levantado, num dos campos de estágio e do qual surgiu a necessidade de elaborar um instrumento facilitador da comunicação adaptado à pessoa submetida a ventilação mecânica invasiva. Num outro contexto da prática de cuidados, foi feito um diagnóstico de situação, e no que diz respeito à segurança da pessoa, no circuito do medicamento, houve a necessidade de realizar uma noma de procedimento para a identificação da pessoa com reações anafiláticas medicamentosas, e por fim, ao nível do controlo sintomático, foi feita uma sensibilização dos enfermeiros para a prevenção da mucosite e facultada uma folha de notificação da mesma, tendo sempre em vista a melhoria da qualidade dos cuidados. A metodologia utilizada para a conceção do presente trabalho assenta numa análise descritiva, reflexiva e introspetiva das vivências presenciadas no âmbito do desenvolvimento de competências especializadas, adequadas à prática clínica, na área da enfermagem médico-cirúrgica, tendo por base os pressupostos defendidos por Katharine Kolcaba e Patrícia Pontífice Sousa com as suas Teorias do Conforto e na teoria da transição de Afaf Meleis.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more
  • HmR : internationalization strategy for a pharmaceutical intelligence market
    Publication . Ribeiro, Manuel Guilherme Cleto Duarte da Costa; Lino, Rute Sofia Barbosa Xavier
    HmR is dedicated to market research and consulting services in the healthcare area, including the ambulatory and hospital markets, giving privilege to data provided by pharmacies. The company had success and started its internationalization process in 2014 to Spain, Ireland and Germany. As such, hmR wanted to expand the internationalization to other European countries. This study’s objective is to analyse a possible internationalization to Italy by understanding how the Italian Pharmaceutical Intelligence Market is structured, how hmR is positioned to the incumbent companies, and by defining the best strategy and time-to-entry in this country. Through the documents provided by hmR and the interviews made with hmR’s managers it was possible to collect crucial information to conduct the present analysis. Additionally, this analysis was based on several frameworks to comprehend the market in a macro and micro perspective, being possible to conclude that Italy meets all the conditions for hmR to internationalize to this country. Finally, after analysing the internationalization possibilities, it was recommended to hmR to enter in Italy in the following years with a new venture and through adaptation and aggregation to the market.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Restricted access Show more
  • DCK Boardshorts : competitive advantage through hybrid strategy implementation in the Portuguese Swimwear Industry
    Publication . Paula, Leonor Forjaz de Lacerda Gomes de; Cardeal, Nuno César de Jesus Guerra
    The thesis hereby presented aims to analyze the implications and challenges faced by the Portuguese company DCK due to the implementation of a hybrid strategy and how it fits into future business plans. This case study enables students to apply fundamental frameworks and concepts of strategy to a real situation. DCK is a Portuguese company that has been selling men's swimwear since 2009. The production takes place mostly in Portugal and is distinguished by offering a product that combines quality and variety at a low price. The business is growing and once established in the fashion industry, it requires a constant ability to accompany and adapt to the surrounding dynamic environment in order to ensure its expansion and success. Thus, it focuses on the importance of simultaneously considering the company’s internal and external context and identifying the opportunities and threats of the market. This enables them to define its strategy and consequently to reach a competitive advantage. This study allows a clearer understanding of the relationship between a company's resources and capabilities and its role in preventing competitors from replicating the business model.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Restricted access Show more
  • Exploring the effect of online shopping motivations on purchase intention applied to cosmetics
    Publication . Morais, Maria Constança Valente Machado Alves; Afonso, Ana Carolina Baptista
    This thesis’ aim is to explore the effect of online shopping motivations in the online purchase intention of cosmetics. A proposed conceptual model that helps to understand what are the main motivations that lead consumers to purchasing cosmetics online is presented. Specifically, this thesis research model proposal is about online cosmetics consumers’ behavior considering their motivations and online purchase intention. The ultimate goal of this study is to understand what motivations are relevant for increasing online purchase intention of cosmetics by consumers. In order to understand consumers’ motivations and degree of online purchase intention, the previously developed studies about motivations and purchase intention (Dodds et al., 1991; Arnold et al., 2003; Martínez-López et al., 2014) were consulted and the scales were adapted to fit the present study research, applied to the Portuguese consumers. A quantitative and exploratory study was conducted. For data collection, an online questionnaire was applied to 286 individuals. Results showed that online shopping motivations are a great predictor of online purchase intention. Also, findings showed that utilitarian motivations not only are a predictor of online shopping motivations of cosmetics, but also that availability of information, assortment and economic value were the dimensions among motivations that better explained online purchase intention. This theoretical framework helps understanding consumer behavior towards online shopping and may be an important tool for managers and marketers to develop strategies with the most relevant motivations in mind.
    2017-02-15Master thesis Open access Show more