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Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-06-29"

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  • Mobile EdTech solutions and their contribution to quality education at scale in sub-Saharan Africa : an implementation suggestion for Girl Move Academy in Mozambique
    Publication . Oberdieck, Ria; Santos, Filipe Manuel Simões dos
    The vast spread of mobile phones across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) offers great opportunities to tackle the region’s learning crisis through mobile educational technology (EdTech). EdTech solutions have been highly effective in long-term pilots, but the learning crisis perseveres. This thesis aims to shed light on primary and secondary EdTech, through an interview-based benchmark analysis and an EdTech adoption use case for Girl Move Academy. GMA supports girls to transition to secondary school in a marginalized Mozambican region. All ventures were ranked in categories, derived from interviews with GMA and Mozambican professionals, according to their suitability to GMA. The analysis results in three main findings: First, an uneven subject distribution exists including a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) dominance but literacy learning solutions for older students are missing despite high illiteracy. Second, the preferred distribution model for scale is via schools with the help of NGOs as hardware and internet situation in marginalized settings still don’t allow for individual adoption at scale. Third, countries greatly differ in their EdTech infrastructure and accordingly attractiveness as an expansion destination. This thesis expands the research done in mobile EdTech in SSA by providing an overview of the landscape and comparing ventures’ business models regarding their contribution to quality learning at scale in SSA. Building on findings, the thesis gives relevant recommendations for GMA for suitable ventures and features to further look into.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Stochastic methods applied in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector
    Publication . Canelas, Francisco Manuel Lourenço Prates; Stacescu, Leon Bogdan
    This paper evaluates the efficiency of a stochastic approach called Arithmetic Brownian Motion in the pharmaceutical sector. This method allows us to assess companies accurately, deciding whether they are undervalued or overvalued. Through some literature review, I concluded the strengths of using this method when evaluating companies, as it can also incorporate multiple risks when comparing with the Geometric Brownian Motion. This thesis provides a reliable prediction of the pharmaceutical companies, as I evaluate more than one Company and compare my results with some specialists. Also, I consider some robustness tests to check other scenarios in my forecasting. These tests provide evidence about similarities in the capital structure from American pharma/biotech companies, while Europeans differ when comparing the results.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Restricted access Show more
  • OpenForests : how to scale a social business hybrid to support sustainable landscape projects?
    Publication . Müller, Marwin Sebastian; Ramus, Tommaso
    This thesis explores what strategies social business hybrids should adopt to overcome chal-lenges in scaling their business. To answer this question, I selected the social business hybrid OpenForests, a startup that supports sustainable landscape projects, for an inductive case study and gathered information by conducting interviews and collecting external data. The results revealed that OpenForests faces three major challenges in human resources, external funding, and performance management. Based on research on social enterprises and hybrid organiza-tions, I developed the following proposed solutions: OpenForests should adopt different hiring approaches depending on the job role and its relationship to the organization's dual goals, seek an impact investor for external funding based on matching profit and impact aspirations, and adopt new commercial and impact KPIs to streamline and monitor its financial and environ-mental performance. The findings contribute to a better and deeper understanding of the chal-lenges social business hybrids face in scaling their business and propose possible solutions.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Analysis of influence factors on the image of German football clubs with different financing models : an empirical study
    Publication . von den Driesch, Lucas; Chmielewski, Krzysztof
    The main research question of this dissertation is how attitudinal factors like investor engagement, commercialization and tradition in football influence attitudes towards football clubs with different backgrounds. Borussia Dortmund was examined as an example of a traditional club with a long history and RB Leipzig as an example of a newly formed investor club. The literature review showed that despite similar sporting successes in the recent past, there is a large discrepancy between the images and brand strength of the two clubs. RB Leipzig is seen as a symbol of commercialization. The club is rejected because of Red Bull as a financially strong investor. Borussia Dortmund is also highly commercialized and backed by several investors. For this reason, quantitative research was conducted to reveal the extent to which attitudes towards the two clubs are linked to other attitudinal factors. The study also aims to reveal what the biggest differences in the perception of the clubs are and what RB Leipzig can do to strengthen the brand value. The results of the primary research have shown that attitudes towards RB Leipzig correlate with attitudes towards the other factors. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, is rated independently of other factors, both emotionally and in terms of performance. Furthermore, it was found that Borussia Dortmund stands out from RB Leipzig primarily due to its tradition, active fan scene, authenticity and regional ties. Consequently, these are the primary factors that the club must improve to strengthen its brand image.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Impact of phlorotannin extracts from fucus vesiculosus on human gut microbiota
    Publication . Catarino, Marcelo D.; Marçal, Catarina; Bonifácio-Lopes, Teresa; Campos, Débora; Mateus, Nuno; Silva, Artur M. S.; Pintado, Maria Manuela; Cardoso, Susana M.
    Recent studies indicate that plant polyphenols could be pointed as potential prebiotic candidates since they may interact with the gut microbiota, stimulating its growth and the production of metabolites. However, little is known about the fate of brown seaweeds’ phlorotannins during their passage throughout the gastrointestinal tract. This work aimed to evaluate the stability and bioaccessibility of Fucus vesiculosus phlorotannins after being submitted to a simulated digestive process, as well as their possible modulatory effects on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids production following a fermentation procedure using fecal inoculates to mimic the conditions of the large intestine. The stability of phlorotannins throughout the gastrointestinal tract was reduced, with a bioaccessibility index between 2 and 14%. Moreover, slight alterations in the growth of certain commensal bacteria were noticed, with Enterococcus spp. being the most enhanced group. Likewise, F. vesiculosus phlorotannins displayed striking capacity to enhance the levels of propionate and butyrate, which are two important short-chain fatty acids known for their role in intestinal homeostasis. In summary, this work provides valuable information regarding the behavior of F. vesiculosus phlorotannins along the gastrointestinal tract, presenting clear evidence that these compounds can positively contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gastrointestinal condition.
    2021-06-29Journal article Open access Show more
  • Does the Netflix recommender system produce customer utility? : an analysis of the technology acceptance of the algorithmic-prediction-based Netflix recommender system and its drivers
    Publication . Lengyel, Daniel; Durisin, Boris
    In the last two decades technology companies engaging in surveillance capitalism (gathering data, creating predictive products, implementing behavioural modification) have reaped exorbitant profits. Using big data and machine learning algorithmic recommender systems are able to accurately predict future behaviour of users. However, other aspects than accuracy should be considered for the success of such systems. From a company perspective, Netflix has been successfully engaging in surveillance capitalism in video streaming. Claiming to be a user-centric company, personalised recommendations are the basis of Netflix’s success, while it ventures into new strategic directions with original content. Using the technology acceptance model to adopt a user-perspective, this paper examines the utility of users of the Netflix recommender system. The effects of transparency and curation as features of the Netflix platform together with user’s level of trust towards the system are examined for their impact on the perceived usefulness and ease of use of the recommender system, in order to determine user’s behavioural intent to use the system and actual system usage. Additionally, the potential effects of user interaction as a potential future feature are explored. Using structural equation modelling on data collected from survey respondents, the paper finds that curation and trust in fact impact behavioural intent and usage while transparency fails to impact perceived factors. User interaction does not significantly improve the utility of users. The outcome suggests that Netflix should focus on curation and trust-building features as differentiating characteristics of their platform to sustain competitive advantage.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Communicating product healthiness through packaging : the impact of explicit informational cues and implicit visual cues
    Publication . Manita, Catarina Carvalho; Fernandes, Daniel Von Der Heyde; Romeiro, Paulo
    Consumers are more attentive than ever to the healthiness of the products they choose. Packaging is a key communicator of health benefits. Specifically, packaging communicates product healthiness in two distinct ways: displaying explicit information and/or relying on implicit cues that bring healthiness associations to the consumer’s minds. This work explores how these two ways of communicating product healthiness interact with each other, that is, which one is stronger and what is the consumer response when both are employed simultaneously. Consequently, this work aims to determine whether both cues are integrated into the healthiness judgment when both are present in the package, and, if so, whether one of the effects is diminished. In particular, we study front-of-package nutrition labels as an explicit informational cue and package color lightness as an implicit visual cue. Based on an experimental factorial design, results show that both cues have a significant impact on perceived healthiness, but front-of-package nutrition labels have a stronger impact than the package color lightness. However, we find that the two cues do not interact with each other, having an independent influence on the perceived healthiness judgment. That is, they exert the same effect regardless of whether the other cue is present or not. Nutrition knowledge is shown to moderate the effect of front-of-package nutrition labels on perceived healthiness by amplifying it. The same does not apply to package color lightness. Therefore, managers should consider both cue types when creating packaging strategies.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Restricted access Show more
  • Circular household waste management : a study about the transition from a linear to a circular waste management system and the potential for commercial opportunities in Europe through the example of Brussels Capital Region
    Publication . Aramburu, Geronimo Martin Piñeiro; Cruz, Rui Nuno Tavares de Almeida Moreira da
    As the worldwide population increases, along with consumption trends, our current global waste generation has become a real environmental and health concern. The way governments, cities and municipalities decide to manage solid waste has a major impact on our society, our economies and the earth’s climate. The subject of municipal solid waste management is a complex and multilevel issue that needs to be extensively analyzed if ever to be improved. Nevertheless, solutions are available as the EU aims to evolve within the spectrum of a Circular Economy to tackle this predicament. By doing so, European countries are inevitably shifting their behavior from a linear model, consuming and disposing products without any regards for the environmental impact, to a circular approach, where waste streams are reintroduced inside the economy and appreciated as valuable materials. Thus, there will be lucrative commercial opportunities for the entire waste management circle in the years to come. The European Environment Agency estimates value generation between 245 billion and 604 billion euros by 2030 for this industry. The aim of this paper is to, first, highlight the main characteristics of a circular waste management system. Secondly, it will consider how necessary are Waste to Energy incineration technologies when it comes to residual waste treatment from household. Finally, by looking at the example of Brussels Capital Region, this paper will explore upcoming commercial opportunities which promote such a circular scheme.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • Potential student interest on Income Share Agreements and its role in solving student loan debt in the United States of America
    Publication . Saraiva, José Pedro Cardoso Ferreira dos Santos; Santos, Filipe Manuel Simões dos
    This dissertation aims to understand the potential interest of students in adopting Income Share Agreements as a mainstream alternative to the traditional student loans. Considering the situation in the United States of America and the need for a change in the education financing mechanisms (deduced from the excessive cumulative student loan debt and respective default rates), innovative mechanisms are required that connect the students with their education, while not disregarding the existing widening of the inequality gap in education. After a review and analysis of academic papers on income share agreements, an online questionnaire was conducted to study the main variables that impact the perceived interest in the mechanism, from the student perspective. Results show that the conditions of the contract itself are not significant in affecting the student’s interest (except for the term of the contract), while the personal preferences (risk aversion) and income estimation (both short and long-term) are the main drivers of interest. This dissertation also provides valuable insights on the role of Income Share Agreements in solving the student loan debt crisis existent in the United States of America. The mechanism could be a crucial alternative to the traditional financing mechanisms, while improving the quality of education and the engagement of the students with their university.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Open access Show more
  • The impact of monetary and in-kind rewards on customer referral programs’ success : examining the moderating role of product type on the relationship between reward type and recipients’ recommendation receptivity, purchase intention and brand valuations
    Publication . Bernardes, Inês Santos Rodrigues Franco; Macedo, Maria Alves Machado de Sousa de
    Customer Referral Programs (CRPs) are a popular tool used by firms to attract new customers with high lifetime value and low churn rate. The present dissertation provides managers with valuable insights into how to develop the optimal CRP for their firm. More specifically, it investigates how the type of reward offered (monetary vs in-kind) influences recipients’ recommendation receptivity (attitudes towards the program and motive attribution), purchase intention and brand valuations (brand affect, brand trust and brand loyalty), as well as the possible moderating role of product type (utilitarian vs hedonic). Findings suggest that in-kind rewards lead to more positive recommendation receptivity, higher purchase intention and brand valuations, compared to monetary rewards. Moreover, product type is a moderator of the relationship between reward type and all dependent variables, except for motive attribution. That is, the positive impact of offering an in-kind reward (vs monetary) on recipients’ attitudes towards the program, purchase intention and brand valuations is stronger when the product promoted is hedonic (vs utilitarian). This paper reveals that, in order to choose the most appropriate reward, managers must consider the type of product promoted through the CRP. Furthermore, results indicate that a well-designed referral program has the power to enhance prospective customers’ brand perceptions.
    2021-06-29Master thesis Restricted access Show more