Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-10-24"
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- Defining crucial factors of cloud gaming services and how gamers value themPublication . Höfer, Maximilian Alfred; Pinho, André de AlmeidaIn recent years, the gaming market experienced the addition of a new platform for users to play on. Cloud Gaming Services are rivaling PC hardware and console manufacturers. Big players like Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Amazon entered the market and now compete for market share. This thesis aims to find the most relevant parameters responsible for the success of cloud gaming, and subsequently analyze how gamers value these parameters. Current research about the gaming industry and cloud services in the form of secondary data was used as a foundation to find the most relevant and challenging factors for service providers. In addition, primary data in the form of a consumer survey was collected to analyze the perception of gamers on the topic. The analysis showed that the most important parameters could be grouped into two categories: performance-related and service structure. Hardcore gamers focus more on performance-related issues compared to casual gamers. The amount consumers are willing to spend is not dependent on income but on the service's offerings.
- Dupp AG : a new vision for the vehicle recycling businessPublication . Glutsch, Jakob; Guedes, Nuno MagalhãesThis thesis provides and analyzes a business case of a German Tier 1 automotive supplier which was faced with the decision of whether to invest in a large-scale vehicle recycling plant. With the objective to make a well-founded decision, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was presented in the teaching note section. Business model economics and profitability were assessed using a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis that was tested for robustness with sensitivity metrics. The qualitative analysis was based on the current state of literature on the influences of first-mover strategies and plant location decisions, as addressed in the literature review section. Therefore, not only the go/no-go investment decision, but also potential alternative strategies regarding timing and location of the plant were evaluated. The case analysis further explored the opportunity for corporations to leverage the circular economy (CE) to build business models supporting this trend while being profitable – a topic also included in the literature review chapter. Lastly, the thesis detailed how a profitable vehicle recycling business in Europe could work and an investment was recommended.
- Consultants in 2030 : competencies for the European strategic management consulting industry of the futurePublication . Silva, Ana Luísa Ferreira Pinheiro da; Pinho, André de AlmeidaThis dissertation aims to study the Strategic Management Consulting industry in terms of the current and future required competencies of consultants across different hierarchical levels in Europe. To reach these objectives, an exploratory research design was conducted, using secondary and primary data, collected from existing literature, semi-structured interviews, and a long-length survey. A Competency Framework was derived from extensive secondary research, using reputable sources, both academic and non-academic, to enable an easier understanding of the dynamics that change in terms of current and future competency requirements. Expert interviews were essential to calibrate the Framework key variables followed, then, by the survey. The Framework comprises the variables: 161 Competencies (categorized into 6 building blocks), each allowing 6 proficiency levels, and Positions classified according to 7 hierarchical levels of seniority for the SMC industry, in Europe, both now and in the future. Conclusions suggest that, regardless of the consultant’s level of seniority and responsibility, it seems the consultant combines a diverse set of competencies ranging from hard to soft. Soft categories of competences may differ in terms of proficiency required per hierarchical level and per block, but they require deeper expertise, both today and in the future, and higher proficiency level in comparison to the Hard/Technical block. Towards 2030, “IT-driven” competencies such as Digital Transformation & Strategy, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, will becoming increasingly more important in proficiency terms, showing highest shifts towards the future. The “new consultant” has a strong digital mindset, an interest in IT and new technologies.
- A new era of movie premieres : what makes consumers decide for premium video-on demand over cinemas?Publication . Köhne, Moritz; Pinho, André de AlmeidaCovid 19 has wreaked havoc on the film industry through social distancing restrictions and lockdown measures. Cinemas are a vital revenue stream for film studios and consequentially, slumping box-office sales have forced studios to take action. At the same time, the streaming volume has reached peak levels. With mounting losses in mind, some film studios have therefore opted to release their films digitally via Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD). An explanatory analysis and eight expert interviews were used to investigate the question of what motivates consumers to stream a film premiere instead of going to the cinema. The results of the Value-based Adoption Model show that the advantages of PVOD slightly outweigh the disadvantages. For customers, convenience is almost twice as important as enjoyment. Perceived risks are the strongest and ease of use the weakest impact on the value composition. Moreover, Digital Natives have the highest level of convenience and perceived risks when deciding for PVOD, while Baby Boomers experience the most enjoyment but also very negative effects from ease of use. There is interest in PVOD for all genres except horror movies. Movie fans additionally show no preference for animated and families are furthermore not interested in sci-fi PVOD.
- How different are girls and boys as bullies and victims? Comparative perspectives on gender and age in the bullying dynamicsPublication . Gomes, Ana; Martins, Mariana Costa; Silva, Beatriz; Ferreira, Edite; Nunes, Odete; Caldas, Alexandre CastroBullying involves aggressive behaviors with the intention to harm others, including manifestations of systematic abuse of power. Two types of bullying can be considered: physical and psychological. Students may get involved in bullying dynamics as bullies, victims, or both-aggressive victims. The literature defines bullying as a global phenomenon, affecting both girls and boys. Therefore, Portuguese schools are no exception, with several studies from North to South of the country demonstrating the presence of bullying in schools, both in elementary and middle schools. The aim of this study is to elaborate the differences and experiences by both genders, boys and girls, in the current dynamics of school bullying. Thus, answering the question-how different are girls and boys as bullies and victims? In addition, it intends to impart the acquired knowledge and raise awareness of the implications of this social context in which Portuguese children are currently involved. The results obtained from a sample of 1147 students attending the 1st cycle of Portuguese education (elementary schools) were in line with previous studies. In order to enrich the literature, bullies, victims, and aggressive victims were characterized in detail. Finally, the importance of the adults’ intervention, especially teachers, was highlighted.
- The polyphonic voices of postmigrationPublication . Peters, DzifaPostmigration has become a prominent concept within the Humanities. Postmigration: Art, Culture, and Politics in Contemporary Europe clarifies many questions circulating around the source of its ideas. The authors portray different approaches and lay out a chronology of the term´s multifaced interpretations. Elaborating its actual qualities along artistic objects and cultural spaces, the contributions of the volume provide a notion of postmigration that effectively negotiates complexities of the contemporary.
- O Reino Hachemita da Jordânia em crise : entre a escassez hídrica e o influxo demográfico de 2012-2018Publication . Almendra, Tomás de Moura Coutinho Rocha; Cunha, João Manuel de Almeida Teles eTomando como caso de estudo o Reino Hachemita da Jordânia, observámos a relação entre a demografia e os recursos hídricos, com o objectivo de entender ambas as variáveis no contexto jordano e de que modo estas afectam a sociedade do país. Com base nesta compreensão, averiguámos os impactos causados aquando do influxo demográfico vivido entre 2012-2018. Daqui, foi-nos possível constatar que existe uma relação directa entre o aumento populacional e os recursos hídricos, manifestada tanto através do incremento do consumo de água para fins humanos, como no desgaste das infra-estruturas jordanas, fruto da pressão demográfica- sentida particularmente nas regiões Norte e Nordeste, onde se registou um maior aumento populacional. Entre as consequências directas, verificámos ainda que, para além dos efeitos a médio e longo prazo sentidos na sustentabilidade hídrica da Jordânia, frutos da sucessiva sobreexploração de água subterrânea, o cenário desenvolve-se no sentido do agravamento da sustentabilidade financeira do reino. Esta situação, resulta do encarecimento do custo de exploração dos recursos hídricos, aliado ao desgaste das infra-estruturas, tendo inerente o peso da manutenção e expansão das mesmas, paralelamente ao incremento da população a subsidiar.