Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-05-02"
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- The impact of emotional appeals on consumer behavior depending on collectivism levelsPublication . Lopes, Madalena Maria Vieira; Mendonça, CristinaNowadays, consumers are daily exposed to numerous advertisements. As a result, organizations are becoming more interested in understanding a society’s cultural values and adapt their advertising campaigns accordingly, to enhance the persuasive appeal of their message. To better understand whether different cultural orientations influence consumer behavior in response to emotional appeals, an experimental study was conducted. First, the study investigated whether people with stronger collectivist ideals would react more favorably to emotional appeals focused on society rather than the self, compared to individuals with stronger individualistic ideals. The results contradict established assumptions regarding the relationship between culture orientation and advertising preferences. In addition, despite Portugal’s transition towards lower collectivism levels, Portuguese consumers still prefer advertisements that focus on social values. Secondly, the study examined the impact of age on consumer behavior towards persuasive messages, suggesting that younger consumers would be less impacted by emotional appeals, due to the increase of individualism, than older consumers who have stronger collectivist values. The results validated this hypothesis, suggesting that age ranges significantly influence responses to emotional appeals. The thesis’ results highlight the significance of customized advertising strategies in multicultural situations, especially within the Portuguese market, and deepen the understanding of the diversity in consumer responses to emotional appeals. Additionally, they highlight alternative mechanisms that may influence consumer’s reactions to advertisements beyond cultural orientations.
- Exploring through uncertainty : the effect of digital and collaborative capabilitiesPublication . Mathues, Emma; Ilseven, EkinThroughout the years, digital technologies significantly changed knowledge management for innovation, as well as communication systems for successful collaboration, both of which contribute to the ability of organizations to operate under uncertainty. Accordingly, in this thesis, I empirically investigate the influence of digital and collaborative capabilities of an organization on its resilience. More specifically, I discuss resilience in the light of exploration, focusing on the development of adaptive and innovative capabilities to thrive in crisis by leveraging opportunities toward strategic renewal. I tested my hypotheses using OLS and FLM regression models with data collected on Fortune 500 companies. The dependent variable, exploration vs exploitation orientation, was acquired through textual content analysis based on Uotila et al (2009). I find a positive influence of digital capabilities on both exploration and collaboration extent, which also has a positive effect of collaborative networks on relative exploration. Findings indicate that external knowledge acquisition through partnerships could lead to enhanced innovation processes and both cultural and structural improvements within the organisation, generating both resources (knowledge base, human and financial sources) and capabilities (anticipation, adaptation and preparation) for resilience. Furthermore, I conducted an exploratory analysis to factor in the exposure to risk due to opening up the organisation’s boundaries to partners. In our dynamic and rather unpredictable environment, it is crucial that managers pay increased attention to the development of resilience capabilities and systems, especially in large corporations like those in Fortune 500, that play a pivotal role in society’s resilience.
- Attrition in weight loss programs : a Bayesian statistics approach for predictive insightsPublication . Menezes, Maria Teresa Cardoso de; Bertani, NicolòIn today’s service-oriented business landscape, client acquisition and retention are imperative, given the significant influence clients wield over service outcomes. This influence is particularly pronounced in prolonged services like weight loss programs, where client motivation towards program completion is crucial for achieving desired outcomes and ensuring customer satisfaction. This thesis investigates factors contributing to attrition in a three-phase weight loss program, leveraging a comprehensive dataset encompassing client registration details, progress tracking, and demographic information. However, the challenge of missing data arises when clients discontinue the program, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the weight loss journey. To address this challenge, a causal approach to missing data imputation is adopted, utilizing Bayesian Statistics to harness the inherent information within the data. Through extensive literature review and methodological exploration, the study sheds light on the reasons for attrition and proposes practical insights into addressing churn issues. Age and weight emerge as significant predictors of program completion, with older individuals exhibiting higher completion rates across all phases. Additionally, the study highlights the nuanced impact of previous program attempts on completion rates. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of attrition in weight loss programs and offers valuable insights into leveraging Bayesian imputation models for predictive analytics in service-oriented contexts.
- The impact of interacting with AI in the workplace on employees’ job and life satisfactionPublication . Metzger, Olivia Sophie; Almeida, Filipa deGiven that AI is being implemented in the workplace, it is crucial to understand its impacts on employees’ well-being. While previous research has focused on the negative consequences of AI related to stress and job insecurity, this thesis contributes to research by focusing on the positive implications. Thus, this research aims to investigate the impact of interacting with AI on employees’ job and life satisfaction while considering their attitudes towards AI and applying the JD-R model. The proposed model was tested using a PLS-SEM analysis with 268 participants in a correlational research design. The results showed that interacting with AI is positively and directly correlated with job satisfaction and indirectly influences life satisfaction through the mediating role of job satisfaction. The same can be said about attitudes towards AI and job resources which are positively directly correlated with job satisfaction and indirectly with life satisfaction. No statistically significant effects regarding job demands were found. Moreover, none of the moderation effects of attitudes towards AI, job demands, and job resources could be supported. These findings provide valuable implications for organizations and practitioners seeking to implement AI in the workplace.
- The metaverse relevance, consideration, trust, and impact on purchase intent for beauty industry brandsPublication . Santos, Bruno Veiga dos; Tavares, PedroIt is known that since 2021, internet searches for the term “metaverse” increased by 7,200 percent (McKinsey, 2022) and in 2022, knowledge of the metaverse has grown, with the percentage of individuals claiming to understand its concept increasing from 34% in 2022 to 43% in 2023 (Deloitte, 2023). This paper delves into the dynamic intersection of the metaverse and the beauty industry, exploring its relevance, consideration, trust implications, and impact on consumer purchase intent. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative insights derived from in-depth interviews with a quantitative analysis through an online survey developed on Qualtrics. Key findings highlight a substantial lack of knowledge concerning the metaverse, including its applications and characteristics. A universal interest in engaging in metaverse activities is identified across various age demographics. Social Interactions, Virtual Events, and Online Shopping emerge as primary activities of interest for potential consumers within the metaverse. Moreover, the research uncovers diverse perceptions and levels of interest in the metaverse across different industries. Notably, despite the metaverse not yet being widely perceived as a purchase platform, gender does not appear to significantly impact the intent to engage in purchases within this digital realm. These insights contribute significantly to understanding the metaverse's impact on consumer behavior, shedding light on its potential implications for the beauty industry. The dissertation offers a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of consumer engagement in the metaverse and provides valuable considerations for beauty industry brands navigating this transformative digital terrain.
- Exploring the influence factors on card fraudPublication . Duarte, Tomás Fróis; Bertani, NicolòMore than 80% of non-cash payments in Portugal are made with cards. Due to this widespread usage of cards, even though fraud levels remain relatively low, fraud might imply non-negligible costs for both payment service users and payment service providers. Therefore, understanding the factors influencing card fraud is essential for formulating policies and measures by competent authorities. This study contributes to the existing literature by conducting a comprehensive examination of the impact of both external and internal factors on card fraud. In this study, the analysis of card fraud is approached from two perspectives: the issuer and the acquirer, both segmented into remote and non-remote transactions. In addition, cash withdrawals are included in the analysis. Fraud is quantified in this study through (i) the average fraud value, (ii) the share of fraud in volume and (iii) the share of fraud in value. Overall, on an internal level, fraud characteristics such as type of fraud, channel type, card function, and the application of strong customer authentication exhibit significant influence on card fraud. Moreover, from an external standpoint, socio-economic factors including the impact of GDP, inflation, unemployment variation, education level, covid-19 and internet access are particularly significant in the linear regression. Therefore, implementing targeted policy measures that address these key determinants can enhance the efficacy of fraud prevention efforts and safeguard financial systems against fraudulent activities.
- Private aviation study : emerging trends shaping the industryPublication . Liebaert, André; Rajsingh, PeterBusiness aviation finds itself at a turning point in history. Global commerce has increased in recent decades, and business aviation can be seen as a key player in connecting organizations across the world. Today, business aviation faces scrutiny with environmental concerns challenging the need and execution of said industry. This thesis investigates the current landscape and future trends shaping the business aviation industry, with a focus on capturing and retaining a younger customer segment through strategic management approaches. Despite initial setbacks due to the Covid-19 crisis, the industry has experienced a remarkable resurgence driven by increases in demand and sales, while also facing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and overregulation. Interviews with industry experts highlight significant trends including growth in affluence across the world, sustainability concerns, technological advancements, and the importance of data driven insights. Innovative solutions proposed include technological enhancements to improve ownership experience, data driven insights for cost calculations and client relationships, potential integration of blockchain technology, and strategic marketing efforts to highlight the industry progress and appeal to younger buyers. By embracing innovation and strategic management, the business aviation industry is poised to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities for a sustainable and prosperous future.
- Transforming type 1 diabetes management : a business model approachPublication . Ferreira, Marco Andrade; Martins, HenriqueType 1 diabetes is a chronic condition with significant medical needs, and the discovery of a cure holds immense potential to transform diabetes management and improve patient outcomes. Through a combination of literature review, expert interviews, and business model canvas prototype development, this study examines key elements of a business model. This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of a business model for developing a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, demonstrating how innovative approaches, driven by business modeling, can steer a shift from treatment-centered to curative solutions. The analysis highlights the importance of strategic partnerships, research and development activities, effective marketing strategies, and sustainable revenue generation models in successfully bringing a cure to market. By providing insights into the business model for a cure for type 1 diabetes, this thesis contributes to the understanding of the commercialization process for transformative medical innovations.
- A utilidade do forecasting no ciclo de planeamento estratégico : estudo acerca da realidade empresarial portuguesaPublication . Ferro, Maria Inês da Silva Pereira; Oliveira, José Miguel Pereira dos Santos deO ambiente externo tem-se tornado progressivamente instável e desafiante para as organizações, tornando o planeamento e controlo cada vez mais complexos. Perante esta nova realidade, surge a necessidade de explorar ferramentas alternativas de gestão, a fim de agilizar e aprimorar a tomada de decisão. Nesse contexto, a implementação de rolling forecasts nas empresas aponta ser uma solução promissora para enfrentar estas novas adversidades. Com esta dissertação, pretende-se estudar qual será o impacto da utilização de medidas de forecasting, nomeadamente no seu ciclo de planeamento estratégico. De forma concreta, procura-se avaliar o grau de aderência e interesse no uso de rolling forecasts e quais os benefícios que a ferramenta acrescentará à organização. Recorreu-se a uma abordagem quantitativa onde foi aplicado um questionário a empresas portuguesas e, posteriormente, uma análise usando métodos de estatística simples. Em conclusão, as descobertas deste estudo apontam para o facto de ainda não haver, na maioria das empresas, uma necessidade de soluções complementares à orçamentação. Porém, pelo do que se depreendeu é que, aquando da utilização de rolling forecasts, as empresas provam ser mais ágeis no seu planeamento, permitindo uma maior facilidade no cumprimento de objetivos e melhoria da performance.
- Employee organizational citizenship behavior : examining the role of transformational leadership and organizational innovation climatePublication . Künzel, Pauline; Mendonça, CristinaWhile the role of transformational leadership on employees9 organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is well established, research is in its infancy concerning the role of organizational innovation climate. This research investigated the influence of transformational leadership and organizational innovation climate on OCB. The study hypothesized that transformational leadership directly fosters OCB and that an organizational innovation climate not only promotes OCB but also strengthens the effect of transformational leadership on OCB. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design with 177 participants from various industries predominantly within Europe, the research employs statistical analyses to test these hypotheses. The findings support the propositions that both transformational leadership and organizational innovation climate have significant, positive relationships with OCB, independently enhancing voluntary employee behaviors that benefit the organization. Contrary to expectations, the study does not support the hypothesis that organizational innovative climate moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB, indicating that each factor individually contributes to fostering OCB. The research underscores the importance of cultivating transformational leadership and an innovative climate as distinct yet complementary strategies to enhance organizational performance through OCB. The study provides new insights and practical implications, while also laying the groundwork for further research on the topic and exploring the interplay between leadership, organizational climate, and employee behavior.