R - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses
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- Nova geração no mercado de trabalho : o papel das práticas de recursos humanos na intenção de saída e na conciliação da vida pessoal e profisisonalPublication . Fontes, Raquel Filipa Ferreira; Monarca, Maria Adélia de JesusA presente investigação analisa o impacto das práticas de recursos humanos na intenção de saída e na conciliação entre a vida pessoal e profissional dos trabalhadores da Geração Z que estão agora a iniciar a sua carreira profissional. Esta geração, composta por indivíduos nascidos entre 1995 e 2010, caracteriza-se por uma relação distinta com o trabalho, valorizando a flexibilidade, o equilíbrio entre a vida pessoal e profissional, o propósito nas funções desempenhadas e oportunidades contínuas de desenvolvimento. Neste contexto, torna-se fundamental que as organizações adaptem as suas práticas de recursos humanos para responder às expectativas desta nova geração e, simultaneamente, promover a sua retenção. Assim, com base na literatura, partiu-se do pressuposto de que práticas de recursos humanos alinhadas com os valores da Geração Z promovem a retenção e o equilíbrio trabalho-vida pessoal, sendo este analisado através de uma abordagem quantitativa com recurso a um questionário aplicado a jovens profissionais no mercado de trabalho português. Posteriormente, a análise estatística dos dados permitiu explorar as relações entre as variáveis e validar as hipóteses formuladas, tendo os resultados contribuído para uma melhor compreensão dos desafios organizacionais na gestão desta geração, enquanto forneceram recomendações práticas para atrair, motivar e reter talento jovem.
- A negligência relativa às pessoas mais velhas que se encontram ao cuidado de famílias de acolhimentoPublication . Carvalho, Camila Fernandes de; Faria, Maria Paula Bonifácio Ribeiro deA presente dissertação tem como objetivo promover a reflexão sobre o tratamento da negligência no sistema penal português, nomeadamente no que diz respeito às pessoas mais velhas. Num primeiro momento, abordaremos os conceitos de negligência e de família de acolhimento, definindo as suas obrigações, incluindo o dever especial de cuidado. Em seguida, procederemos à análise da proteção legal conferida às pessoas mais velhas em Portugal e no direito comparado. Posteriormente, dedicaremos especial atenção à proteção jurídico-penal das pessoas mais velhas inseridas em famílias de acolhimento, em situações de negligência, por ser a este nível que se colocam os principais problemas. Analisaremos alguma jurisprudência relevante sobre esta matéria e, por fim, apresentaremos uma proposta de reforma legislativa, visando o reforço da proteção jurídico-penal dos idosos.
- Entre a matéria e o conceito : documentação do modelo expositivo da obra Escultura dentro da floresta (1968-1969) de Alberto CarneiroPublication . Tavares, Inês Barbedo Ramalho Figueiredo; Teixeira, Joana Cristina MoreiraA presente investigação pretende, através do estudo da instalação Escultura dentro da floresta (1968-1969), explorar os processos de documentação de arte contemporânea, considerando a importância da dimensão conceptual na tomada de decisão. A obra Escultura dentro da floresta, pertencente à coleção da Fundação de Serralves, foi idealizada e criada por Alberto Carneiro no final da década de 60. Ao longo dos anos, a instalação tem sido exposta com variações que podem não ir ao encontro da conceptualização do artista. A montagem da obra é um processo complexo que exige um elevado conhecimento das suas características conceptuais e formais, pelo que a instituição pretende que seja definido um modelo expositivo que facilite a montagem e uniformize a leitura nos momentos de exposição. A união entre a reflexão teórica e a análise metodológica permitiram a definição e aplicação da estratégia de documentação, que procurou responder às necessidades da obra através do envolvimento dos agentes interessados (família do artista e instituição) na tomada de decisão. As respostas encontradas resultam do constante questionamento perante a definição de um modelo expositivo, cujas tentativas de uniformizar os momentos de montagem podem inadvertidamente excluir outras interpretações e possibilidades, limitando assim a potencial materialização e conceptualização da obra de arte.
- From blame to accountability : evaluating responsibility-taking language and class-action lawsuits in data breach crises through stakeholder theoryPublication . Braun, Maximilian Antonio; Ilseven, EkinOrganizations today operate in a landscape of heightened stakeholder scrutiny and regulatory complexity. Crises compel organizations to demonstrate accountability, with responsibility-taking narratives playing a critical role in rebuilding trust. This thesis investigates how evolving regulatory frameworks, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), shape organizational responsibility narratives and influence stakeholder-imposed punitive actions, thereby offering empirical evidence for how organizations depend on their consumers. Leveraging an empirical quantitative analysis, this study analyzes pre- and post-CCPA data breach notifications from the California Attorney General’s database and class-action lawsuit records from ClassAction.org. Linguistic analysis quantifies responsibility-taking and deflective language in breach notifications, while a Difference in Differences methodology evaluates regulatory impact. The relationship between crisis severity and class-action lawsuits is examined through matched data from the two databases, exploring the interplay of narratives and legal outcomes. Results show a significant increase in responsibility-taking language and a decrease in deflective communication post-CCPA. However, breaches involving highly sensitive data reduced responsibility-taking narratives, highlighting the moderating role of severity. Despite these shifts, no consistent evidence was found that responsibility-taking alone reduced the likelihood of lawsuits or that severity had a clear moderating role. This study reveals how regulatory frameworks influence corporate crisis communication, shaping responsibility-taking narratives. While these narratives support trust rebuilding and mitigate reputational damage, their effectiveness in reducing punitive actions remains inconsistent. The findings emphasize the need for organizations to adopt context-specific strategies, integrating narrative adjustments with comprehensive crisis management to meet stakeholder expectations and address legal risks effectively.
- The role of failure and reinvention in building brand loyalty : luxury fashion industryPublication . Sousa, Catarina Figueira da Silva; Pestana, CatarinaThe importance of stories about failure and reinvention in luxury fashion brands challenges the traditional notions of perfection, offering a new way of understanding how consumer loyalty is built in this exclusive industry. Traditionally, luxury brands emphasized narratives of perfection and exclusivity, however, this study explores whether incorporating stories of resilience and authenticity will create stronger emotional connections with consumers. It investigates whether sharing moments of overcoming challenges, such as reputational crises or public scandals (e.g., social media controversies), increases trust and brand loyalty or whether it risks undermining the aspirational image of luxury. Through a qualitative approach, this research analyzes insights from marketing professionals, consumers, and an influencer through in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that transparent and authentic storytelling during crises can strengthen brand identity, build trust, and foster emotional connections. However, poorly handled narratives may harm a brand's exclusivity and reputation. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning narratives about failure and reinvention with the core brand values to maintain authenticity and the aspirational image of luxury.
- Could market efficiency explain the disappearance of the “end of month” effect?Publication . Gil, Henrique de Oliveira; Schliephake, EvaThis study investigates the disappearance of the end of month effect in the period from 2006 to 2023. Previously, from 1987 to 2005 the end of month effect was present in both CRSP value weighted and equal weighted indexes as proven by McConell and Xu (2008) which presents a challenge to Efficient Market Hypothesis introduced by Eugene Fama (1970), however in recent years the effect has vanished. An increase of market efficiency hypothesis is studied here using an event study methodology to evaluate abnormal returns and cumulative abnormal returns across the two periods. While some findings suggest that an increase in market efficiency may have influenced the disappearance of the effect, the evidence does not conclusively support a significant improvement in market efficiency between the two periods.
- Internal vs. external executive board composition and firm performance during crisis situationsPublication . Kerlin, Julius; d'Arcy, AnneThis thesis investigates the relationship between leadership origin, board composition, and firm performance in German listed companies, focusing on the pre-crisis year 2019 and the Covid-19 crisis year 2020. Using a balanced quarterly panel of 122 firms, the study examines whether internally appointed CEOs and executives outperform external appointees and whether such effects are moderated by liquidity reserves, gender diversity, and ownership structure. Performance is measured via industry-demeaned Return on Assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q, with controls for firm, industry, and time effects. The findings show no consistent performance premium for internally appointed CEOs in Germany, in contrast to evidence from U.S. one-tier systems. However, a higher proportion of internally promoted executives on the management board is positively associated with ROA across both years, suggesting that collective internal continuity matters more than CEO origin alone. This effect does not strengthen during the crisis, and high cash holdings, female representation, and the strongest investor presence show limited or context-specific performance impacts. These results underscore the role of institutional context in shaping leadership-performance dynamics. In Germany’s stakeholder-oriented, two-tier governance system, the advantages of internal leadership appear steady over time rather than crisis-dependent, with implications for succession planning and governance strategy.
- Understanding the factors influencing consumer adoption of wearable payment devicesPublication . Almeida, Carolina Silva dos Santos; Borges, MónicaThe rapid digitalization of financial services has accelerated the adoption of mobile and contactless payments, yet payment-only wearables (NFC-enabled wristbands, rings, and tags designed exclusively for payments) remain a niche segment with limited consumer uptake. This dissertation investigates the factors influencing consumers’ behavioral intention (BI) to adopt payment-only wearables by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2). The model integrates trust, compatibility, and perceived aesthetics as additional constructs and examines the moderating role of personal innovativeness. Data was collected through a structured online survey (N = 254) and analyzed using multiple linear regression and moderation analysis. The model explained 70.6% of the variance in BI, demonstrating strong predictive power. Results show that compatibility was the strongest determinant of BI, followed by aesthetics, performance expectancy, and price value. Social influence and facilitating conditions had weaker but significant effects, while effort expectancy and trust were not significant predictors, suggesting that ease of use and security are now baseline expectations rather than differentiators. Moderation analysis revealed that innovativeness amplifies the effects of performance expectancy, compatibility, trust, and social influence on BI. The study makes two key contributions. Theoretically, it adapts UTAUT2 to an emerging payment context, showing that adoption drivers evolve with market maturity. Practically, it provides guidance for firms to emphasize usefulness, lifestyle fit, design appeal, and innovative consumer segments in order to accelerate acceptance of payment-only wearables.
- The power of front-of-pack labels : how the Nutri-Score influences brand perception and purchase intention among generation ZPublication . Eller, Nico Maximilian; Lancastre, FilipaIn response to rising obesity and diet-related diseases in Europe, policymakers have promoted front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels to encourage healthier choices. Among these, Nutri-Score has gained traction by translating complex nutritional information into a simple five-color scale. Beyond informing choices, it may also act as a credibility signal shaping brand evaluations. To be effective, labels must guide product decisions and build brand trust. This study used a between-subjects experiment to test how Nutri-Score affects purchase intention and brand perception, focusing on generational differences. In an online survey, 203 participants evaluated a fictitious cereal product with either a favorable (A) or unfavorable (D) Nutri-Score. Results show that a favorable score significantly increases purchase intention. Brand perception fully mediates this effect: positive scores enhance trustworthiness, responsibility, and health orientation, which strengthen willingness to buy. Contrary to expectations, no generational moderation was found. By linking public health goals with consumer behavior, this study fills a research and practice gap. It highlights Nutri-Score as a transparent tool supporting EU-wide adoption and shows that firms can leverage it to strengthen brand credibility and align strategy with health objectives. Finally, it contributes to labeling research by evidencing Nutri-Score’s dual role as nudge and signal, with brand perception as the key mechanism connecting certification labels to consumer intentions.
- Consumer adoption intention in wearable fitness devices : the role of changing pricing modelsPublication . Probst, Moritz Cyril; Borges, MónicaThe wearable fitness device market is currently undergoing a transformation from traditional ownership-based pricing models to subscription-based pricing models. This study examines how these pricing models affect price value, a key determinant of consumer adoption intention as defined by the UTAUT2 framework. A quantitative survey of 265 valid respondents was conducted to assess price value perceptions across three key dimensions that differentiate the pricing models: the amplitude of the initial investment, periodic pricing, and the potential for higher cost of subscription-based models. The results show no significant impact of the initial investment or periodic pricing on price value perceptions, challenging previous research suggesting that subscription models offer benefits through lower barriers to entry and temporal framing. However, when considering the potentially higher cost of subscriptions, subscription based pricing models showed lower price value perceptions. This suggests that ownership based pricing may provide a strategic advantage in driving consumer adoption. Nonetheless, it was acknowledged that the perceptual drawbacks of subscription models may be offset by their operational and financial benefits for businesses, depending on their objectives. This study contributes to the academic literature by improving the understanding of cost perceptions in the wearable fitness device market and highlights the need for future research to refine methodologies and to include more diverse samples to increase generalizability.