R - Dissertações de Mestrado / Master Dissertations
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- Job-hopping among 25-35-year-olds in France and the United States : a comparative studyPublication . Lelièvre, Athénaïs Marie Léa; Sobral, FilipeUsing Maertz and Griffeth’s eight-force voluntary turnover model, this study explores, identifies, and compares the primary motivational factors influencing job-hopping intentions in white-collar professionals aged 25–35 in France and the United States. A Qualtrics survey of 170 respondents used 0–100 sliders to evaluate Maertz and Griffeth’s eight forces (affective, calculative, contractual, alternative, normative, moral, constituent, behavioral), and a 5-point Likert scale for job-hopping intentions. Country-specific Ordinary Least Squares regression models controlled for age, industry, and past turnover. In both samples, higher affective commitment reduced job-hopping intentions, whereas higher calculative evaluations of alternative job opportunities increased intentions to leave. In the U.S., lower moral forces increased job- hopping, and past turnover predicted job-hopping intentions, suggesting a habit. France's work-life balance laws strengthen affective commitment, whereas the flexible American labor market encourages mobility and analytical decision-making. Self-reported data, a small sample, and missing factors limit causal inference, introduce bias, and reduce generalizability. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs, broader samples, and objective measures. In contrast to U.S. companies, which must offer transparent career pathways and ethics-oriented leadership programs, French organizations should prioritize affective commitment. Reducing job-hopping can enhance employee well-being, reduce organizational expenses, and foster workforce stability, contributing to greater societal and economic resilience. This is the first comparative application of Maertz and Griffeth’s model to examine Millennial job- hopping motivations in France and the U.S., explaining how different labor-market institutions and cultural norms shape motivations.
- Antecedents of online customer satisfaction using a chatbot in the pre-purchase phase : an analysis of beauty productsPublication . Silva, Maria Cruz; Borges, MónicaThe purpose of this study is to investigate how interacting with chatbots in e-commerce in the pre- purchase phase influences consumer satisfaction with a beauty brand. A modified version of the updated DeLone and McLean information system success model was used, focusing on two quality dimensions: system quality and service quality. The two dimensions of the model were measured with and without the chatbot, and then compared to assess whether the assistance from the chatbot can help improve online customer satisfaction in the product selection of beauty products. The target population of this study was defined as individuals who have used the Sephora chatbot in the context of beauty product purchases within the past twelve months. A total of 102 valid responses were collected using an online survey.The findings revealed that the presence of a chatbot in the online service did not have a statistically significant impact on online customer satisfaction in the context of a beauty brand. Additionally, the study did not confirm the mediating effects of system quality and service quality on the relationship between online services with chatbots and online customer satisfaction. Despite the findings, the study presents several managerial implications for beauty brands considering the integration of chatbots into their digital customer experience strategies.
- Strategic responses to mandatory sustainability disclosure : adoption drivers and strategic impacts of the CSRD in the EU materials sectorPublication . Backström, Cecilia Ida; Lancastre, FilipaThe EU has responded decisively to sustainability challenges, recently launching the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This thesis examines the impact of such regulations on corporations, focusing on the materials sector, as it is particularly exposed to sustainability issues. The research has three main objectives: (1) to identify internal and external drivers influencing how EU-listed materials companies adopt the CSRD, (2) to analyze challenges and strategic benefits associated with its implementation, and (3) to assess how mandatory sustainability disclosure affects corporate strategy and decision-making within the broader sustainability context. The analysis is based on institutional theory and the resource-based view, which provide a theoretical foundation for understanding external and internal influences, respectively. In addition, it is informed by recent academic literature on the effects of sustainability reporting. Empirical findings are obtained by a qualitative analysis of first-wave companies subject to CSRD requirements. The interviews reveal the central role of institutional pressure, with regulation, investor expectations, and customer demands identified as the primary drivers. The results also point to implementation challenges, the role of geopolitical factors as influencing drivers, and perceived strategic benefits from a business perspective. While the regulation encourages deeper sustainability integration, its impact on corporate strategy remains limited. Overall, this work reveals both the opportunities and tensions associated with CSRD implementation, which companies must strategically navigate. The research contributes to ongoing debates on mandatory sustainability reporting and provides early-stage practical and theoretical implications. Additionally, it outlines avenues for future research in the evolving field of sustainability disclosure.
- Cooperative tax pricing for sustainable tourism : the case of the AlgarvePublication . Afonso, Miguel Vitorino; Fernandes, Pedro AfonsoThe tourism sector is fundamental for many economies around the world. However, it is also associated with several challenges, one of which is the mass concentration of tourists in popular hubs, resulting in an uneven distribution of not only the benefits but also the bur- dens on local public resources and infrastructure within destinations. In this thesis, we use the case of the region of the Algarve to explore the potential use of tourism taxation to redis- tribute tourism inflows in order to mitigate the issue and turn the sector more sustainable. Tourist consumption patterns and tourism pressure on public water services, wastewater, energy, and solid waste collection were quantified for each municipality, and an algorithm to identify the best pricing strategies was developed. We confirmed the viability of using tourism taxation to reduce discrepancies over the different municipalities’ tourism pressure without compromising the sector’s performance in the region. Furthermore, various factors that should be taken into account when defining pricing policies were identified, such as accommodation prices and price elasticity of tourism demand. We concluded that a coop- erative framework within all local municipal authorities is fundamental to achieve a more equitable distribution of tourism pressure in the region, as a correct price differentiation of tourism taxation is the key to the success of the proposed approach.
- AI in digital news media : the impact of AI authorship and transparency on trust in news content and brandsPublication . Westerheide, Philine; Lancastre, FilipaIn response to growing economic pressures, news organizations have increasingly integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the news production process to increase efficiency. Particularly in content creation, the core of journalism, this development raises the question of how readers perceive AI-generated content and whether it affects their trust in digital news amid rising media skepticism. Despite the increasing relevance, there is still no common academic understanding of how audiences interpret AI authorship. As a result, news organizations lack clear, evidence-based advice on how to effectively disclose AI involvement. By combining insights from technology acceptance, media research and trust theory, this study investigates how AI authorship disclosure and transparency statements influence readers' trust in news articles and brands in the context of digital journalism. The research is based on a quantitative experimental study with a 2 × 2 between-subjects design. The results show that hybrid authorship significantly increases trust in the news brand compared to AI-only authorship. No significant difference was found for news credibility. Transparency statements directly improved both brand trust and news credibility, but perceived transparency did not moderate the relationship between authorship type and news credibility as expected. Overall, the findings reveal the importance of demonstrating human involvement in AI- augmented journalism to maintain readers' trust. By analyzing readers' perceptions of hybrid journalism, an increasingly relevant practice, this study addresses a research gap and provides guidance for news organizations on how AI disclosure and transparency strategies can influence audience trust.
- O conhecimento de invalidades durante o inquérito : um exercício de delimitação recíproca entre ação e jurisdição penalPublication . Nunes, Maria Teresa Costa Bento de Sousa; Salinas, Henrique João Martins Gomes
- To what extent does female leadership at different organizational levels influence firm-level ESG performance in an emerging market? : evidence from MalaysiaPublication . Owczarzak , Charlotte; Figueiredo, Paulo NegreirosThis thesis investigates the relationship between female leadership and firm-level ESG performance. This relationship is examined in Malaysia, an emerging market undergoing regulatory and cultural shifts in corporate responsibility. Drawing on gender role theory and critical mass theory, the study examines how female representation at different organizational levels 4board, executive, and management 4 affects disaggregated ESG subcategories. The study employs panel regression models to test four hypotheses using data from 279 publicly listed firms between 2013 and 2022, combining ESG scores with financial and leadership data. The findings reveal that female representation in management roles is the most consistent and positive predictor of ESG performance, particularly in subcategories related to environmental policy, community engagement, diversity, and labor rights. In contrast, board-level gender diversity shows mixed or even negative associations with several ESG outcomes. Female executives exhibit limited and context-specific influence, suggesting strategic detachment from operational ESG functions. The overall explanatory power of the models is low (R² ≈ 0.04), indicating that a considerable part of the variation in this subcategory remains unaccounted for by the leadership variables or the included controls These results challenge the assumption that board diversity alone drives sustainable outcomes, highlighting the importance of operational proximity and functional leadership. The study contributes to the literature by disaggregating leadership roles and ESG measures, offering insights into the influence of female leadership in Malaysia. It also provides implications for firms and policymakers aiming to promote inclusive and effective leadership strategies for sustainability. Limitations and avenues for future research are discussed.
- O papel do balcão único eletrónico no quadro da administração pública eletrónicaPublication . Penedo, Tiago Filipe Picanço; Carvalho, Marta Vaz Canavarro Portocarrero deNowadays, electronic government is a fundamental theme in administrative law, since it has enabled a closer relationship between Administration and citizens, through the use of new information and communication technologies. This dissertation analyses one of the concretisations of the use of new technologies by Public Administration, specifically, the legal regime of the electronic one-stop shop. It begins with a theoretical overview of electronic government, as well as understanding its practical evolution in Portuguese legal system. Thereafter, the electronic one-stop shop concept is developed, taking as its starting point the concept of administrative simplification. On the other hand, the legal regime of electronic one-stop shop consecrated in Code of Administrative Procedure is analysed. It concludes with an analysis of the doctrinal criticisms of the way in which the Code of Administrative Procedure consecrates the electronic one stop-shop, as well as a critical reflection about the future of the electronic one-stop shop in the Code of Administrative Procedure.
- The internationalization of wine in Mexico : imports, domestic market growth, and export potentialPublication . Espinosa, Paola Herrera; Reis, RicardoUsing five fundamental SME internationalization models- the Uppsala Model, Network Theory, Born Global Theory, Porter's Diamond Model, and Cluster Theory- this thesis investigates the internationalization tactics of small and medium-sized wine producers in Mexico. Instead of concentrating on wine as a product, this study examines how these theoretical frameworks perform in an emerging market scenario utilizing the Mexican wine business as an empirical instance. The study used a mixed-methods approach, integrating trade data, expert interviews, and comparative analysis with Chile, Portugal, and Argentina. It concludes that Mexican wineries encounter major structural obstacles, such as a small production scale, disjointed branding, and a lack of institutional support. But the sector also gains from distinctive terroirs, rising internet literacy, and a rise in demand for boutique, genuine wine around the world. The results show that while digital-first and born-global strategies are becoming more popular, relationship-based (Network) and experiential (Uppsala) models better describe contemporary export practices. Although immature, institutional and ecosystem-based frameworks are essential. In order to facilitate the successful internationalization of Mexican wine and the creation of a worldwide identity based on cooperation and authenticity, the thesis ends with a strategic roadmap.
- Impact of repairability marketing on consumer behaviour and attitudes in electronicsPublication . Piekkari, Heikki Tapani; Fernandes, DanielConsumer electronics industry is starting to pay more attention to repairability as a beneficial feature, but it is still unclear how much it actually means to consumers. This thesis investigates how marketing repairability, through packaging and visual cues, influences consumer decision-making and behaviour in the context of small electronic devices. A survey experiment was conducted with three groups who each saw variations product images: one with no repair messaging, one with repair messaging, and one that saw both. Participants who saw the repairable version of the product were more likely to say the information helped them understand its long-term use and this difference was statistically significant. While trust scores were slightly higher in those groups as well, the gap wasn’t large enough to be meaningful. Prior experience with repairing electronics did not seem to influence trust or perceived value, which was somewhat surprising. Instead, what really mattered was attitude: people who felt positive about the idea of self-repair were much more likely to consider buying a repairable product. In fact, that attitude alone explained 43% of the variation in purchase intent, making it one of the strongest predictors in the study. Repairability messaging seems to help with how useful a product feels, and self-repair values play a big role in whether people are open to buying repair-friendly devices. These insights could help brands to push repairability in a way that actually connects with consumers.