Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-05-12"
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- Risk categorization in Portuguese organizations in times of the COVID-19 pandemic - an exploratory statistical analysisPublication . Tavares, F.; Santos, E.; Tavares, V.Purpose – This work aims to characterize the risks companies deal with in the context of a pandemic, and to ascertain which risk type is most present in Portuguese organizations. It is also intended to verify whether there are differences in the various risk types between companies that had or did not have a plan or strategy to act in a pandemic, such as the one caused by COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative methodology was used, based on the application of a questionnaire survey targeting the Portuguese companies. The sample is composed of 1,647 Portuguese companies, which were queried through a questionnaire survey that analyses different risk types. Then, the software R was used to treat the results. Findings – The results show that companies are exposed and vulnerable to uncertain events, and five risk types were formed: legal, image, financial, strategic and operational. There is a bigger concern about the management of financial risks. Practical implications – Academics and companies can become more aware and master the concept of risk and its different branches, which consequently favours the adoption of strategies to better manage and plan risk. Originality/value – The literature on international businesses and their risks assumes that all crises are the same. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, besides causing a recession, obliges people and companies to adapt to a new scenario. Risks become more important to companies, in a way that had not been academically studied.
- Sustainable use of seaweeds from S. Martinho do Porto, Portugal - past, present and future perspectivePublication . Cavaco, Mário; Duarte, Adriana; Bernardino, Susana; Afonso, Clélia; Mouga, Teresa; J. R. da Costa Sanches GalvãoSeaweeds have long been used by populations on the coast of Portugal as fertilizers or food during periods of scarcity. Both uses have decreased dramatically since the introduction of chemical fertilizers and horticulture food. Even so, in the past decades, globalization has brought new interest to the consumption of these organisms, raising interest on algae as a healthy and tasty food. Much scientific research is underway on the properties of seaweeds, and it is proven that past uses are well-founded. S. Martinho do Porto, in the Centre of Portugal is the only location where the commercial harvesting of seaweeds still takes place. Gelidium corneum is harvested because this species produces high-quality agar, a much sought-after phycocolloid, which is used in the food industry as gelling or thickening agent. However, the species shows other properties that have been disregarded by the seaweeds’ industry. There are also some invasive species, namely Asparagopsis armata, which is causing considerable ecological problems to local ecosystems. Thus, the Mar2020 project Limo do Cais was approved to study the sustainable use the algal biomass from S. Martinho do Porto taking into account its industrial potential. In this way, the properties of G. corneum are being studied, to increase its commercial value. As to A. armata, it shows important antimicrobial properties that are being studied aiming the use of the algal biomass in the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, past uses of seaweeds will be discussed, as well as new potential uses that scientific research has uncovered.