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  • Sustainability Report Evolution: The Nestlé Case Study Applicability
    Publication . Eugénio, Teresa; Rodrigues, Susana; Gonçalves, Marco José
    This chapter is a unique case study that aims to present the evolution of non-financial reporting in Nestlé Portugal from 2007 to 2016 with the aim to study in-depth the Nestlé sustainability report practices. This study proposes to identify the key milestones in the evolution of this type of report, to compare with the disclosure strategy of Nestlé international, to understand if this company follow the IIRC guidelines, to identify the contribution of the audit by an independent entity, to conclude if Nestlé contributes to the achieving of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and to identify if the awards Nestlé received matter in its sustainability initiatives. Public institutional information was preferably used, particularly the sustainability report and integrated report, processed with various work tools using the technique of content analysis. The conclusions made it possible to understand that Nestlé emerges as a company that integrates these issues into its strategy and can be a model for companies that wish to follow this report path towards sustainability.
  • Business strategy and organisational performance: an analysis of the portuguese mould industry
    Publication . Rodrigues, Susana
    There is a vast literature on business strategy and organisational performance particularly within an American context. However, little attention has been given to the development of a more complete, integrated and holistic view of the inter-relationships between business strategy, the dynamics of strategy and organisational performance: this is the key aim of this thesis. The current research, attempts, based on Miles and Snow’s (1978) strategic typology, to understand the process of business strategy development and the overall implications on organisational performance in the context of the Portuguese mould industry. The purpose is to: • Test the applicability of Miles and Snow’s strategic typology to the Portuguese mould manufacturing industry, using a series of cross-sectional studies covering the period from 1980 to 1997 in five tranches. • Test the dynamics of Miles and Snow’s strategy types, using longitudinal analysis specifically to explore how business strategy has evolved over the years in response to environmental changes (from 1980 until 1997). • Test the overall implications of the static and the dynamic viewpoint of Miles and Snow’s strategy types on organisational performance. Data was collected using a variety of methods including in-depth, face-to-face interviews with top managers, and the development of a highly detailed questionnaire survey instrument conducted in 63 Portuguese mould manufacturing firms. The firms contacted represented 70% of all firms in the sector. The current research reveals that the typology is applicable to the Portuguese mould manufacturing sector. All the four strategy types were reported by top managers with Defenders, Prospectors, Analysers far outnumbering the Reactor strategic type. While many findings were consistent with the typology, some inconsistencies were found and these are suggested to be related to the organisational size of the strategy types in this industry, and its development. The current research findings have also shown that, contrary to the theory expectations, organisations do change their strategy over time. Firms have changed their strategy from Defenders to primarily Analysers. The research also reveals that there are significant differences in organisational performance between types of firms from a cross-sectional perspective, as well as from a dynamic viewpoint. In a constantly changing environment, Prospectors have outperformed Defenders. The conceptual framework - and resultant operational model developed - have proved to be an effective tool in improving our understanding of the complex inter-relationships between business strategy, generic strategy and organisational performance, that will assist managers and economic developers to improve the quality of their decision-making.
  • Circular Economy and the Tourism Industry
    Publication . Costa, Berta José Fernandes; Rodrigues, Susana Cristina Serrano Fernandes; Pacheco, Pilar Moreno
    The tourism industry has been growing at a remarkable rate and emerging as one of the major social and economic industries, and consequently one that boosts economic development that mostly supports countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). At the same time, it stands out as an industry which activities generate a considerable negative impact on the environment as it is configured according to the linear model of production and consumption, in which products are disposed of after usage, causing massive waste. From this standpoint, circular economy (CE) materializes as a new strategy, as it balances economic progress with the sustainable use of natural resources.In this regard, the purpose of this research document is to outline the conceptual dimension of CE and its principles, and propose a conceptual model which may allow the tourism sector to transform itself into a more sustainable industry and one which may succeed in generating multidisciplinary benefits and in parallel mitigate environmental, social and economic constrains. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out, as a means to highlight the tourism industry as one of the sectors which may contribute significantly and positively to the implementation of the long expected circular economy, where stock value is maintained in economy for the longest period of time.
  • Matching knowledge needs in the industry with the educational offer: A strategic tool for regional competitiveness
    Publication . Rodrigues, Susana; Matos, Florinda
    The purpose of this research was to understand and identify the industrial knowledge needs in the Leiria Region. This study was developed to help the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria to strategically define their knowledge offer to the industrial market needs. The aim was to identify: a) the qualifications required by individuals from top to bottom in the industry; b) the areas of knowledge required and c) the knowledge required by each professional category. Three hundred and forty-nine questionnaires were collected within the building construction, wood and furniture, moulding, and plastic industries. The results showed that the moulding industry identified the highest need for knowledge. With the exception of Plant managers, Plant workers and Apprentices in the wood and furniture industry that chose technical courses, all the other professional categories in the other industries stated continuous training as the qualification needed. The moulding and the plastic industry showed affinities and both identified the same areas of knowledge for middle managers.
  • Successful and Unsuccessful routes for entrepreneurs: lessons from an Entrepreneurial Regional Project Program
    Publication . Rodrigues, Susana Cristina Serrano Fernandes; Ferreira, Vitor Hugo; Silva, Gabriel
    There is a significant research on entrepreneurs, but none to very few on Financed Entrepreneurial Project Programs at the regional level. This chapter attempts to identify which of the several activities developed in the “Leiria Entrepreneurial Project Program”, helped to promote business acceleration and, to identify successful and unsuccessful routes for the stimulus of the entrepreneurship activity. Secondary and primary data were collected to answer the research questions. The results reveal that “Mentoring”, "Participation in Workshops" and “Conferences” activities are the most important to stimulate the spirit of entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs' success route lies on the competencies of the business promoters, on multidisciplinary teams capable of creating a product/service, and on the maturity of the business idea planning in all its phases. The entrepreneur 's failure path lies on the inability to clearly identify the business idea, its development and its implementation. The findings provide an important theoretical contribution as it unveils an unexplored filed. They also help decision-makers to select the entrepreneurial actives that most help entrepreneurs to boost their business.
  • Circular Economy Principles and Their Influence on Attitudes to Consume Green Products in the Fashion Industry
    Publication . Carvalho, Luisa Cagica; Moreira, Sandrina B.; Dias, Rui; Rodrigues, Susana; Costa, Berta
    Designing circular economy (CE) implies the adoption of a set of circular principles that support a society for the future. Understanding how CE principles influence attitudes to consume green products is a key factor aligned with consumer trends. This chapter aims to study how CE principles influence attitudes to consume green products in a particular case of fashion industry. Very few empirical studies on the perceptions of the fashion “users” exist. This chapter aims to bring some inputs to this topic. The methodology uses a path analysis study based on a sample of 110 respondents collected in a higher education institution in Portugal. The estimated model allows to test the relation between a set of variables, and the study reveals that: CE principles have a direct effect on the attitudes on the green products consumption in fashion industry in the sample considered.
  • Circular Economy and Sustainability: Concepts, Perspectives, and (Dis)Agreements
    Publication . Costa, Berta José; Rodrigues, Susana; Moreno, Pilar
    In the last decades, the concern over natural resources, sustainability, and the current linear economic model based on continuous growth is one of the great challenges of our time. The assumption that there is an unlimited supply of natural resources and that the environment has an unlimited capacity to absorb waste and pollution is no longer a current trend, and growing attention has been paid to it worldwide. This chapter represents a contribution to the continuous conceptual development of circular economy and sustainability, and it also reviews how these two concepts have evolved over the past decades. An extensive literature review was conducted, employing bibliometric analysis to scrutinise the state of the art, the perspectives, the agreements and disagreements among these concepts and their correlation.
  • Plano Estratégico para o Turismo Sustentável 20.30: Município de Porto de Mós
    Publication . Ramos, Dulcineia; Dias, Francisco; Fonseca, Júlia Fragoso; Rodrigues, Susana Cristina Serrano Fernandes
    O livro “Plano Estratégico para o Turismo Sustentável 20.30 do Município de Porto de Mós” é um instrumento de gestão territorial concebido para o turismo de Porto de Mós, da autoria de uma equipa de investigadores do Centro de Investigação, Desenvolvimento e Inovação do Politécnico de Leiria (CITUR-Leiria). Contudo, a sua concetualização resulta de um trabalho colaborativo e sistemático em que os protagonistas principais foram os atores locais: autarcas, empresários, dirigentes associativos e comunidade local. E, tal como a elaboração deste Plano Estratégico é fruto de um trabalho colaborativo, também a sua implementação prática e monitorização do seu grau de sucesso, nos termos preconizados no presente livro, terão necessariamente que se pautar por metodologias de trabalho colaborativo e em rede, que consubstanciam, em última instância, as premissas essenciais do desenvolvimento sustentável, designadamente: a inclusividade, o uso inteligente dos recursos endógenos do concelho, a partilha dos benefícios, a minimização de eventuais impactes negativos e, necessariamente também, a qualidade e competitividade dos produtos turísticos. Só deste modo será possível criar uma imagem positiva do destino Porto de Mós, consolidando a sua marca e garantindo um elevado padrão de satisfação e lealdade dos turistas e visitantes.
  • Circular Economy: A Perspective of Builders, Architects, and Consumers in the Panama Construction Sector
    Publication . Rodrigues, Susana; Costa, Berta José; Moreno, Philippe; Moreno, Pilar
    Humanity and planet Earth have no long-term future unless there is a commitment to respect and to live within its ecological boundaries, which demands a transition from the prevailing economic system, the linear economic system, to another that is circular. The construction sector is one that requires high resources in terms of energy, water, and raw materials, generating waste and harmful atmospheric emissions. This chapter aims to analyse consumers, architects, and construction companies' awareness, challenges, and enablers in the implementation of circular economy (CE). Secondary data as well as primary data in the form of interviews and questionnaires were applied in a building construction sector in Panama. Six hundred and fifty valid questionnaires were collected. The results show that respondents are aware of the circular economy concept, but not of all circular economy principles. Few would be willing to pay for its implementation. Several challenges were also highlighted, bringing to light the importance of policymakers' roles for CE implementation.
  • Social entrepreneurship: what people are looking for when they talk about it?
    Publication . Ciccarino, Irene Dobarrio Machado; Rodrigues, Susana Cristina Serrano Fernandes
    Social entrepreneurship is a new way of doing business and thus a new way of generating and delivering value to society. This study is a consolidation strategy to social entrepreneurship research field, providing an in-dept understanding of the concept and its diversity through the different approaches of social entrepreneurship support organizations - GSESO’s. It explores in what extent the fragmentation of the social entrepreneurship literature reflects the social entrepreneurship initiatives diversity. Content analysis was applied to the online material of the biggest GSESO. As a result, the study provides a benchmark for investors. It also helps social entrepreneurial initiatives [SEI] to better fit the investors’ expectations. Knowing what motivates an investment allow that fit. The core aim of GSESOs when choosing an investment are social change or social problems solution. The GSESOs invests in former social organizations capable to provide sustainable social impact. They rely on subjective criteria to choose where invest, with great focus on entrepreneur profile, on the prevalence of social mission and on the belief of a sustainable business model. The key business model elements considered are innovation and large-scale social impact through a replicable business model. It seems that the GSESOs investment strategy favor sustaining technologies and innovations that balance the market forces. The opportunity is exploited through social bricolage in a flexible, embedded and risk tolerant way. This business model can spread their social impact easily by replication. While the four GSESOs studied here support social entrepreneurship differently, they share the believe in the social entrepreneurship potential to improve human life and society development. They all work to expand and improve social entrepreneurship, in order of increase its power to act.