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The purpose of this paper is to propose a new methodology to be used by small and medium enterprises to characterize their performance in quality, highlighting weaknesses and areas for improvement. The methodology aims to identify the main causes of quality problems and help to prioritize improvement initiatives. This is a methodology that intends to be easy to implement by companies with low maturity level in quality.

Based on the literature review a methodology for diagnosing and prioritizing quality problems is proposed. Then two longitudinal case studies are performed to refine and validate the proposed methodology. The methodology is organized in six different steps which include gathering information about predetermined processes and sub-processes of quality management, defined based on Juran’s trilogy, and about predetermined results categories.

The application of the methodology was successful in two case studies and a report was produced on the quality state of each industry, including a prioritization of the causes of poor performance.

The methodology may have to be adapted to better suit the needs of companies from different sectors, either by reviewing the processes, by integrating new tools or refining the existing ones.

This paper presents a new methodology for identifying and prioritizing quality problems.

Due to its simplicity and comprehensiveness, it is believed that the developed methodology can be applied periodically by companies as self-diagnostic and prioritization tool, aimed at continuous improvement.

This chapter seeks to describe the successive stages in the training and recruitment of economists at the service of the political regime that ruled over Portugal between 1926 and 1974. This chapter presents the main institutional settings for the education and practices of those who served the government in economic functions throughout this period. Its main aim is to show the changes that occurred in the understanding of the problems related with the development of the Portuguese economy, seeking to elucidate the processes of legitimation of an authoritarian regime, but also to show the signs of a critical break with a model of economic and social organization and a political regime that had reached the point of exhaustion.

This paper aims to study whether the industry indexes predict the evolution of the broad stock market in the USA.

The study uses industry indexes to predict the equity premium in the USA. It considers several types of predictive models: constant coefficients and constant volatility, drifting coefficients and constant volatility, constant coefficients and stochastic volatility and drifting coefficients and stochastic volatility. The models are estimated through the particle learning algorithm, which is suitable for dealing with the problem that an investor faces in practice, given that it allows the investor to revise the parameters as new information arrives. The individual forecasts are combined based on their past performance.

The results reveal that models exhibit significant predictive ability. The models with constant volatility exhibit better performance, at the statistical level, but the models with stochastic volatility generate higher gains for a mean–variance investor.

This study’s findings are valuable not only for finance researchers but also for private investors and mutual fund managers, who can use these forecasts to improve the performance of their portfolios.

To the best of the knowledge of the author, this is the first paper that uses particle learning and combination of forecasts to predict the equity premium in the USA based on industry indexes. The study shows that the models generate valuable forecasts over the long time span that is considered.

In this chapter, we will explore where Research Management and Administrators (RMAs) work, in terms of the types of organisations and their structures. While the majority of RMAs work in research-performing organisations (RPOs), such as universities, research institutes and hospitals, some work in other related organisations, such as research funders, think tanks and consultancy firms (non-RPOs). These different working contexts will be critically analysed in light of previous studies, and data collected through surveys and interviews. Quotes will be used to illustrate different professional settings. The interviewees selected derive from two world regions (USA and Europe) to understand the different challenges and settings associated with the diverse research ecosystems that each region represents. Finally, major conclusions and recommendations will be highlighted.

The purpose of this study is to present validation evidence of a Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale, an instrument within the framework of the Self-Determination Theory, suitable for both Brazil and Portugal.

The current study demonstrates the suitability of this version in both Portugal (N = 999) and Brazil (N = 720). The authors applied confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and tested the invariance between samples.

Results from CFA found the same structural dimensions as in the original study, invariant across both samples. Convergent and discriminant validity were shown through correlations between motivation subscales with affective commitment and emotional exhaustion.

Overall, the data provided strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the scale and reinforces the instrument as a cross-culturally valid measure of work motivation.

O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar evidências de validação de uma versão portuguesa da Escala Multidimensional de Motivação para o Trabalho, um instrumento enquadrado na Teoria da Autodeterminação, apropriado para utilização no Brasil e em Portugal.

O presente estudo demonstra a adequação desta versão da escala tanto em Portugal (N = 999), quanto no Brasil (N = 720). Realizámos Análise Fatorial Confirmatória e testámos a invariância da medida entre as amostras.

Os resultados da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória mostram a mesma estrutura fatorial encontrada no estudo original, assim como invariância entre as presentes amostras. As validades convergente e discriminante foram evidenciadas pelas correlações com as escalas de comprometimento organizacional afetivo e exaustão emocional.

Em geral, os dados mostraram forte evidência de confiabilidade e validade da versão da escala para português e reforça a validade intercultural desta medida de motivação para o trabalho

motivação para o trabalho, Escala multidimensional de motivação para o trabalho, Teoria da autodeterminação.

Artigo de pesquisa

El objetivo de este estudio es presentar evidencia de validación de una versión portuguesa de la Escala Multidimensional de Motivación Laboral, un instrumento en el marco de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación, adecuado tanto para Portugal como para Brasil.

El presente estudio demuestra la adecuación de esta versión de la escala tanto en Portugal (N = 999) como en Brasil (N = 720). Realizamos un análisis factorial confirmatoria y probamos la invariancia de medición entre muestras.

Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio muestran la misma estructura factorial encontrada previamente en el estudio original, así como la invariancia entre las medidas. La validez convergente y discriminante se mostró mediante correlaciones con las escalas de compromiso organizacional afectivo y de agotamiento emocional.

En general, los datos mostraron una fuerte evidencia de confiabilidad y validez de la versión en portugues de la escala y refuerza la validez intercultural de la medida de motivación laboral.

motivación laboral, Escala multidimensional de motivación labora, Teoría de la autodeterminación

Artículo de investigación