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Impact of marketing and sales practices on business results: consumer goods industry - analysing the scoring model, results and conclusions
No full textMeasuring and quantifying the success of marketing and sales
practices can be a challenging endeavour. The FI Consulting
scoring model attempts to achieve this. It was assessed by
conducting structured interviews across the architecture, insurance,
consumer goods and technology industry. The collected data
enabled the development of a more precise model to measure the
impact of marketing and sales practices on business results. This
was achieved, firstly, by optimising the scoring model and
maximizing the correlation between practices and financial KPIs.
Secondly, the study reflected on the quality of the new model while
interpreting its scores. This resulted in the establishment of a
refined scoring model, which enabled the measurement of the
impact. However, the impact on business results and relevance of
KPI’s varies per industry. Rather than using an overarching model,
to reflect on specific industry characteristics, it is recommended to
measure the impact of marketing and sales practices on business
results with industry-specific adaptations of the FI Consulting
scoring model
Positioning Saccharum in Madeira as a sustainable luxury hotel: building a sustainable DNA and an aspirational culture
No full textSustainability has been prioritized on the global agenda. Consumers’ increasing awareness
pushed companies to shift their portfolios towards sustainability. Leading luxury hotel chains
worldwide are incorporating sustainable practices to achieve a green transition. This paper aims
to understand how a full-sized, luxurious hotel such as Saccharum can achieve a sustainable
positioning. A new aspirational Brand Culture for Savoy Signature Group was built to allow
Saccharum to be perceived as a real luxury brand agent of change for sustainability, highlight
a specific purpose and follow a guideline for day-to-day operations to attain business goals in
a sustainable and strategic way
The role of digital technologies regarding circular business model innovation - multiple case study
No full textThe role of digital technologies in the circular economy has become a widely discussed subject
in conceptual and review studies. Insights however from practice on their contribution
regarding value creation and value capture in business models were lacking. To provide
managers with empirical evidence on this topic, four companies were closely investigated. A
synthesis therefore of digital technology and business model innovation towards circularity
shows the importance of enhanced knowledge accumulation, interconnectivity, and the
necessity for integrating and analyzing data enabled by digital technology to leverage the
potential from the circular economy through fundamental innovations of the business model
Data-Driven Strategies for E-Learning Improvement: The Role of Business Intelligence at Axa France
No full textDissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Science and Advanced Analytics, specialization in Business AnalyticsThe integration of business intelligence (BI) technologies has profoundly transformed
corporate environments, enabling organizations to leverage data for strategic decisionmaking. This thesis investigates the implementation and impact of BI tools within a corporate
e-learning platform at AXA France. It explores the methodologies for designing and deploying
a dimensional data model tailored for BI applications.
The research details the development of a snowflake schema to optimize data storage and
retrieval, enabling comprehensive analytics and reporting. Key performance indicators (KPIs)
such as user engagement, learning outcomes, content effectiveness, platform performance,
and user satisfaction are identified and evaluated. The analysis highlights the challenges and
advantages of BI tools, focusing on the role of real-time reporting in enhancing organizational
performance.
The findings reveal that a well-implemented BI system can significantly improve decisionmaking processes, resulting in enhanced business outcomes and competitive advantage. This
thesis contributes to the understanding of BI integration in corporate settings and offers a
framework for future research and implementation strategies
The Evolution of a Brand Throughout its Lifecycle: Strategies for Sustaining Brand Equity
No full textDissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThis work provides a comprehensive analysis of brand lifecycle dynamics, focusing on the
evolution of brands through the stages of Introduction, Growth, Maturity, and Decline. By
employing an abductive exploratory research design that integrates both qualitative and
quantitative methods, this study investigates the key drivers and inhibitors impacting brand
evolution. Data was collected through structured questionnaires directed to brand managers
and brand observers, allowing for an in-depth analysis of brand strategies and consumers’
perceptions. Key findings highlight the importance of brand awareness, product quality,
consumer engagement, and strategic innovation across all lifecycle stages. In the
Introduction phase brand awareness, authenticity, and impactful visual identity are crucial,
while the Growth phase emphasizes the importance of quality, the communication of a clear
value proposition, and revenue growth. The Maturity phase requires sustained relevance
and customer loyalty through innovation, acting on customer feedback, and strategic
alliances. During the Decline phase, brand managers state that the most valuable asset to
protect is customer loyalty, following repositioning and effective communication strategies.
This research also provides actionable strategies for sustaining brand equity. Some
limitations identified are related to sample diversity and suggest opportunities for future
research such as industry-specific lifecycle dynamics, inviting future researchers to take a
closer look at brand extensions
Sustainability and behavioral intention toward smart home technology
No full textDissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Digital Marketing and AnalyticsOur homes increasingly pose a negative impact on the environment. Technologies are an
excellent foundation for stopping this trend, particularly regarding energy efficiency. The
present study proposes a theoretical model based on the extended unified theory of
technology acceptance and use (UTAUT2) to understand the effects of environmental
awareness, sustainable behavior, and green self-identity on the intention behavior toward
smart home technologies, meeting the need to understand the real drivers for individuals'
behavior. The results from surveying 275 participants show that even though environmental
awareness explains pro-environmental behavior and green self-identity, neither of these
variables has a significant impact on behavioral intention toward smart home
technology. From the base model theory, only performance expectancy, hedonic motivations,
habits, and price value are significant predictors of the user behavioral intention
Aviation Forecasting Using Machine Learning: Predicting ATC Costs and Fuel Consumption
No full textDissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Knowledge Management and Business IntelligenceAir Traffic Control costs and Fuel expenses are two of the main expenses of airline companies.
Predicting these two variables is essential for the Flight Operations department, as there is a
need to calculate the budget for each one and communicate it to the financial department.
This master thesis explores the use of machine learning models to predict these expenses,
aiming to reduce the dependency on other departments and obtain faster, accurate
predictions. The CRISP-DM methodology was adopted to reach the final models for each
target variable. Although various machine learning models were trained and tested, Hist
Gradient Boosting was the best performing model for each target, however, the results did
not meet the expectations. This approach, with the given dataset, performs worse than the
company’s existing method for predicting these variables. The main conclusion is that there is
a need to engineer existing features and add more relevant ones into the training of the
models to fully realize the potential of this approach
Berry-enriched diet suppress neuroinflammation by modulating microglia
No full textAbstract
Pilling evidence in the recent years shows an increasing incidence of
neurodegenerative diseases in a constantly aging population, bringing to the
forefront one of the most impactful socio-economic problems future generations
may come across. Having no explicit cure, only treatment focused on managing
the symptoms, these diseases are considered permanent hindrances in the lives of
patients. Given this, the possibility of modulating the brain’s well-being through
our diet stands as an innovative and ground-breaking approach to this urgent
health problem. Fruit and plant-based diets rich in (poly)phenols, a trademark to
the Mediterranean diet, have shown potential in modulating several hallmarks of
neurodegenerative pathologies, particularly the neuroinflammation associated
with disease progression, highlighting the value of these types of compounds.
As such, the following novel study was conducted, where the anti-inflammatory
potential of a berry-enriched diet, rich in (poly)phenols, was evaluated, on an LPSinduced
mouse model of neuroinflammation. The LPS-induced
neuroinflammation resulted in classical signs of sickness-like behavior with
hypophagia and weight loss, that were attenuated by the berry-enriched diet.
Behavioral tests on exploratory habits and memory function were performed, and
they showed the capability of the berry-enriched diet to prevent LPS-induced
memory impairments, particularly in the Y-maze and novel object recognition
(NOR).
In the brain, LPS-induced neuroinflammation resulted in microgliosis, astrogliosis,
and peripheral macrophage infiltration, especially in the memory-related region of
the hippocampus. These effects were all modulated by the berry-enriched diet.
In conclusion, our study demonstrated the potential of a berry-enriched diet to
attenuate LPS-induced neuroinflammation and its associated phenotypic and
biochemical changes. This research emphasizes the emerging potential of dietary
interventions, particularly (poly)phenol-rich diets, in preventing and modifying the
progression of neurodegenerative diseases.Resumo
Investigações recentes demonstram um aumento da incidência de doenças
neurodegenerativas na população mundial cada vez mais envelhecida,
destacando um dos mais impactantes problemas socioeconómicos que futuras
gerações poderão enfrentar. Sem cura definitiva e com tratamentos que se cingem
ao bem-estar e controlo dos sintomas, estas patologias são consideradas entraves
crónicos na vida dos pacientes. Desta forma, a possibilidade de modular a
homeostase cerebral através da dieta surge como uma inovadora e revolucionária
abordagem a este urgente problema de saúde. Dietas ricas em frutas e vegetais,
especialmente em (poli)fenóis, como a dieta Mediterrânica, têm demonstrado
reduzir marcadores associados às doenças neurodegenerativas, particularmente
da neuroinflamação que acompanha a progressão destas patologias.
Desta forma, o seguinte estudo pioneiro foi realizado, onde o potencial antiinflamatório
de uma dieta enriquecida em bagas, rica em (poli)fenóis, foi avaliado,
num modelo de neuroinflamação induzida por LPS em ratos. A neuroinflamação
resultante do LPS levou a sintomas típicos de doença, como hipofagia e perda de
peso, que foram atenuados pela dieta enriquecida em bagas. Testes
comportamentais focados em hábitos de exploração e memória, demostraram a
capacidade desta dieta em prevenir estas as alterações, particularmente nos testes
de Y-maze e novel object recognition (NOR). No cérebro, a neuroinflamação
induzida por LPS resultou em microgliose, astrogliose e infiltração de macrófagos
periféricos, especialmente na região do hipocampo, responsável pela memória.
Todos estes efeitos foram melhorados pela dieta enriquecida em bagas.
Em conclusão, o nosso estudo demonstrou o potencial de uma dieta enriquecida
em bagas para atenuar a neuroinflamação induzida por LPS, especificamente nas
suas alterações fenotípicas e bioquímicas. Esta investigação enfatiza o potencial
emergente de intervenções dietéticas, particularmente dietas ricas em (poli)fenóis,
na prevenção e modificação da progressão de doenças neurodegenerativas
Growth opportunities for a European impact investing firm using the business case of maze: limited partnerships perspective
No full textThe emerging market for impact investments in Europe bears opportunities for financial
intermediaries to scale business activities. In recent years, the market experienced significant
growth, driven by market-building efforts and an increased deployment of capital. To equip
financial intermediaries to capitalize on the rising demand, this paper elucidates growth
opportunities to transition into a forerunning asset manager. Thereby, geographical market
expansion, portfolio diversification, and limited partnerships are investigated as building blocks
for this strategic shift. Insights on growth opportunities are applied to the business case of Maze,
a Portuguese impact financial intermediary, allowing a practical transfer of the paper’s findings
Lysosome exocytosis as a therapeutic target to impair breast cancer progression
No full textBreast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, with metastasis contributing substantially to poor prognosis. Metastasis formation involves acquisition of migratory and invasive capacities by cancer cells, allowing them to form secondary tumors. Previous studies indicate that lysosome exocytosis is upregulated in BC cells, leading to alterations in the tumor microenvironment and degradation of the extracellular matrix, creating favorable conditions for tumor invasion.
This project investigated the role of lysosome exocytosis in BC cell invasion. For this, we modulated key regulators of this pathway, namely RAB7A, the RAB7A effector RILP, and RAB10. Moreover, we modulated lysosome exocytosis with pharmacological compounds, including ML-SA1.
We found that the silencing of RAB7A, a crucial regulator of lysosomal trafficking, increased lysosome exocytosis and invasion of both highly invasive MDA-MB-231 and poorly invasive MCF-7 BC cell lines. Conversely, the silencing of RILP, which mediates retrograde transport of lysosomes, as well as late endosome-lysosome fusion, resulted in decreased lysosome exocytosis and invasion of highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cells. Similarly, RAB10 silencing led to reduced lysosome exocytosis and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, treatment of poorly invasive MCF-7 cells, with ML-SA1 increased both lysosome exocytosis and invasion. Overall, our results show that modulating lysosome exocytosis positively impacts invasive behavior in BC cells, demonstrating a clear causality between lysosome exocytosis and BC cell invasion. This suggests that targeting lysosome exocytosis could be an effective therapeutic strategy to impair BC cell invasion and tumor progression. Future research should focus on exploring pharmacological inhibitors of lysosome exocytosis, towards the impairment of BC cell invasion, to enhance treatment efficacy and improve patient prognosis.O cancro da mama (CM) é o tipo de cancro mais diagnosticado em mulheres, e o segundo mais mortal em todo o mundo, sendo o desenvolvimento de metástases um dos principais fatores que contribuem para um pior prognóstico. A formação de metástases envolve a aquisição de capacidades migratórias e de invasão pelas células cancerígenas, permitindo-lhes formar tumores secundários. Estudos indicam que a exocitose de lisossomas é um mecanismo que se encontra exacerbado em células de CM, induzindo alterações no microambiente tumoral, e degradando a matriz extracelular, criando assim condições favoráreis para as células cancerigenas invadirem.
Neste projeto, o nosso objetivo foi investigar o papel da exocitose de lisossomas na capacidade invasiva de células de CM, através da modulação de proteínas reguladoras desta via, nomeadamente, RAB7A e o seu efector RILP e RAB10, bem como através do tratamento com compostos farmacológicos, incluindo ML-SA1.
Os nossos resultados revelaram que após o silenciamento de RAB7A, um regulador de tráfego lisosomal, os níveis de exocitose de lisosomas aumentaram, bem como a percentagem de invasão das células altamente invasivas MDA-MB-231 e das pouco invasivas MCF-7. Por outro lado, ao silenciar o efector RILP, que está envolvido no transporte retrógrado de lisossomas e na fusão entre endosomas tardios e lisossomas, observámos uma diminuição na exocitose de lisossomas e na capacidade de invasão das células MDA-MB-231. Por sua vez, o silenciamento da RAB10 levou ao mesmo fenótipo, observando-se diminuição tanto de exocitose de lisosomas como de invasão. No geral, todos estes reguladores demonstraram ter um papel na regulação de exocitose de lisosomas, modulando a capacidade de invasão das células de CM. Além disso, o tratamento de células MCF-7, com o composto ML-SA1, levou a um aumento de exocitose de lisosomas e de invasão. Estes resultados demonstram que a exocitose de lisossomas impacta positivamente a invasão das células de CM, levando a alterações no comportamento invasivo, demonstrando uma relação de causalidade entre estes dois processos e sugerindo o potencial da exocitose de lisossomas como um alvo terapêutico para diminuir a capacidade invasiva de células de CM. Em estudos futuros, será importante identificar fármacos com capacidade de inibir a exocitose de lisossomas, como uma estratégia para diminuir a invasão de tumores, melhorando o prognóstico dos pacientes e a sua sobrevivência