Science (Universidade Europeia)
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“Look at what I own”: the role of social media in luxury brand equity and conspicuous consumption
No full textPurpose
This paper analyzes the multifaceted effects of social media on luxury consumption. Specifically, the paper delves into the impact of (1) e-WOM derived from social media on the brand equity of luxury brands; (2) consumers’ social media usage on conspicuous consumption of luxury brands and (3) social self-esteem and (4) expected social return obtained from social media usage on conspicuous consumption of luxury brands.
Design/methodology/approach
Three survey-based studies were conducted in Portugal with three samples to test the proposed research model.
Findings
Social media is compatible with the exclusivity positioning of luxury brands. On the one hand, e-WOM nurtures the brand equity of luxury brands. On the other hand, consumers’ social media usage and the expected social self-esteem and social return obtained from social media favor the conspicuous consumption of luxury brands.
Originality/value
This study sustains with Western samples that, despite the ubiquity of social media, the exclusivity positioning of luxury brands can be nurtured through social media e-WOM, with effects on brand equity and conspicuous consumption, because of the expected social self-esteem and social return. Fashion brands should design social media content that encourages e-WOM to enhance consumers’ social self-esteem and social return
The impact of the economic crisis and the pandemic on the portuguese tourism industry: An econometric approach
No full textTourism is a key driver of Portugal’s economy, with the WTTC projecting it to contribute EUR 56.4 billion (21.1% of GDP) by 2033. However, the sector has proven highly vulnerable to external shocks, such as the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit, and the pandemic, which have disrupted demand patterns and exposed structural weaknesses. It is essential to understand these impacts at a regional level in order to design more resilient and sustainable tourism strategies. This study examines how major crises have shaped tourism in Portugal’s NUTS II regions, focusing particularly on overnight stays, and assesses the implications for sustainable development and regional policy. Quarterly data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) covering 2004/2024 are used. We apply ARIMA and SARIMA models to account for seasonality and autocorrelation, and evaluate the accuracy of our forecasts using Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Theil’s U statistics. Structural breaks are considered to capture the effects of crises. The findings show that crises have significantly altered tourism patterns, with a shift towards less crowded and more remote destinations. This reflects vulnerabilities and opportunities for sustainability-oriented tourism. The study offers policymakers actionable guidance by aligning its results with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to economic resilience (SDG 8), innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), and partnerships for sustainable governance (SDG 17). This work is original in combining long-term regional data with robust forecasting techniques to provide innovative insights for scientific research and practical policy planning
Managing food waste through gamification and serious games: A systematic literature review
No full textHousehold food waste poses significant environmental, social, and financial challenges. This systematic literature review examines the role of games and gamification in mitigating food waste, addressing four key research questions: how these interventions are applied, their impact on attitudes and behaviors, the specific mechanisms employed, and their measured outcomes. The analysis identifies a range of strategies, including mobile applications, serious games, educational platforms, and interactive installations. Theoretical frameworks such as the Theory of Planned Behavior, emotional engagement, systems thinking, and cognitive load theory underpin these interventions. Findings suggest that gamification can enhance awareness, knowledge, and behavioral change, with some interventions demonstrating measurable reductions in food waste. However, limitations such as the lack of long-term engagement data, varying effectiveness across socio-economic contexts, and inconsistencies in measurement frameworks remain challenges. Notable interventions—including the MySusCof and Exspiro apps and serious games like FoodFighters and PadovaGoGreen—show promising results but require further validation in diverse settings. This review highlights both the potential and limitations of gamified strategies, emphasizing the need for standardized measurement approaches and longitudinal studies to assess their sustained impact on food waste reduction
Innovation impact in the textile industry: From the Toyota production system to Artificial Intelligence
No full textThe Toyota Production System (TPS) was a revolutionary approach to automobile production that influenced companies all over the world. The fight against redundancy is at the core of this approach. The textile industry remains one of the most polluting sectors worldwide, which makes environmental sustainability a key concern. In line with national priorities, companies are striving to balance profitability with sustainability, minimizing defects and reducing waste. This study explores the evolution of textile production systems from TPS principles to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how they can be used from a sustainability perspective. Smartex, a textile start-up recognized as the winner of the Web Summit 2021 competition, was chosen as the focus of this case study. Employing qualitative research methods, including content analysis of interviews, management reports and website data, the study examines the parallels and distinctions between TPS and Smartex’s AI-driven system. The findings highlight how Smartex is revolutionizing the textile industry by leveraging AI to avoid defects and reduce waste, advancing both environmental and commercial objectives. Finally, the implications and limitations of the research are explained
Consumer responses to 3D experiences: The role of enjoyment, surprise, and augmentation quality
No full textBrands employ various content types to create immersive consumer experiences. While prior research predominantly examines highly immersive contexts involving virtual reality devices, this study compares the effects of 2D and low-immersive 3D digital content on consumer satisfaction and purchase intentions. Across two between-subjects experimental studies (N = 339), findings confirm that 3D content significantly enhances satisfaction and purchase intentions compared to 2D content. Mediation analyses highlight the critical roles of surprise, enjoyment, and perceived augmentation quality in shaping consumer responses. These insights evidence the strategic value of integrating immersive digital experiences into marketing efforts. Notably, even without augmented or virtual reality devices, 3D content fosters positive brand outcomes in online settings. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the potential of 3D videos to evoke positive emotions and influence consumer behavior
Inclusive play framework for parents and children: A tool to promote awareness about gender-neutral play
No full textThe study describes the development and testing of a tool intended to increase parental awareness about gender-neutral play and equal opportunity throughout the formative years of children. The tool is a crucial element of the action plan to investigate how several gendered trends related to objects of play, such as toys, potentially limit children’s early play experiences, resulting in gender differences in skill and abilities. To implement gender-neutral play, the tool aims to shift perspectives and encourage behavioral improvements in parents, who are the primary socializing agents for children. Along with the outcome of the doctorate in design, Inclusive Play Framework, the study focuses on socio-cultural variables in Portugal involving families with children aged 4 to 7 years. Being the application of the framework, the tool concentrates on design for behavior change and inclusive design through constructive design research, co-creating and iterating within workshop scenarios with semi-structured card games and a board game. It emphasizes parent–child interactions with multi-layered affordances behind objects of play in shaping knowledge about gender-neutral play for parents and promoting inclusive expressions for children. With three levels (Identify, Diversify, and Inclusify), it attempts to define the “state” of gender-neutral awareness for parents in the form of open discussion, provocation, and strategically proposes a gender awareness scale to synthesize the possible change in awareness
Data-driven decision-making in marketing: A systematic literature review of emerging themes and research gaps
No full textThis study assesses how Data-Driven Decision-Making (DDDM) impacts marketing practices and research. Using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, this research conducted systematic reviews of 94 peer-reviewed articles and utilized bibliometric and thematic analyses. From this, four major themes emerged: improvement in the customer experience via the personalization of marketing; marketing driven by innovation through data resource versatility, Machine Learning, analytics, and Artificial Intelligence; performance enhancement through the optimal allocation of resources; and the data governance and ethical use of such resources, and the use of such data resources. This study illustrates how the combination of multi-level theory and methodical stricture accounts for the systemic influence of DDDM in marketing. This study adds to these theories by proposing a cohesive and synthesized understanding of the interplay of the technological, organizational, and governance elements in data-driven marketing. This research provides organizations with actionable guidance aimed at increasing effective analytics-driven decision-making, while also ensuring the responsible use of data
Serious games and health: Bibliometric trends from SEGAH (2011–2024)
No full textThe Serious Games and Applications for Health (SEGAH) conference, established in 2011, has become a central venue for research on serious games, virtual reality, and gamification in health-related applications. This bibliometric analysis examines publication trends, citation patterns, keyword evolution, and geographic contributions across 12 editions of SEGAH (2011-2024). A total of 502 papers authored by 1,606 contributors were analyzed using a custom Python-based pipeline that leveraged libraries such as pandas, networkx, matplotlib, and seaborn, as well as APIs from IEEE, Crossref, and OpenCitations. Results show a steady growth in publications, with notable peaks in 2017 and 2023. The total citation count ranges from 2, 0 4 5 to 2, 3 7 3 depending on the data source, as values differ across IEEE, Crossref, and Google Scholar. The most cited papers focus on serious games for health applications, braincomputer interfaces, and virtual reality-based training. While earlier papers have had more time to accumulate citations, recent years (2023-2024) show a higher percentage of non-cited papers. Keyword analysis reveals that Serious Games is the most frequently occurring research theme (148 occurrences), followed by Virtual Reality (85) and Rehabilitation (36). The geographic distribution highlights Portugal as the leading contributor, followed by Brazil, Canada, and Australia, with increasing participation from European and Asian countries. Collaboration networks show strong interdisciplinary cooperation across institutions. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of SEGAH's research landscape and its evolving contributions to serious games in healthcare
Autonomous technology in the marketplace: The impact of enjoyment on consumer responses
No full textThe implementation of AI technologies in smart retailing raises privacy concerns due to their reliance on consumer data. This study examines how technology enjoyment influences consumers' willingness to share personal information and investigates the role of perceived autonomy of technology and psychological needs in shaping enjoyment. Through a survey and two single-factor experiments (n = 809) manipulating different smart retailing technologies (e.g., interactive kiosks, mobile apps, and robots), we confirm that technology enjoyment increases consumers' willingness to disclose personal data. Risk perceptions and perceived technology autonomy help explain these findings. Moreover, perceived competence associated with the use of technology positively influences how much consumers enjoy the experience. Our research underscores the pivotal role of enjoyment in mitigating risk perceptions and driving self-disclosure behavior in physical retail settings. We emphasize the importance for marketers and policymakers to recognize the potential unintended consequences of enjoyable technological experiences on consumer privacy. By focusing on enjoyment's buffering effect on risk perceptions and its correlation with technology autonomy, we enhance our understanding of consumer behavior in smart retail environments
How sustainable leadership can leverage sustainable development
No full textSustainable leadership plays a pivotal role in fostering long-term economic, social, and environmental development. As businesses increasingly integrate sustainability into their core strategies, leaders must adopt approaches that align profitability with ethical responsibility. This paper explores how sustainable leadership contributes to sustainable development by examining key leadership principles, decision-making frameworks, and corporate strategies. The discussion highlights the shift from short-term financial goals to long-term value creation, emphasising stakeholder engagement, ethical governance, and innovation. By integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, leaders can enhance resilience, drive corporate sustainability initiatives, and positively impact communities. The study also underscores the importance of knowledge sharing, organisational culture, and adaptability in embedding sustainability into business practices. Through a systematic bibliometric literature review, this research provides insights for executives, policymakers, and academics seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability-driven leadership. The findings underscore the necessity of aligning leadership strategies with global sustainability imperatives