Science (Universidade Europeia)
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Agile CMII: A methodology for assessing social project impacts within agile contexts
No full textAgile methodologies have been gaining more and more momentum since its inception in the beginning of the year 2000s. Its inherent iterative and user-centered behavior helps teams to dynamically prioritize, plan and execute work packages, which tend to be appropriate for innovative projects where problem-solution duo co-evolve throughout time. Thus, agile adoption, which naturally began within software development teams, has now been widespread throughout other corporate departments and diverse segments. The present work continues an ongoing research over CMII (Conceição Moura Impact Index), which is an analytics model that combines NPS (net promote score), OKRs (objectives and key results) and SROI (social return over investment) methods for measuring project impacts. Specifically, this current research proposes an integration of Scrum (an agile representative) with CMII model. The main objective is to make the model adoptable and practical for agile teams on social projects. Overall, it functions under Scrum’s sprint ceremonies – planning, daily meeting, review and retrospective –, where CMII KPIs and methods will be timely handled or executed, respectively. The main result is a project assessment methodology – comprised of phases, methods and metrics –, making it applicable for professionals when measuring the overall impact of their initiatives. It aims to dynamically informs strategic decision-making and links it to projects’ operational aspects
How global brands create firm value: Revisiting Steenkamp’s 4v model and COMET dimension
No full textGlobal brands are creating firm value that can be translated into financial
outcomes. For this reason, the purpose of the current study is to analyze how global
brands create firm value and to conceptualize a framework based on its findings.
After thoroughly studying the 4V model and COMET dimension of Steenkamp
(How global brands create firm value: the 4V model. Int.Mark. Rev. 31:5–29, 2014;
Global brands in a semi-globalized world: securing the good and avoiding the bad.
Kenan-Flagler Bus. Sch. UNC-Chapel Hill. 1–68 (2015)), a conceptual model is
fashioned to identify the process of creating value in global brands. The proposed
conceptual framework extends Steenkamp’s (How global brands create firm value:
the 4V model. Int. Mark. Rev. 31:5–29, 2014) 4V model through four steps. First,
selecting the positioning of the brand in the consumer’s mind, second, identifying and
targeting the source of value, third, delivering the value, and finally harvesting the
value. The model specifies the process for creating value in global brands through
a course of actions, which involve both internal and external stakeholders of the
company. It underlines the interrelations between each step of value creation and
how distinctive activities build the value in the following step and strengthen each
other. The limitations of the study are discussed, and new avenues of research are
proposed
An evaluation of remote workers’ preferences for the design of a mobile App on workspace search
No full textNew ways of communication and the growth of mobile technologies allows a high degree of interaction between people, places, and even things, making it possible to work anywhere, anytime. This has led to the creation of new working models, where an increased number of independent workers fight the blurred line between working and personal life. The rise of the coworking spaces and their popularity came to fight that line and, also, help remote workers dealing with loneliness, promoting a collaborative and dynamic working environment. However, little is found in the literature about the specific preferences of the users of these types of spaces. This paper aims to identify and evaluate remote workers’ preferences of working spaces characteristics, in the capital area of Portugal, to design a real time system that can help user’s efficiency when looking for a space to work in. The paper presents the results of the study and the Heuristic Evaluation (Nielsen’s 10 Heuristics) of the proposed system. Results show that working from home or in a Coworking spaces are the most common options among remote workers and their main motivations to work in those spaces were looking for a space that brings them comfort, allows an affordable accommodation and social interaction with other workers. WIFI quality, location and a quiet environment are the most important characteristics when choosing a specific working space. The results of the proposed system’ evaluation showed that 6 usability problems were found, and 2 out of 10 heuristics were violated. However, the overall SUS score evaluation showed a score of 91 points, considered as “acceptable”. These results can guide designers designing or developing working spaces related applications, or even owners creating those spaces
Identifying and exploring key drivers of customer engagement on social media: A netnography approach
No full textAs social media increases its presence in consumers’ lives, it becomes crucial for companies and organizations to understand how they can adapt their marketing efforts to that reality. The main goal of this study is to provide new insights on this phenomenon, by exploring and understanding key drivers of customer engagement generated through social media. To answer the research objective, a literature review was conducted, focusing on customer engagement, its metrics, and influencing factors. Adopting a netnographic methodological approach, posts from the 11 most recognized brands, in terms of marketing efforts, were collected. A total of 458 Facebook and Instagram posts were analyzed in terms of post type, time frame, interactivity, and post appeal. Six multiple linear regression models were conducted to better understand the impact of these variables on customer engagement. Our findings reveal that the use of emotional appeals in branded posts results in a superior number of likes, reactions, comments, and shares on social media, in comparison with functional appeals. The results also showed that the use of images in branded posts seems to promote more reactions and comments on Facebook, while the video format stimulates shares. Finally, no evidences were found that the day of the week in which posts are published, and the use of interactive elements on them influence customer engagement on social media
Design for health and wellbeing: Innovative medical garment design
No full textThis paper is the initial part of Ph.D study is to contribute to innovative designs for fibromyalgia patients improving, as result, their health and wellbeing. A flat design process which is customized is presented. The solution is supported in previous research data including interviews with patients and professionals for a better understanding of fibromyalgia issues and patients. It has also allowed determining a better design approach to the problem (Balkış et al. 2019). Fibromyalgia is a widespread rheumatologic syndrome recognized by muscle pain. It is more common in stressed or perfectionist people. Demographically, however, the syndrome is commonly observed in age groups between 30–60 years, and in women (Nazlıkul 2014). In this framework, the authors intend to help fibromyalgia patients through a non-pharmacological method but as a garment solution, presented here as a case study in a modeling stage. According to interviews with a doctor and patients, applying heat to “tender points” is relaxing and diminishes the effects of fibromyalgia syndrome. Most patients visit thermal baths for remedy. Also, they state that using heat packs are not a sustainable solution and prohibitive in daily routine. Thus, an innovative garment design was modeled and material selection was planned for a fibromyalgia patient’s tender points. The model is highly customized to meet the patient’s needs. In the future research phases, electronic nanocomposite materials will be applied to garments in accordance with the patient’s needs to obtain the desired heat release and clothing comfort properties. This new design approach is complementary to traditional and more invasive pharmacological solutions
Hierarchical cluster analysis of human value priorities and associations with subjective well-being, subjective general health, social life, and depression across Europe
No full textHuman values are a central component in understanding individuals’ choices. Using the Schwartz’s Values instrument, this study aimed to identify patterns of human value priorities of 35, 936 participants across 20 European countries and analyse their relations with subjective well-being (SWB), subjective general health (SGH), social life, and depression indices in Europe. A hierarchical cluster analysis of data from the seventh European Social Survey (ESS) round 7, based on the higher order dimensions of the Schwartz values model, allowed identifying four European groups with distinct indicators. Indices of SWB, SGH, social life, and depression showed statistically significant differences among the four different sociodemographic groups. The graphical representation of the monotonic correlations of each of these indices with the value priorities attributed to the ten basic human values was ordered according to the Schwartz circumplex model, yielding quasi-sinusoidal patterns. The differences among the four groups can be explained by their distinct sociodemographic characteristics: social focus, growth focus, strong social focus, and weak growth focus. The results of this study suggest a rehabilitation of the notion of hedonism, raising the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, with the former contributing more to well-being than the latter
Smart cities’ applications to facilitate the mobility of older adults: A systematic review of the literature
No full textThis study aimed to identify: (i) the relevant applications based on information technologies and requiring smart cities’ infrastructure to facilitate the mobility of older adults in URBAN SPACES; (ii) the type of data being used by the proposed applications; (iii) the maturity level of these applications; and (iv) the barriers TO their dissemination. An electronic search was conducted on Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases, combining relevant keywords. Then, titles and abstracts were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the full texts of the eligible articles were retrieved and screened for inclusion. A total of 28 articles were included. These articles report smart cities’ applications to facilitate the mobility of older adults using different types of sensing devices. The number of included articles is reduced when compared with the total number of articles related to smart cities, which means that the mobility of older adults it is still a not significant topic within the research on smart cities’. Although most of the included studies aimed the implementation of specific applications, these were still in an early stage of development, without the assessment of potential end-users. This is an important research gap since it makes difficult the creation of market-oriented solutions. Another research gap is the integration of knowledge generated by other research topics related to smart cities and smart mobility. Consequently, important issues (e.g., user privacy, data standardization and integration, Internet of Things implementation, and sensors’ characteristics) were poorly addressed by the included studies
Using the probe methodology to investigate the user experience in a CRM system
No full textThis paper presents a self-ethnographic experience for defining a new system to manage customer relationship in a department of internal sales. The paper focuses on the definition of strategies for deciding the future of new a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) that will replace an older version used for many years by a tourism company. We followed an approach based on the Probe Methodology (PM), considering a context in which the user of the platform could participate, alongside the company, in the development of the CRM software. Our results showed that the PM could help to identify the main characteristics, modes of use and problems related to the specific environment of the software. Furthermore, it was possible to identify the ways in which users adapted to overcome issues that emerged while interacting with the system, and brought valuable insights into the development of the CRM. Based on techniques typically associated with the social sciences, the project collects information about intangible concepts to transfer them to a software development project. The PM proved efficient in identifying relationships that are not visible at first sight and to perceive requirements and needs not directly expressed
Proposal and requirements for a platform that assists teaching–learning in the problematization of design projects
No full textDesign methods are a way to guide the project development process in the area. During the years of graduation students show more interest in the creative phase of the process, and less involvement with the research phase and understanding of the opportunity of the project, as well as the phase of finalizing and adapting the solution for delivery. Since the problematization phase is more theoretical and reflective, it is easy to understand this academic preference for the creative phase of the projects before the others, but mainly in relation to the understanding of the opportunity. Knowing the importance of research and analysis in the design process, the article shows the structured logic to define the development of a platform that aims to assist the realization of this important part in the project process. The approach of the article highlights the observation of classroom contexts in disciplines of graduation projects in Design in Brazil and Portugal. As a proposal, it presents the definition and requirements of an interactive digital platform as a way to assist undergraduate students in problematizing design projects