Science (Universidade Europeia)
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Editorial- Lugares, pessoas e parcerias: Indispensável trivium teórico-prático da literatura
No full textThe role of participatory design in traditional craftsmanship: Methodological approaches
No full textParticipatory Design (PD) is a methodology increasingly utilized in product design development, fostering collaboration among multi-disciplinary teams where participants engage actively in knowledge exchange. This paper presents a case study of a PD project conducted in the Poty Velho district of Brazil, focusing on the practical application of the methodology. The PD involved direct collaboration between six local ceramists and one designer. The process led to the creation of a permanent collection of ceramic products. The case study underscores the significance of close observation, deep immersion, and knowledge sharing among all stakeholders throughout the design process. To promote effective communication during the PD method and to empower the participating partners for future endeavours, each phase of the case study was meticulously planned and executed. This approach ensured that the outcomes were not only practical but also sustainable, fostering a sense of ownership among the community members
Understanding supply chain resilience in technology-based innovations in MSMEs. The role of techno-insecurity, innovation orientation, and employee resilience in supporting the orientation of key decision-makers
No full textThere is a paucity of empirical research exploring the antecedents and underlying dynamics that contribute to enhancing supply
chain resilience among digital service Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Micro-,
Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises and
(MSMEs). The current study has threefold objectives: (a) explore the effect of employee resilience on innovation orientation and
techno-insecurity,
(b) examine how techno-insecurity
influences innovation orientation and SCR, and (c) assess the impact of
innovation orientation on SCR. We used supply chain resilience theory to empirically investigate these objectives in the context
of digital services SMEs and MSMEs in Brazil. Data was collected from 442 senior managers working in the Brazilian digital
services firms in the field of technology-based
innovation and analyzed in two phases. In phase 1, PLS-SEM
was done using
SmartPLS 3 software followed by an artificial neural network (ANN) analysis using IBM SPSS 29 in stage 2. Results suggest
techno-insecurity
and innovation orientation as significant predictors of supply chain resilience in digital service firms. Also,
findings provide empirical evidence suggesting that resilient employees are better equipped to mitigate the negative impacts
of techno-insecurity,
as opposed to previous findings, and contribute to a resilient supply chain. The findings provide valuable
insights for supply chain practitioners and contribute to the broader understanding of resilience within the digital service firms
in modern supply chain management
Human-centered design approaches to industry 4.0 challenges: Directions for future research
No full textThe article proposes directions for future research into how Human-Centered Design (HCD) Approaches can be used to address challenges posed by Industry 4.0. Traditional shop-floor industry management frameworks, such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, DMAIC, and PDCA, were successfully applied in ordered domains. However, Industry 4.0 exponential technological progressions have shifted the shop-floor industry into a complex domain, causing significant challenges in employee engagement and leadership. Designers have been mastering complex domains in multiple sectors, so the article argues that HCD Approaches are well-positioned to address these challenges. A threefold method was adopted for exploring the interplay between HCD and Industry 4.0. First, a review was conducted about industry 4.0 challenges, encompassing traditional industry management, digital transformation and innovation, agile and startup management, culture, and design practices. Second, Cynefin Framework was applied to understand these challenges domains. Third, a thematic analysis was conducted suggesting that Human-Centered Design approaches have the potential to address the industry 4.0 challenges. The results suggest that HCD Approaches are appropriate to solve these 4.0 Challenges According to the Cynefin Framework, both are positioned in Complex Domains, substantially impacting employee engagement and leadership. However, this proposition needs to be explored further because there is a lack of empirical studies on applying HCD in Industry management fields, particularly on the shop floor
Understanding how undergraduate students perceive biases in AI-generated images, a research-through-design probe
No full textThe speed and proficiency of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have proliferated in recent years, enabling more people, including design students, to use AI-generated images for their projects. However, it has been well documented that the Large Language Models supporting AI generators have incorporated troublesome gender and race biases during training (Wellner et al., 2020). Undergraduate students, whose visual culture and critical skills are still in development, often lack the capacity to identify such biases in the images they obtain when using AI generators. This can lead to visual outputs that perpetuate prejudiced representations of people (Hall et al., 2023). To better understand the nature of this problem and potential ways to mitigate it, we conducted a design probe study on a group of first-semester undergraduate design students in Lisbon, Portugal. The results of this study can be used by teachers to guide their students better and researchers to develop methodologies to help younger generations identify biases in AI generative systems. The impact of this research extends beyond the classroom and can benefit other educators and designers of future AI generative systems. Most importantly, it can contribute to curtailing the perpetuation of race and gender biases in today's society
Social media and NPOs: An integrative literature review
No full textThe nonprofit sector has been growing around the world. In addition, non-profit organizations (NPOs) are an essential piece of a healthy society. It's undeniable that NPOs (also known as voluntary, independent third sector, or nongovernmental societal sectors) are a relevant part of our society. The activities of fundraising are vital. Following the digital transformation, NPOs have operated in a digital context. These organizations need digital marketing strategies, since the competition is high. This chapter was written with the purpose of elucidating the following research questions: which is the actual state of the art regarding the use of social media marketing in NPOs? In the midst of the various social media tools, which are the ones most successful for NPOs, regarding securing donors and fundraising goals? A qualitative approach was elected, involving an integrative literature review, from 2013 to 2021. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The authors hope to contribute to a synthesis of knowledge and applicability of results of significant studies into practice
Investigating usability indicators for the adoption of AI models in heuristic evaluation
No full textOnline Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become widely used solutions over the last few years by educational institutions worldwide. Interest in evaluating the quality of these systems has been increasing, and new research to investigate the usability and user experience (UX) of these platforms has increased over the last decade. One of the common evaluation approaches is the heuristic evaluation of the interface based on selected criteria or indicators that describe well-known usability problems. However, this process remains laborious and challenging, requiring considerable effort from evaluators. Adopting automated methods is still uncommon, and approaches based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, are rare. This article presents a study that investigates the potential adoption of usability indicators (Ui) for using artificial intelligence methods as supportive tools for heuristic evaluation of LMS interfaces. In our study, we developed a methodology to investigate some requirements to identify and select a set of Ui to create datasets for AI models to contribute to LMS interface inspection. The methodology allowed us to highlight a set of Ui to be potentially adopted with Machine Learning (ML) to evaluate LMS interfaces. We highlight a set of necessary assumptions to build datasets that can be used with AI models for heuristic evaluation. The methodological approach we propose can be repurposed to study new usability indicators to analyze other complex software contexts
The significant object: The artistic imaginary of Madeira Island embroidery
No full textIn this article, I reflect on the way in which the memory of the disappearance of embroidery – as a manufacturing activity and, as a consequence, as the genus of social fabric and socio-economic relations – fosters the construction of a local identity and feeds the creation of a new symbolic language. I analyse how the division between the ‘traditional’ and the ‘contemporary’ is the result of a western culture that creates a sharp divide in time wherein everything that precedes it is in the past, and therefore fixed. Following this line of thought, craftsmanship has been associated with the traditional (i.e. unchanging), and art or design with the contemporary. By mapping the evolution of the Madeiran embroidery imaginary, I argue that this division is a historical construct. Seeing the embroidery as both an art and a craft enables a process of reinterpretation and invention, which enhances the creation of new imaginaries and alternative futures
Information design and semiology: A visual study on deconstructing musical notation for improving first-grade children’s learning
No full textThe Western diagrammatic system for musical notation, which represents notes and melodies through graphic forms on a five-line structure—the pentagram—is considered a universal language and is respected and followed by both formal music education and musicians around the world. It evolved from oral heritage into an intentional figurative system by which melodies could be sung and played for centuries. However, when we look at the accessibility of formal music education for children in first grade, between five (5) to seven (7) years of age—before reading age—it is easy to find gaps. We have analysed the main symbols of formal musical notation and conducted a comparative study of their structure and the relationship of musical graphic symbols to Design Principles, Sign Types and Peircean Semiotics. We also deconstructed a sheet of music to identify this graphic language’s positive and negative features in terms of Design Principles and its understanding by children up to seven years of age. When we consider children’s learning, we must additionally take into account the complexity of what is offered to the cognitive structure acquired up to that point. It can be concluded that formal music notation is quite complex and does not meet the need for simplicity that would promote children’s learning. By acknowledging children’s development stage and matching it with Design Principles, the results show that an adapted symbolic language can help the children to better understand the meaning of the musical symbols and make their translation easier and more effective
Traveling to learn english or another language? Language tourists in profile
No full textThe importance of English as a lingua franca has been growing worldwide. In this context, English is the market leader in language tourism, where people travel with the goal of improving their language skills. Whereas English is nowadays considered a basic skill and a lingua franca, other languages are still considered ‘specialist’ or region-specific. Therefore, tourists who travel to learn English may have different profiles and motivations from those who travel to learn other languages. The aim of this study is to understand to what extent language tourists who travel to learn English differ from those language tourists who travel to learn other languages.
We surveyed a sample of 1014 language tourists to compare those who traveled to learn English with those who traveled to learn other languages. Statistical quantitative data analysis was performed using SPSS, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
The results revealed statistically significant differences between both groups. Traveling to learn English is more common for younger participants with short stays and financial support from their families. These tourists are mostly learning English as a global language for pragmatic reasons. Traveling to learn other languages is linked to university degrees, longer and more immersive trips, among other variables