Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Fernando A. F."
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- ItemAn expanded conceptualization of “smart” cities: adding value with fuzzy cognitive maps(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, 2019-03-15) Miguel, Bárbara P.; Ferreira, Fernando A. F.; Banaitis, Audrius; Banaitienė, Nerija; Meidutė-Kavaliauskienė, Ieva; Falcão, Pedro F.; Ekonomická fakultaThe world’s rapidly growing population is an issue to be taken seriously. Its consequences could be dramatic if the required steps are not taken. Concerns about this problem have led to the creation of “smart” cities, which promote improvements in citizens’ quality of life through a combination of new technologies and environmentally sustainable practices. For these cities to be truly “smart”, they need to be evaluated in order to understand the areas in which interventions are necessary to make these cities economically stable and environmentally sustainable. In this regard, various studies have sought to understand which indicators should be considered in assessments of smart cities and how this process should be conducted. Thus far, however, researchers have found that using “loose” indicators, which measure only some areas of these cities, is insufficient. That said, this study proposes the use of fuzzy cognitive maps to analyze the dynamics behind smart cities’ components. Grounded in intensive group meetings with a panel of experts in different dimensions of these cities, the method applied produced a well-informed, process-oriented framework that contains the characteristics and components that should be assessed in this type of city. Specifically, after a fuzzy cognitive map was constructed based on the direct involvement of the expert participants, six main clusters were extracted as key components in the development of smart cities. These clusters were: people; planning and environments; technology; infrastructure and materials; services; and transportation and mobility. The results also facilitate an improved understanding of smart cities’ cause-and-effect relationships and better strategic planning by urban planners and city administrators. The implications, advantages, and limitations of the proposed framework are also presented.
- ItemMANAGING COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION IN CANARY ISLAND FIRMS(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Acosta Rubio, Zamira; Febles Acosta, Jaime; Banaitis, Audrius; Ferreira, Fernando A. F.; Ekonomická fakultaBusiness organizations and management encompass a wide range of aspects requiring research and analysis. Two key issues are communications management and employee participation promotion within firms. This study focused on the variables of communication and participation in organizational structure, business decision making, transmission of orders, supervision, and control in small and micro-enterprises in the Canary Islands, Spain. The research examined the two variables’ ability to generate increased involvement in and employee identification with their firm. The analytical framework applied sought to investigate Canarian managers’ criteria and priorities regarding using communication and participation as management tools. The methodology included the Rasch analysis technique. The study analyses seven variables considered relevant in relation to communication that are communication between management and workers, fluid and informal communication, use of information technology in internal communication, access of all workers to new information technology, linking/relationship systems between units of the same level, linking/relationship systems between units of different levels and the existence of information disseminated as a tool. Likewise, among the variables related to participation, twelve variables recognized as relevant in the literature are analysed. These variables are setting specific objectives for workers, individual initiative, cooperation, decentralization of decision making, control, participation in decision making, participation in setting objectives, workers' autonomy in decision making when carrying out their work, initiative in their work, control of their work, commitment and involvement of managers in daily work and delegation of authority to lower levels. The predominance of small businesses, in many cases managed by their owners, allows us to appreciate a vertical communication based on direct supervision, from top to bottom. The results reveal a poorly balanced combination of communication and participation systems in Canarian firms. These marked imbalances have consequences for managers’ coordination mechanisms and potential for effectively managing their firms.