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Publications

Publications by SYSTEM

2024

Human-Centred Technology Management for a Sustainable Future

Authors
Zimmermann, R; Rodrigues, JC; Simoes, A; Dalmarco, G;

Publication
Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics

Abstract

2024

Reducing the feasible solution space of resource-constrained project instances

Authors
Vanhoucke, M; Coelho, J;

Publication
COMPUTERS & OPERATIONS RESEARCH

Abstract
This paper present an instance transformation procedure to modify known instances of the resource -constrained project scheduling problem to make them easier to solve by heuristic and/or exact solution algorithms. The procedure makes use of a set of transformation rules that aim at reducing the feasible search space without excluding at least one possible optimal solution. The procedure will be applied to a set of 11,183 instances and it will be shown by a set of experiments that these transformations lead to 110 improved lower bounds, 16 new and better schedules (found by three meta -heuristic procedures and a set of branch -and -bound procedures) and even 64 new optimal solutions which were never not found before.

2024

A configurational perspective for the generalisation of healthcare innovations: The case of a new screening programme

Authors
Rodrigues, JC; Barros, AC; Claro, J;

Publication
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Abstract
This paper analyses the process of generalisation of an innovative government-led public practice in the healthcare sector. The scaling and embedding involved in this generalisation process are assumed to be dependent on the multiple implementation processes (consecutive or simultaneous) that lead to a routine use of the innovation in different adopters. This paper, therefore, proposes the use of a configurational theory approach to conceptualise each implementation of the innovation during the generalisation process and shed light on the generalisation's scaling and embedding efforts. It suggests a set of recommendations and practices for generalisation managers, most notably: i) they should regard generalisations as organic processes where their main role is to create space for experimentation, learning and negotiation, and ii) they should adopt different modes of governance to identify adequate mechanisms and strategies and guide their actions. This configurational perspective allows them to monitor and manage the evolution of implementations, informs the valuable learning processes that take place in a generalisation and has been found to be a useful tool to support the crucial collaboration among the actors involved in a generalisation.

2024

Factors influencing the use of information and communication technologies by students for educational purposes

Authors
Silva, JC; Rodrigues, JC; Miguéis, VL;

Publication
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract
Implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education is defined as the incorporation of ICTs into teaching and learning activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Despite widely studied, there is still no consensus on how it affects student performance. However, before evaluating this, it is crucial to identify which factors impact students' use of ICT for educational purposes. This understanding can help educational institutions to effectively implement ICT, potentially improving student results. Thus, adapting the conceptual framework proposed by Biagi and Loi (2013) and using the 2018 database of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and a decision tree classification model developed based on CRISP-DM framework, we aim to determine which socio-demographic factors influence students' use of ICT for educational purposes. First, we categorized students according to their use of ICT for educational purposes in two situations: during lessons and outside lessons. Then, we developed a decision tree model to distinguish these categories and find patterns in each group. The model was able to accurately distinguish different levels of ICT adoption and demonstrate that ICT use for entertainment and ICT access at school and at home are among the most influential variables to predict ICT use for educational purposes. Moreover, the model showed that variables related to teaching best practices of Internet utilization at school are not significant predictors of such use. Some results were found to be country-specific, leading to the recommendation that each country adapts the measures to improve ICT use according to its context.

2024

Correction to: Enhancing robustness to forecast errors in availability control for airline revenue management (Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, (2024), 10.1057/s41272-024-00475-9)

Authors
Gonçalves, T; Almada Lobo, B;

Publication
Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management

Abstract
In the original version of this article, "Data availability" statement was mistakenly inserted. The following data availability statement should be removed. As a final point, while the traditional independent demand model involves comparing unconstrained bookings with unconstrained demand forecasts to assess prediction accuracy, handling dependent demand is more complex, since the availability of a class affects the demand for other classes. Therefore, it is essential to have forecast data for all control policies, as advocated by Fiig et al. (2014), to establish a standardized method for computing forecast errors. This ensures the accurate functionality of the predictive model for optimal margin correction. The original article has been corrected. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2024.

2024

Enhancing robustness to forecast errors in availability control for airline revenue management

Authors
Gonçalves, T; Almada Lobo, B;

Publication
Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management

Abstract
Traditional revenue management systems are built under the assumption of independent demand per fare. The fare adjustment theory is a methodology to adjust fares that allows for the continued use of optimization algorithms and seat inventory control methods, even with the shift toward dependent demand. Since accurate demand forecasts are a key input to this methodology, it is reasonable to assume that for a scenario with uncertainties it may deliver suboptimal performance. Particularly, during and after COVID-19, airlines faced striking challenges in demand forecasting. This study demonstrates, firstly, the theoretical dominance of the fare adjustment theory under perfect conditions. Secondly, it lacks robustness to forecast errors. A Monte Carlo simulation replicating a revenue management system under mild assumptions indicates that a forecast error of ±20% can potentially prompt a necessity to adjust the margin employed in the fare adjustment theory by -10%. Moreover, a tree-based machine learning model highlights the forecast error as the predominant factor, with bias playing an even more pivotal role than variance. An out-of-sample study indicates that the predictive model steadily outperforms the fare adjustment theory. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2024.

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