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Publications

Publications by Fernando Luís Almeida

2023

The Risks Associated With ITIL Information Security Management in Micro Companies

Authors
Lopes, SS; Lousã, MD; Almeida, F;

Publication
Fraud Prevention, Confidentiality, and Data Security for Modern Businesses - Advances in Information Security, Privacy, and Ethics

Abstract
Information security has become a necessity for all organizations. ITIL, designed for large organizations, has also been gradually adopted by smaller companies and has incorporated practices related to information security management (ISM). This study aims to understand the main risks associated with ISM, considering the context of micro companies. For this purpose, a qualitative model was built based on four case studies of micro companies in the information technology industry. The results show that companies are concerned about information security, given the growth of external threats. However, these companies have a lack of commitment, of resources, and of knowledge that hinder the implementation of an ISM policy. Therefore, it is evident that the challenge of ISM is demanding and should be addressed, considering that the security of an organization should be analyzed in a holistic context, where all perspectives should be considered to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of security.

2023

Exploring the Impact of a Serious Game in the Academic Success of Entrepreneurship Students

Authors
Almeida, F; Buzady, Z;

Publication
Journal of Educational Technology Systems

Abstract
Serious games are increasingly present in higher education and many researchers are reflecting on how to use them in the development and training of new skills. However, an unexplored area is the analysis of the impact that serious games have on students’ academic performance in an entrepreneurship course. In this sense, this study simultaneously seeks to explore the impact of the use of a serious game, titled FLIGBY, on the development of hard and soft skills through the use of a mixed methods approach, in which quantitative and qualitative methods are combined by adopting the convergent parallel design model. The findings did not allow us to establish a correlation between the parameters assessed in the FLIGBY and the students’ academic performance. However, it was possible to identify several benefits in the development of soft skills with potential impact on the students’ academic and professional careers.

2023

Decision support system for the selection of students for Erasmus plus short-term mobility

Authors
Teixeira, J; Alves, S; Mariz, P; Almeida, F;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract
PurposeThe current student selection process for short-term mobility actions under the Erasmus + program (i.e. intensive programs and blended intensive programs) is based exclusively on the students' order of enrolment and their grades. This study offers an alternative approach using the analytic hierarchy process based on a four-layer model that collects information about the specificities of each project and the profile of the students and also promotes greater inclusion and homogenization of the project teams.Design/methodology/approachA decision support system was built by decomposing it into three stages: the predesign stage, in which the problem is characterized, and the user requirements are identified; the design stage, in which the models, the database and the interfaces are formulated; and the field stage, in which six test scenarios were built to validate the proposed solution.FindingsThe results show that this model can be applied with various selection criteria among students and consider both their hard and soft skills. It can also be applied to help build teams in which the students' knowledge is aligned with the technical skills required by the projects.Originality/valueThe proposed approach is innovative in that it responds to the emerging challenge of short-term European mobility programs that aim to involve students with multidisciplinary competencies. The solution considers both hard and soft skills in the selection of students, which allows changing the student selection paradigm and obtaining potentially more homogeneous multicultural teams with greater learning potential.

2024

Developing Entrepreneurial Competencies among Tourism Students using FLIGBY

Authors
Ferro, A; Buzady, Z; Almeida, F;

Publication
JOURNAL OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM EDUCATION

Abstract
This article seeks to present an initiative to integrate a serious game into an entrepreneurship course, attended by tourism students, which enables them to have a more reliable and comprehensive experience of the multiple dimensions of this phenomenon. The study uses a mixed-methods approach to explore several dimensions of the impact on the use of the game by measuring student performance and conducting semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that FLIGBY has helped the tourism students to have a more complete and reliable perception of the business reality and to practice their skills in a wide range of areas such as emotional intelligence, conflict management, time management, strategic thinking, or leadership. The results also indicate the development of analytical skills in the area of business management and viniculture due to the central theme of FLIGBY.

2023

Eco-innovation and sustainable business performance: perspectives of SMEs in Portugal and the UK

Authors
Almeida, F; Wasim, J;

Publication
SOCIETY AND BUSINESS REVIEW

Abstract
Purpose Eco-innovation has been identified as a source of gaining a competitive advantage on a global scale. To build upon that, this study aims to deepen the understanding of eco-innovation in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and investigates the impact of having a clear eco-innovation strategy on a company's sustainability and performance. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 249 SMEs located in Portugal and the UK participated and structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to explore the relationship among the constructs. Findings The findings reveal that both internal and external factors influence the design of an eco-innovation strategy. However, the relevance of external factors seemed to be more significant for Portuguese SMEs. This study concludes that product/process eco-innovations and green innovation systems are determinants for sustainable performance in SMEs. In contrast, the environmental technologies and organisational eco-innovation dimensions are not determinants. This is observed both in Portuguese and UK SMEs. Originality/value Most studies in the field tend to explore the role of eco-innovation in large organisations. This study takes a different approach by exploring its impacts on the sustainable business performance of SMEs. Furthermore, it combines data from two countries, which constitutes a strength and gives the opportunity to explore this phenomenon empirically.

2023

The Role of Data-Driven Solutions for SMES in Responding to COVID-19

Authors
Almeida, F; Wasim, J;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

Abstract
This study aims to explore the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing data-driven solutions to address the direct and indirect challenges posed by COVID-19. A sample of six case studies of SMEs from the UK and Portugal were selected to explore in-depth the experience of these companies in proposing innovative solutions in the pandemic context. The findings reveal that the pandemic caused amplifying effects on the digitalization of organizations and the emergence of data-driven solutions. However, the development of a data-driven approach involves not only technologies but also the digitalization of processes and highly skilled human resources. The pandemic was also a catalyst for the emergence of collaborative initiatives that have enabled the development of solutions involving diverse players from science, business, and civilian society. This study offers innovative contributions by focusing exclusively on companies developing data-driven solutions supported by technologies such as the internet of things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence.

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