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Publications

Publications by CESE

2022

The impact of video lecture capture on student attainment and achievement of intended learning outcomes

Authors
Remiao, F; Carmo, H; Gomes, M; Silva, R; Costa, VM; Carvalho, F; Bastos, MD;

Publication
PHARMACY EDUCATION

Abstract
Background: The multimedia capturing of live lectures has increased within higher education institutions, even in the pre-COVID-19 period. Despite student satisfaction, the video lecture capture (VLC) influence on students' attainment and achievement of intended learning outcomes is controversial. Methods: To explore the impact of VLC, a cross-sectional study across 2016/17 (n=209 students) and 2017/18 (n=206 students) was conducted in the course of Mechanistic Toxicology in Pharmaceutical Education. Results: The results showed that 73% and 90% of the assessed students entirely viewed the videos of theoretical (550 minutes) and practical/laboratory classes (250 minutes), respectively. VLC impacted student attainment and the achievement of intended learning outcomes on the capacity to understand the subjects and apply knowledge. Conclusion: The effectiveness of VLC is to be considered under the framework of constructive alignment and the specificities of the course.

2022

Self-adapting WIP parameter setting using deep reinforcement learning

Authors
Silva, MTDE; Azevedo, A;

Publication
COMPUTERS & OPERATIONS RESEARCH

Abstract
This study investigates the potential of dynamically adjusting WIP cap levels to maximize the throughput (TH) performance and minimize work in process (WIP), according to real-time system state arising from process variability associated with low volume and high-variety production systems. Using an innovative approach based on state-of-the-art deep reinforcement learning (proximal policy optimization algorithm), we attain WIP reductions of up to 50% and 30%, with practically no losses in throughput, against pure-push systems and the statistical throughput control method (STC), respectively. An exploratory study based on simulation experiments was performed to provide support to our research. The reinforcement learning agent's performance was shown to be robust to variability changes within the production systems.

2022

Unveiling undergraduate production engineering students’ comprehension of process flow measures

Authors
Torres N.; de Azevedo A.L.; Simões A.C.; Ladeira M.B.; de Sousa P.R.; de Freitas L.S.;

Publication
Production

Abstract
Paper aims: This study analyzes the comprehension of production engineering students about the influence of some key variables on the process performance measures in a service process, Originality: This paper points out the need for educators to re-evaluate their approaches to teaching the Operations Management (OM) principles related to process flow measures, Research method: This study used scenario-based role-playing experiments with 2×2×2 between-subject factorial design with three independent variables (variability of activities, capacity utilization, and resource pooling) and four dependent variables related to key internal process performance measures (Flow Time, Overall Quality of service, Quality of service employees, and Queue Size), The sample was composed of 178 undergraduate production engineering students from a large university in Brazil from various institution units, Main findings: These results show that students perceived the use of resource pooling as an impactful practice, However, the students did not correctly identify the effects of increasing resource utilization and the variability on flow time and queue size when activities are pooled, Implications for theory and practice: The teaching of basic concepts of OM requires the support of computational tools, Undergraduate courses that contemplate subjects in the field of OM should work more intensely on simulation-based learning.

2022

Portuguese textile association fostering the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises

Authors
Costa, E; Soares, AL; de Sousa, JP; Elo, M; Silva, SCE;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SMALL BUSINESS

Abstract
The support and influence of industrial business associations (IBAs) for the internationalisation process of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is questioned. This qualitative case study on the textile industry in Portugal illustrates how SMEs are influenced by their IBA. Findings suggest that it has a preponderant role in supporting the international expansion of associated SMEs. Particularly, the promotion and organisation of trade fairs seem to foster first entries and continuous international expansion in the same way the IBA seems to influence their foreign market selection. However, SMEs feel that the IBA’s work could still be improved by their facilitating more matchmaking processes, promoting collaborations, improving their seizing of available internationalisation opportunities, and providing more information about agents and distributors in foreign markets. Thus, we can say that, despite the internet and global opportunities that firms can directly benefit from, the role of IBAs is still relevant for SME’s internationalisation, and there is still room for improvement.

2022

On the use of sociotechnical systems design in industry: digital transformation processes and artifacts

Authors
Rebentisch E.S.; Soares A.L.; Rhodes D.H.; Zimmermann R.A.; Cardoso J.L.F.P.;

Publication
CEUR Workshop Proceedings

Abstract
Digital transformation is a broad description of efforts to introduce new technologies within and across organizations with the potential to revolutionize the way they function and perform. Digital transformation may be addressed at multiple levels of analysis, and this paper focuses on the enterprise level. This includes the organization, its people, systems, tools and technologies, and suppliers and partners that combined create valued outcomes that sustain the enterprise and advance its objectives. Collectively, this is a complex sociotechnical system (STS), and digital transformation is an intervention in a STS of potentially profound scope. Classical STS theory emerged from analysis of individuals and work groups and principles have been defined for the design of work systems at that level. We explore how STS design principles may be applied to the enterprise-level challenges associated with digital transformation. We present an enterprise-level framework that describes a process and methods that are consistent with STS design principles and illustrates how existing systems analysis methods and artifacts may be used to design an enterprise level STS. We review some artifacts employed in digital transformation efforts, including enterprise reference architectures, to better understand how they might function as means to foster communication and collaboration across multiple disciplines and domains in the STS design process.

2022

Adapting Concept of Operations Analysis for Digital Transformation

Authors
Cardoso, JL; Rebentisch, E; Rhodes, DH; Soares, A;

Publication
Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

Abstract
The topic of digital transformation has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades. Its importance is justified by the fact that not only can it change the way companies operate, but also bring to light new business strategies. Indeed, companies have ramped up operational data collection opportunities and adopted digital practices to facilitate new flows of design information, allow teams to interoperate in different ways, or improve system performance. Given that a digital transformation occurs under certain sociotechnical contexts and with specific purposes, their success can critically depend on the ability to unambiguously describe this context and the intended transformation in the form of new operational scenarios. One of the challenges faced when attempting a digital transformation is that these efforts can be ad-hoc and poorly structured, which does not tie the transformation to strategic objectives and operational strengths and limitations. This paper aims at addressing this issue by leveraging an existing systems engineering analysis method called Concept of Operations to provide structure to the digital transformation process. Our work shows that this method has the potential to accelerate the sociotechnical system redesign cycle and generate actionable decisions aligned with strategic goals and operational strengths and limitations. © 2022 The authors and IOS Press.

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