Abstract
The importance of e-commerce continues to grow in retail, providing companies with a critical tool to improve marketing and commercial strategies. In this context, understanding the distribution channels and the new business models becomes a fundamental issue for both researchers and business managers. This paper has two priority objectives. First is the accomplishment of a specific recent literature review survey on the theme of e-commerce platforms adoption that will support the next step. Second is to propose an adoption model that characterizes Discount and Outlet Platforms (DOP) adoption. The last contribution is distributed in the form of practical and theoretical implications, as well as future lines of action for possible investigations. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.

Abstract
The ambition to create start-ups with exponential valuations is the goal of many entrepreneurs. How may one create the so-called unicorns (start-ups with a valuation in excess of one billion US dollars)? Our study involved interviews and a focus group and a theoretical model was created. Business plans are surprisingly seen to be less important than is normally perceived, as is a higher education degree. The research also points to variables such as one’s DNA, experience, implementation capacity, intrinsic motivation, vision and timing, and the ability to seek feedback and learn from mistakes and not just from success. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.

Abstract
Considering the importance associated with e-commerce website accessibility and usability, a study on one of the most relevant Portuguese e-commerce websites has been performed using both automatic and manual assessment procedures. In an initial stage, we evaluated the chosen website with a Web accessibility and usability automatic tool called SortSite; after that, we performed a manual evaluation to verify each previously detected error and present possible solutions to overcome those faults. In a third phase, three usability specialists have been used to perform a heuristic evaluation of the chosen website. Finally, user tests with blind people were carried out in order to fully assess the compliance with accessibility and usability guidelines and standards. The results showed that the platform had a good score regarding the automatic evaluation; however, when the heuristic and manual evaluations were performed, some accessibility and usability problems were discovered. Moreover, the user test results showed bad marks regarding efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction by the group of participants. As a conclusion, we highlight user interaction problems and propose seven recommendations focused on enhancing accessibility and usability of not only the evaluated e-commerce website, but also of other similar ones.

Abstract
This study follows an interpretivist approach and showcases five testimonials of technology usage in everyday life, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the research also brings forward the perspectives of 31 other Brazilian citizens. The informants are Brazilian Master's level students who were on an exchange program to Portugal, at a major Portuguese university. Brazil, and in particular Rio de Janeiro, the focus of this study, are seen to have talented people and to be also open to technology - on the developing side as well as on the user side. Trust issues still exist - concerning e-commerce - and may indeed be pervasive in society. Brazil is currently undergoing a profound social and economic crisis, which it is trying to recover from. Indeed, the general lack of safety and security felt in Rio de Janeiro may even be a reason for the popularity of home and work deliveries - so that citizens will not have to travel - with travel constituting an additional risk which many may prefer to avoid. Thus, technology (a diverse set of apps) may be serving an additional purpose - that of ensuring security in daily life in Brazil.

Abstract
Millennials interact with technology like no other generation before them and this is affecting how they want to be taught in higher education and how they want to lead and expect to be led in organizations, after graduating. Though stating that they want to be enlightened in academia, some qualitative comments from millennials indicate the opposite, namely that they want to be prepared but also to be kept naive as to what business really entails. This is expected to help keep motivation levels high, as motivation is seen to be the key element to success in life. Millennials expect also to be led authentically and to be treated as valued human beings. This is in contrast to the current autocratic leadership profile found predominantly in Portuguese organizations, at the time of writing. This study had a sample of one hundred and eleven millennial students who answered a survey on attitudes towards leadership and their desired approach to higher education. Three interviews with seasoned executives were also performed, to establish a contrast and see other perspectives. With this research, we conclude that we may be in the presence of a hard working millennial generation, contrary to previous research findings which has indicated that they are lazy. Finally, information technology (IT) is a precious partner in class, in particular Padlet.com, Moodle, and online News Forums, as well as the challenge to create original videos about course content. Future research should focus on how technology has made society more transparent with employees wanting more democratic leaders in times when hierarchies are seen to hinder rather than aid productivity levels.

Abstract
This is a case study on leadership, a topic which has been much debated in the literature, as solutions for many diverse situations are still lacking and seem to escape us. The case describes how an entrepreneurial wood veneer factory operates, in the USA, with images included of a number of operations. The manager-owner took us on a guided tour from raw material (logs) to finished product (veneer wood). Waste is minimized at the factory in a very stream-lined operation which has a minimal amount of managers in place. Each worker is responsible for his or her job, done to perfection, as one task rolls on to the next, without stopping. The attitude of the innovative servant-type leadership in place is that "win-win" situations are better for all, and there is enough profit to go around. Servant-leadership-type leaders exist to serve employees and exercise minimal management control. At this firm there are no self-serving managers. Rather, mature and great working relationships are developed. Being greedy would mean that unions would have to be brought in. At this firm that was not necessary, by request of the employees themselves. Hispanic workers are very good and are cherished at this firm, in the heart of the USA. As leadership is dependent on culture, the discussion also includes references to cultural aspects relevant to management. The story is thus of a positive firm with positive leadership and subordinates. We conclude that employees who have emigrated from poorer countries in search of a better lifestyle may indeed make excellent workers, despite what some political leaders have announced in the media. We have found evidence that Spanish-speaking individuals do not only work well under autocratic leadership, as portrayed by the literature. Our study is thus revealing of a new cultural-type involving workers working outside their home countries. Under different leaders, in different countries and environments, certain workers are prepared to go the "extra mile" and behave in a completely different way as to what is expected from them in their home countries. This is surprising and may have important implications for multinational firms worldwide.