2023
Autores
Riazi, F; Fidélis, T; Matos, MV; Sousa, MC; Teles, F; Roebeling, P;
Publicação
WATER POLICY
Abstract
Water scarcity and security drive attention to water reuse in policy and business. However, water reuse may generate new water loops and challenge water governance with new and different types of water, risks, involved actors, and responsibilities. These challenges demand robust institutional arrangements related to water governance. This article assesses the institutional arrangements associated with four case studies in Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Israel. The findings reveal that the more diverse the water uses and users, the more challenges and risks, particularly those associated with institutional arrangements such as quality standards, sanctions, and conflict prevention, are likely to emerge. The weaknesses of governance models and regulations to deal with changes, uncertainties, and public resistance call for special attention to the design of the institutional arrangements before the adoption. Independent of the type of technology adopted, governance may be improved by ensuring internal and external water monitoring; integrating water management with spatial concerns; improving training, expert engagement, and civil society awareness; and reducing water reuse costs. In addition, alternative models that guarantee the efficiency of governance in attaining objectives and assuring the participation of new water users in the management of water reuse loops may also improve governance.
2023
Autores
Fidélis, T; Matos, MV; Sousa, MC; Miranda, AC; Riazi, F; Teles, F; Capela, I;
Publicação
Water Management and Circular Economy
Abstract
The transition to a circular water economy by water reuse has many drivers and barriers. Facing them requires integrated approaches where new water users and producers are considered under a water–land nexus. Policies, regulations, and plans foreseeing water circularity are critical factors for a successful transition. However, little is known about how policy and planning contexts consider water circularity. This chapter develops an analytical framework based on a typical decision-making arena and a set of enabling factors used to analyze selected policy and planning documents, namely circular economy action plans, water and spatial planning frameworks, and water and spatial plans. This analytical framework is then applied to assess how the current policy and planning the set-up of three municipalities located in southern European countries, namely Almendralejo (Spain), Lecce (Italy), and Omis (Croatia), are prepared to facilitate new water circular economy initiatives. The findings bring to the fore very different settings. Although the policy, regulations, and plans recognize the water–land nexus, the integration of circularity codes still needs to be fostered. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
2022
Autores
Almeida, F; Miguel Oliveira, J;
Publicação
Periodica Polytechnica Social and Management Sciences
Abstract
Intrapreneurship is becoming a key factor in the growth of a company in a highly dynamic and progressively more competitive business environment. The idea of intrapreneurship is to encourage greater employee involvement within the organisation in which they work, giving them the freedom to innovate and experiment in a proactive, creative, and innovative way. In the startups, the role of intrapreneurship is of great relevance knowing that startups are designed to scale and grow exponentially in a short time and with few resources. Innovation is at the core of a startup and intrapreneurship initiatives allow leveraging this capacity in startups. Accordingly, this study seeks to explore the phenomenon of intrapreneurship in startups, seeking to understand how formal and informal intrapreneurship initiatives are taken on by startups, and also exploring the role played by existing resources to support these initiatives. The results of the study allow us to conclude that startups value intrapreneurship initiatives despite financial constraints that overlap with time constraints that affect what can be allocated to these activities. Finally, medium-sized startups and those with more qualified human capital tend to value and support intrapreneur initiatives more intensely. In contrast, startups with less academically qualified human capital offer worse conditions and support to intrapreneur activities.
2022
Autores
Almeida, F; Bernardo, N; Lacerda, R;
Publicação
Advances in Web Technologies and Engineering - App and Website Accessibility Developments and Compliance Strategies
Abstract
2022
Autores
Almeida, F; Miranda, N; Vieira, B;
Publicação
Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies - Disruptive Technologies and Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development
Abstract
2022
Autores
Almeida, FL; Simões, J; Lopes, S;
Publicação
Future Internet
Abstract
The combined adoption of Agile and DevOps enables organizations to cope with the increasing complexity of managing customer requirements and requests. It fosters the emergence of a more collaborative and Agile framework to replace the waterfall models applied to software development flow and the separation of development teams from operations. This study aims to explore the benefits of the combined adoption of both models. A qualitative methodology is adopted by including twelve case studies from international software engineering companies. Thematic analysis is employed in identifying the benefits of the combined adoption of both paradigms. The findings reveal the existence of twelve benefits, highlighting the automation of processes, improved communication between teams, and reduction in time to market through process integration and shorter software delivery cycles. Although they address different goals and challenges, the Agile and DevOps paradigms when properly combined and aligned can offer relevant benefits to organizations. The novelty of this study lies in the systematization of the benefits of the combined adoption of Agile and DevOps considering multiple perspectives of the software engineering business environment.
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