https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71053 2026-04-04T22:19:51Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71371 Title: The determinants of governance : a global analysis Authors: Rontos, Konstantinos; Syrmali, Maria-Eleni; Vavouras, Ioannis Abstract: The scope of the paper is to explore the underlying determinants of governance quality at the global level. The study suggests that cross-country variation in governance is mainly attributed to differences not only in countries’ level of economic development but to the range of political freedom and level of social development. More specifically, the impact of economic development is stronger for the control of corruption, the rule of law and regulatory quality as far as the examined governance dimensions are concerned. Political development is strongly related to political stability and absence of violence as well as voice and accountability. A very interesting finding is the high correlation of social development, as depicted by the relevant human development index, with the level of government effectiveness. Therefore, strengthening and maintaining governance is achieved only through the adoption and effective implementation of the appropriate long-run policies. In a similar vein, concrete policy guidelines lie at the core of the good governance agenda. The associated reforms target a broad list of comprehensive governance objectives in order to achieve government effectiveness, anti-corruption safeguards, high standards of legitimacy and accountability, among other attributes of governance systems. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71370 Title: Evaluation of the value creation in an innovative product using fuzzy linguistic computing Authors: Pedro, Maria Isabel; Sarmento, M.; Silva, Marta Abstract: Innovation is a vital tool for growth, enhancing value creation and is also a competitive advantage. The aim of this research is to propose a methodology to evaluate the potential for value creation in innovation of a new product, relatively to intangible and tangible assets. For intangible assets the proposed methodology combines a multiple criteria decision-making method with an adaptation of Tai and Chen (2009) model using 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic approach. This methodology was applied to the EToll product developed by the Portuguese company Brisa Innovation and Technology. It was concluded that the benefits that most contributed to value creation are the development and entrepreneurship of national companies and a better cooperation with suppliers and partners. The EToll also allowed a significant reduction in operating costs in the company. The originality of this study is based in the challenge for business managers to assess the real impact of new products based not only on financial reports, but also in terms of intangible assets and also, how to consider the more appropriate qualitative dimensions to evaluate the performance of intangible assets resulting from innovation. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71369 Title: Business partnership at the information technology sector in Brazil Authors: Correia de Albuquerque, Daniel; Filipe, José António; Ferreira, Manuel Alberto M. Abstract: This article is made up of a case of application of Game Theory to business partners. It analyzes the partnership as an element that has consequences on the sustainable growth process of companies in the Information Technology (IT) industry in Brazil and presents the application of a model adopted by business partners on this sector. Research shows that partnership between IT companies with complementary profiles has beneficial effects and contributes to the sustainable growth of the companies in the IT sector, and consequently to this technology sector in Brazil. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71367 Title: The managerial and economic effects of celebrity endorsement on consumer purchasing intentions Authors: Gonçalves Pereira, Hélia; Carvalho, António; Lopes Portela, Sofia Abstract: Despite the fact that celebrity endorsement brings up some risks, it has been used quite extensively in the present era and it is a method to reach competitive advantage by companies. The economic effects for companies are obvious. This study focuses on examining the relationship between a set of variables (gender, credibility, attractiveness, type, multiple endorsements and multiple product endorsement) that were identified during the literature review as characteristics of the TV advertisings and consumers purchasing intentions. A questionnaire survey was applied. This study is based on a sample of 285 young respondents. Respondents answered two sets of questions after viewing an advertisement of a specific product featuring one or more endorsers. A quantitative approach has been adopted to investigate the relationship between the purchase intentions and the perceptions of the six characteristics of celebrity endorsement mentioned above. Results revealed that all the characteristics of celebrity endorsement analyzed had a positive impact in consumers purchasing intentions, however some of them were quite low. This study has an approach with relevant consequences for companies, either economic or managerial, bringing room to analyze and to discuss the related coming up managerial implications. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z