https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71011 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:04:32 GMT 2026-04-07T02:04:32Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71865 Title: Organizational design redefined by design thinking. Case studies in the hotel industry Authors: Lamelas, David; Lamelas, José; Filipe, José Abstract: This paper presents two different case studies, where the design thinking process, among other theories that came from classic design were used at the level of the organization design, organizational structure, process design and business design. Considering the exhaustive information brought from Classic Design Theory, a new philosophy was created for organizations based on that theory. Some frameworks were also created to help those who want to practise these technics and theories to design their own organization in a more profound, adequate and creative way. A study is made in the tourism sector based on two projects, one to be developed in the northern region of Portugal and the other one, already implemented, called “Biovilla Sustainability” located 40km away from Lisbon. The aim of this paper is to show how the identification and experimentation of concepts and methods used in classical design allow a better understanding of the implications they have in the engineering organization design theory and how their application may bring strong positive implications in terms of Simplicity (everyone understands); Functionality (it serves the purpose); Beauty (people love it); Sustainability (it must integrate time) and Viability of such projects, never forgetting the users and context where the project is embedded. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71865 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71864 Title: Tackling the multidimensional characteristics of archaeological heritage with preference based approaches Authors: Mendes, Isabel Abstract: The main aim of this paper involves contributing to the discussion around the value of archaeological heritage through the lens of an economist. The path taken to achieve this main goal included three objectives. Firstly, there is the contribution towards clarifying the concept of archaeological heritage benefits by highlighting the complexity that stems directly from its holistic characteristic. Secondly, this also contributes to assessments of archaeological heritage economic and social benefits and values by demonstrating how they may be captured by means of a single variable measured in monetary units. Furthermore, and thirdly, this then helps explain how such a monetary variable may prove of use both to cultural heritage management for sustainable preservation and conservation improvement, and to the appraisal of the total private and public benefits arising out of preservation and conservation archaeologic heritage projects. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71864 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71863 Title: Measuring the board’s members effect on banks’ performance : an application to Portugal Authors: Morais, Vítor Manuel; Candeias Bonito, José António Abstract: This paper provides a model for analyzing the relationship between boards’ members characteristics and companies performances. In this paper, Portuguese Banks were studied. An index was used to measure the educational qualifications of Banks boards´ members in order to quantify their impact on banks’ performance. Results show that there is a significant influence of education index over banks ROAE but not over banks ROAA. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71863 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71862 Title: The fisher effect using differences in the deterministic term Authors: Bosupeng, Mpho Abstract: The Fisher effect posits that nominal interest rates move one for one with inflation. This hypothesis has become an important concept in Financial Economics and has become the mainstay of inflation and interest rate targeting. Previous studies used cointegration tests particularly the Johansen cointegration test and the Johansen and Juselius cointegration methods to determine long run affiliations between nominal interest rates and inflation. The glitch is: the recent cointegration methodology proposed by Saikkonen and L tkepohl has not been applied in the investigation of cointegrating vectors between nominal interest rates and inflation. Following Saikkonen & L tkepohl, this study estimates deterministic terms of the time series under investigation and then proceeds with the cointegration process. The study tests for the Fisher effect for 20 selected countries and examines interest rates and inflation figures for the period 1982 to 2013 as provided by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Conformingly, the results of the Saikkonen & L tkepohl cointegration test show that the Fisher effect holds in all countries under examination. Comparatively, the Johansen cointegration procedure evidenced that the Fisher effect holds in all economies except the US, Bhutan, South Africa, Chile, Switzerland and Australia. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71862 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z