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- Broadband technologies and the access networkPublication . Pereira, João PauloThis paper presents a methodology and a tool that compare and evaluate broadband access technologies. The paper presents a techno-economic analysis of eight broadband technologies for access networks: digital subscriber line (DSL), hybrid fiber coax (HFC), power line communications (PLC), fiber to the home (FTTH), fiber to the curb (FTTC), fiber to the cabinet (FTTCab), and wireless alternatives such as WiMAX and satellite. Several actors (such operators, service providers, …) could use this tool to compare different technological solutions, forecast deployment costs, compare different scenarios, etc.
- Determinants of firm profitability: the case of portuguese meat manufacturing sector between 2014 – 2020Publication . Nguyen, Le Quyen; Alves, Jorge; Fernandes, António B.; Nunes, Alcina; Pereira, João Paulo; Ribeiro, Nuno A.; Fernandes, Paula OdeteThe research attempts to provide insights into the profitability of Portuguese meat manufacturing sector and its determining factors. A balanced data panel of 233 Portuguese firms between 2014 – 2020 is examined using static and dynamic panel estimators. Return on Assets is a proxy of firm profitability. Explanatory variables involve the firm characteristics, industrial attributes, and external environment. The results show that the average profitability of the Portuguese meat manufacturing sector is relatively low with a significant disparity in performance across the firms. Next, the paper reveals influencing factors associated with the sector´s success, making meat manufacturing the most valued activity in Portuguese agricultural production. Firm characteristics are highly related to profitability while macro factors show no significant impacts on the firms´ performance. Hence, the study provides useful information for policymakers and business managers in introducing measures and policies to improve the firms´ profitability.
- Architecture to integrate broadband access networks and wireless gridsPublication . Pereira, João PauloToday, the access networks face two main challenges: the increasing bandwidth demand and mobility trends. All this will require fundamental changes to the operations of access networks, the functionality of network nodes and the architecture itself. By other side, the evolution of computing and communication networks toward decentralized and distributed systems implies that all the intelligence is on the edge nodes of the networks. Integrating wireless devices with the traditional wired grid infrastructure will allow the access (transfer, processing, etc) to the information that is now scattered across the different devices. In this paper, we present a new architecture and a cost model to support the new requirements of broadband access (fixed and nomadic users) and wireless grids in an integrated way.
- Next generation access networks (NGANs) and the geographical segmentation of marketsPublication . Pereira, João Paulo; Ferreira, Pedro A.Telecom infrastructures are facing unprecedented challenges with increasing demands on network capacity. Next Generation Networks (NGN) allows consumers to choose between different access network technologies to access their service environment. The arrival of NGAN (Next Generation Access Network) has implications for the competitive conditions in access markets that are still uncertain (for example: access to ducts, dark fiber, equipment, etc.). The definition of the access price is a critical question, particularly when the incumbent also has activity in the retail market. In some regions, the regulatory authorities need to define the max price for wholesale access. In this context, the paper is divided into two main parts: 1) First we make a review of the main broadband access technologies (NGANs), and we propose a techno-economic model to support the new requirements of fixed and nomadic users. 2) In the 2nd part we propose a tool, developed in c language, which simulates the impact of retail and wholesale services prices variation in the provider’s profit, consumer surplus, welfare, etc.
- Development of an effective method of tariff formation for rural areas: the case of Russian FederationPublication . Pereira, João Paulo; Zamotajlova, Daria; Popova, ElenaThe conducted researches have shown that the features of the housing and communal sector do not allow talking about the possibility of calculating the “optimal” tariff rate. The development of an effective method of tariff formation for rural areas is particularly acute. The use of traditional method to calculate the amount of tariffs for housing and communal services provided to the population and enterprises (called “cost plus” approach) consists in a simple summation of the cost price of a service with a premium that was set directly by a particular housing and communal enterprise within the maximum and minimum values. The authors found that none of the current pricing and tariffs’ setting methods fulfills the requirements for an effective and economically founded tariff policy in the housing and communal services sector. In this regard, the development of a new methodology that will ensure the receipt of compromise tariffs for housing and communal services is required. Compromise analysis, the main purpose of which is to obtain optimal prices, can be used as a basis of such methodology.
- Parcel delivery with drones: multi-criteria analysis of trendy system architecturesPublication . Cavone, Graziana; Epicoco, Nicola; Carli, Raffaele; Del Zotti, Anna; Pereira, João Paulo; Dotoli, MariagraziaNew technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are transforming facilities and vehicles into intelligent systems that will significantly modify logistic deliveries in any organization. With the appearance of automated vehicles, drones offer multiple new technological solutions that might trigger different delivery networks or boost new delivery services. Differently from the related works, where a single specific delivery system model is typically addressed, this paper deals with the use of UAVs for logistic deliveries focusing on a multi-criteria analysis of trendy drone-based system architectures. In particular, using the cross-efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis approach, a comparative analysis among three different delivery systems is performed: the classic system based on trucks only, the drone-only system using a fleet of drones, and the hybrid truck and drone system combining trucks and drones. The proposed technique constitutes an effective decision-making tool aimed at helping delivery companies in selecting the optimal delivery system architecture according to their specific needs. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is shown by a simulation analysis based on a realistic data case study that pertains to the main logistic service providers.
- Required skills for employability in Portugal from graduates and students of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB)Publication . Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Marim Lopes, Jéssica; Pereira, João Paulo; Paulo, Helena; Sampaio, Jorge HumbertoThe Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) developed an online survey, called the Observatory of Students and Graduates, aimed at entities in Portugal as a means of gathering information about the stakeholders view of IPB graduates and students, regarding skills for employability. Of the total (424) entities contacted, 118 responded, representing 28% of the total. It was noted that 79 of the responses have included IPB students and graduates in their staff, being 27% entities of the Agroforestry-food sector, 16% from the Consulting, Real Estate and Finance sector, and 14% from the Transport and Commerce sector. IPB graduates and students’s skills were discussed from the perspective of employers. 12 skills were listed, with an average of 95% of responses between "Very Important" and "Important".´The skills that stood out the most were: “Learning” and “Motivation/Involvement”. The lowest priority skills were: “Physical: Robustness and manual dexterity”, followed by “General Culture”. These data point to the clear fact that the soft skills have greater relevance than hard skills. One of the justifications is that the advent of artificial intelligence, and other technologies that have been performing functions that overlap with technical - human knowledge.
- Formação superior em sistemas de informação: análise dos curricula portugueses e espanhóisPublication . Pereira, João PauloCom a crescente importância dos Sistemas de Informação (SI) nas organizações, é fundamental que os profissionais estejam preparados para o mercado de trabalho, tendo as escolas o papel crucial de construir cursos adequados. A escola desempenha um papel fundamental em todo o processo de formação de profissionais, aptos para a sociedade da informação, dependendo a qualidade dos mesmos, em grande parte, de um currículo adequado. No entanto, as constantes mudanças ambientais, tecnológicas e organizacionais levam a que seja difícil manter um currículo actualizado em SI, pois os conhecimentos e aptidões requeridas dos profissionais estão em constante mudança, e a tendência futura é imprevisível, porque estas características estão dependentes da dinâmica do campo tecnológico, e do constante envolvimento no ambiente empresarial. Neste contexto, é propósito do presente trabalho analisar a adequação dos currículos das Licenciaturas Portuguesas e Espanholas em Sistemas de Informação, às actuais exigências do mercado. Para tal utilizou-se, como base comparativa, um modelo de currículo em SI, proposto por várias organizações profissionais internacionais: IS’2002.
- Model to evaluate the maturity of the organizational structure: a new approachPublication . Pereira, João Paulo; Grubich, TatianaThe concept of maturity is quite multifaceted and is applied in various areas of activity of the modern society. Most often, the concept of maturity is applied to the information technologies of the enterprise and to the processes of software development. The maturity level models used do not give the concept of maturity of the organizational structure and do not allow to assess the maturity of the organizational structure. Through existing models, it is possible to assess the quality of IT projects and processes for their implementation. In this paper, we propose a new approach to evaluate the maturity level of the organizational structure of an enterprise. With the proposed criteria, it is possible to analyze the way that the organizational structure of an enterprise meets its objectives. We also propose methods for formalizing the information obtained in the analysis of the organizational structure of the enterprise, which is used to calculate the criteria for the level of maturity of the organizational structure. Based on the results computed, a scale is proposed for determining the level of maturity of the organizational structure of the enterprise.
- The role of WiMAX technology on broadband access networks: economic modelPublication . Pereira, João Paulo