Browsing by Author "Magano, José"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 12
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Consideration of Sustainability in Projects: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative AnalysisPublication . Magano, José; Silvius, Gilbert; Nogueira, Teresa; Hamed, Farzad; Nogueira, Teresa; Carmenado, IgnacioThe consideration of sustainability in projects is one of the most critical global trends in project management today, as projects are instrumental in the sustainable development of organisations and society. In the growing literature on this topic, most studies take a qualitative approach, often based on single case studies, and quantitative studies are underrepresented. To address these limitations, this study aims to examine the extent to which different aspects and perspectives of sustainability are integrated into projects by reporting a quantitative analysis of the consideration of sustainability in 134 projects. The analysis used the Sustainable Project Management Maturity Model SPM3 to analyse the level at which sustainability was considered in the projects. The results show that, on average, sustainability is considered at a reactive level, with the desired levels of consideration on average one level higher (proactive). When considering the different triple bottom line perspectives, the economic perspective scores highest, followed by the social and environmental perspectives. The study also shows that building-related projects score higher on sustainability considerations than other project types, as do larger projects. Limitations of the study include its European focus, the relatively small sample size, and the fact that the data was collected in different locations over a four-year period, which raises the possibility of subjective differences in the evaluation of individual projects. Nevertheless, the study can be seen as a ‘wake-up call’ for project practitioners, who need to be more proactive in this regard if projects are to be the route to sustainability.
- Eco-Friendly Ester Fluid for Power Transformers versus Mineral Oil: Design ConsiderationsPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Beleza Carvalho, José António; Magano, JoséMineral oil has long been used as an adequate coolant and dielectric medium in power transformer design. However, it is flammable and environmentally risky as it may be leaked or spilled. Therefore, ester fluids, which have been increasingly used in the last two decades, look promising as an ideal dielectric option. This research aims to better understand how using ester fluid insulation in power transformers impacts their physical and electrical dimensions, including their load-losses, impedance, masses, and equipment dimensions. Three case studies were carried out in a Portuguese electrical equipment manufacturer’s facility, with varying electrical parameters and physical properties of the mineral oil and ester-filled power transformers. The main results enhanced the known good electrical behavior of ester fluids, namely creating a lower electric field around winding wedges, yet the use of ester fluids led to higher load-losses, larger masses, additional radiators and, consequently, higher manufacturing costs. Nevertheless, the contribution of ester-filled power transformers to the improved environmental safety (reducing spillage and fire risks), among other advantages, makes ester fluids a truly eco-friendly option for power transformer design.
- Engineering students education in sustainability: The moderating role of emotional intelligencePublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Castro, Rui; Magano, JoséIn the context of a lack of quantitative research approaching an engineering education in sustainability, this cross-sectional study aims to investigate whether efforts to promote sustainability education contribute to shaping the beliefs, attitudes, and intentions towards sustainability in a sample of Portuguese engineering schools students; in addition, this study investigates whether emotional intelligence impacts the students’ motivation to learn more about sustainability and whether it plays a role in moderating the relationships between those variables. A survey was carried out on a sample of 184 students from two major Portuguese engineering schools. A model was found showing that beliefs, attitudes, and gender are predictors of students’ intentions towards sustainability, explaining 62.6% of its variance. Furthermore, the findings reveal that women have stronger beliefs and intentions towards sustainability than men and that students with higher emotional intelligence are more motivated to learn more about sustainability. In addition, emotional intelligence has a negative and significant moderating impact on the relationship between attitudes and students’ intentions towards sustainability, being stronger for lower levels of emotional intelligence and having a similar, yet non-significant, effect on the relationship between beliefs and students’ intentions towards sustainability. The results suggest that emotional intelligence should be considered a competence and a tool in engineering education in order to enhance students’ inclination towards sustainable development.
- Engineering Students’ Industrial Internship Experience Perception and Satisfaction: Work Experience Scale ValidationPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Magano, José; Fontão, Eunice; Sousa, Marina; Leite, ÂngelaAn essential aspect of higher education institutions’ academic curricula for engineering courses is the students’ industrial internship programs. In the literature, it is well accepted that such programs provide valuable learning outcomes and increase the graduates’ employment prospects. Thus, it is paramount to evaluate the internship programs’ quality to identify opportunities to improve their design and implementation. However, that evaluation typically depends on self- designed academic assessment surveys of questionable validity. The purpose of this paper is to assess engineering students’ perceptions of their internship experiences. For that purpose, the validation of a recently adapted version of the Work Experience Questionnaire (WEQ) was carried out on a sample of 447 engineering students that participated in industrial internship programs offered by Portuguese public universities and polytechnic schools. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to confirm the suitability of the model proposed by the WEQ’s authors on this study’s sample. The psychometric qualities were evaluated through convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed that the model fit the sample well, and convergent and discriminant validity was established. The general competencies subscale was the most important for the participants—specifically, the competency of solving problems. Differences concerning the WEQ and gender, company size, and compensation were found and discussed. This study provides researchers in the field with a new tool validated explicitly for engineering students.
- Generation Z: Fitting Project Management Soft Skills Competencies—A Mixed-Method ApproachPublication . Magano, José; Silva, Cláudia; Figueiredo, Cláudia; Vitória, Andreia; Nogueira, Teresa; Dinis, M. A. P.Generation Z is arriving in the workforce. Do these youngsters have the skills and traits to fit project teams? This study reviews the literature concerning project management competencies and the traits that are associated with Generation Z. To deepen the understanding of its members (Gen Zers) traits, we explore the self-awareness of their profile, strengths and weaknesses with an empirical study. We used a mixed-method approach, implementing a survey on a sample of 211 college students about to enter the labor market. Comparing our survey results with the literature, we identified differences that reveal some of the lack of awareness of Gen Zers about their traits. Further analysis also revealed a significant correlation between the most highlighted Generation Z traits and essential project management soft skills, pointing to Generation Z as a promissory asset in the project management field. However, other essential project management (PM) soft skills were not grounded in personality traits. Our findings, namely the lack of awareness and association results, suggest the need for further research on educational approaches and re-thinking and targeting education and training policies that could strengthen Generation Z soft skills. Our results also suggest reflections about whether the Gen Zers traits fit the PM competencies sought by organizations.
- Gestão de Projetos na Engenharia: preparar a Geração Z com Competências TransferíveisPublication . Magano, José; Silva, Cláudia Sousa; Figueiredo, Cláudia; Vitória, Andreia; Nogueira, TeresaExpository approaches in project management education do not seem engage engineering students, who lack transferable competencies. This article reviews the project management competencies, Generation Z profile, and teaching methods trends reported in the literature. It presents a study involving 147 engineering students, through a self-report questionnaire, to explore their profile's self-awareness and compare it with the literature. A correlational study links the Generation Z personality traits with project management soft skills. Findings reveal interesting personality characteristics of Generation Z engineering students for project management. The sample showed low recognition of their individualism, less personal relationships, and did not value their creative potential. Some traits have a significant effect on critical soft skills. Other soft skills were not supported in personality traits. This work suggests implications for re-think educational approaches to Generation Z engineering students.
- Graciosa Island’s Hybrid Energy System Expansion Scenarios: A Technical and Economic AnalysisPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Jesus, José; Magano, JoséThe island of Graciosa in the Azores faces unique energy challenges due to its remote location and reliance on imported diesel fuel. As a result, a hybrid energy system has been implemented that combines wind and solar energy with energy storage and diesel generators. This article examines the expansion of the island’s hybrid energy system, by simulating four alternative scalable scenarios that take into account expected technological advances over the next 20 years, including technologies such as biomass and hydrogen. Homer Pro and PVSyst software were used for optimizing the design of the stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system, with the aim of achieving cost-effective configurations and optimizing production, storage, and power grid management. Four simulations were performed to evaluate the expansion scenarios, namely in terms of configurations, component sizing, and economic feasibility. The results show that the most balanced, cost-effective scenario is the one that combines all the energy sources considered: photovoltaic, wind, biomass, battery storage, and hydrogen. The originality of this study lies in the scenario comparison methodology used to evaluate the viability and expansion of a hybrid energy system using modern renewable energy production technologies adapted to the specific insular conditions of Graciosa Island, assessing the economic impact and taking into account the imperative of energy security. This paper provides valuable insights into the potential and challenges of hybrid energy systems on the island of Graciosa and is instrumental for projects alike in similar remote regions.
- Graciosa Island’s Hybrid Energy System Expansion Scenarios: A Technical and Economic AnalysisPublication . Jesus, José; Nogueira, Teresa; Magano, JoséThe island of Graciosa in the Azores faces unique energy challenges due to its remote location and reliance on imported diesel fuel. As a result, a hybrid energy system has been implemented that combines wind and solar energy with energy storage and diesel generators. This article examines the expansion of the island’s hybrid energy system, by simulating four alternative scalable scenarios that take into account expected technological advances over the next 20 years, including technologies such as biomass and hydrogen. Homer Pro and PVSyst software were used for optimizing the design of the stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system, with the aim of achieving cost-effective configurations and optimizing production, storage, and power grid management. Four simulations were performed to evaluate the expansion scenarios, namely in terms of configurations, component sizing, and economic feasibility. The results show that the most balanced, cost-effective scenario is the one that combines all the energy sources considered: photovoltaic, wind, biomass, battery storage, and hydrogen. The originality of this study lies in the scenario comparison methodology used to evaluate the viability and expansion of a hybrid energy system using modern renewable energy production technologies adapted to the specific insular conditions of Graciosa Island, assessing the economic impact and taking into account the imperative of energy security. This paper provides valuable insights into the potential and challenges of hybrid energy systems on the island of Graciosa and is instrumental for projects alike in similar remote regions.
- A multi generational approach to project management: implications for engineering education in a smart worldPublication . Silva, Cláudia; Magano, José; Figueiredo, Cláudia; Vitoria, Andreia; Nogueira, TeresaIn a fast pace evolving smart world, underlined by technology change and market globalisation, project management is of paramount importance for companies to deliver competitive goods and services. To be effective, project teams should master processes, personal, technical and business competencies. The teaching of project management could be adapted in order to reduce the gap that seems to exist between the engineer graduate profile and the requirements that challenge professional engineers today, namely equipping new engineers with sound soft skills. Generation Z, currently studying in HEIs, has characteristics, needs and expectations that should be considered when discussing potential changes in project management education. This paper explores these topics. The literature review establishes the characteristics of generation Z, project management teaching trends, and draws implications for the teaching of project management within the scope of engineering education. A sample of 147 Generation Z undergraduate students filled a self-report questionnaire considering personality, resilience and emotional intelligence to assess their awareness about the traits that are relevant for project management. Through their self-assessment results, the participating students are aware of some of their characteristics, namely orientation towards results, high resilience and low neuroticism. Due to the high resilience indicators and low levels of neuroticism, Generation Z can be an important asset within a multigenerational project team. Also, some inconsistencies were identified as the participants displayed high levels of agreeableness and low levels of openness to experience. These results are discussed, linking personality traits of Generation Z with some important soft skills in project management, including teamwork and communication skills. Finally, recommendations and approaches for teaching project management in engineering education programs are presented.
- Sustainable Management Systems Standards (SMSS): Structures, Roles, and Practices in Corporate SustainabilityPublication . Silva, Cláudia; Magano, José; Moskalenko, Anna; Nogueira, Teresa; Dinis, M. A. P.; Sousa, Hélder Fernando Pedrosa eCompanies need to develop more sustainable management models to support a strategy focused on the environment and society, preventing the sole ambition to maximize economic profits. Several specific tools and frameworks have been developed for the implementation of sustainability management. However, the isolated adoption of new management practices could increase bureaucracy and constrain the development of an effective and systematic sustainability strategy. Based on the development of four case studies of relevant companies based in Portugal, this research presents a cyclical process with the structures, inputs and outputs, and roles in embodying sustainability in Integrated Management Systems (IMS). The originality of the work lies in the level of integration. Beyond identifying interconnection areas, it also specifies the Management Systems Standards (MSS) requirements in each area, assigning different roles in the integration process: drivers, efficient enablers, pathways, and evaluators. These four roles promote the claimed integration in a systematic cyclical process, plan–do–check–act (PDCA), to assist the consolidation of sustainability management. This research reinforces the added value of the IMS. It expands its scope, helping companies implement sustainability effectively and systematically, resulting in the presentation of Conceptual Sustainable Management Systems Standards (SMSS).