2014 - Strategic Project

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

The Impact of Online Social Networks on Decision Support Systems

Publication . Antunes, Francisco; Costa, João Paulo

Previous research on this matter had already determined that many concepts are encompassed by both online social networking and decision support systems research. Due to the large number of concepts and using clustering techniques, we were able to determine four concept clusters, namely: the technical infrastructure, online communities, network analysis and knowledge management. Then, we intended to gain further knowledge on how those concepts influenced DSS related research and the contribution of each cluster to the support of the phases of decision-making process. We also wanted to perceive the interconnections among the concept clusters themselves, for which we used structural equation modeling techniques. The obtained results evidence that not only online social networks are being used as a technical infrastructure to support the three decision making phases and to support knowledge management and online communities, but also that the other clusters only regard the intelligence phase of the decision process.

2015Journal article

Open access

Commercial Websites: A Focus on the Essential

Publication . Ferreira, Alexandre; Antunes, Francisco

This study identified “essential” functionalities (grouped in four distinct sets) that should be implemented in commercial internet presences. This finding seems extremely relevant, as it can serve as a benchmark for companies that want to go into the online business or for those who already have a commercial internet presence. Although many online companies try to provide all available functionalities on their websites to attract customers, the obtained results provide evidence that such situation would mean to invest money in features that are not primarily valued by the users. The determination of valued functionalities within a buying process allows managers to be more cost-effective when managing financial resources to acquire or develop solutions for their commercial websites, helping companies to understand better how to build and keep online businesses. In this way, this research demonstrated that existing literature does offer the basis to actually support decision-making in practice settings.

2016Journal article

Open access

Semantic web and decision support systems

Publication . Antunes, Francisco; Freire, Manuela; Costa, João Paulo

Semantic Web technologies are intertwined with the decision-making process. In this paper the general objectives of the semantic web tools are reviewed and characterized, as well as the categories of decision support tools, in order to establish an intersection of utility and use. We also elaborate on actual and foreseen possibilities for a deeper integration, considering the actual implementation, opportunities and constraints within the context of decision-making. We conclude that a broader or generalized Semantic Web integration in the decision support community is still a work in progress and much remains to be done.

2015Journal article

Open access

Essential Functionalities for Commercial Internet Presence

Publication . Ferreira, Alexandre; Antunes, Francisco

A balanced implementation of functionalities within a commercial internet presence is important, because of not only the involved complexity and cognitive load required in their use, but also for financial reasons. Investing money on features (e.g., software modules, programming time, maintenance and update, etc.) that are not valued by online consumers, hinders an efficient allocation of resources, especially when financial resources are scarce, a situation that corresponds too many small businesses operating on the internet. However, literature provides little help for managers to decide which functionalities should be implemented, according to a rational basis. Within this context, this research sought to fill in the gap between literature review and the need for helping companies to understand better how to build and keep online businesses. The authors work identified 16 essential functionalities grouped into four sets: order processing, advertising and prominence, product analysis, and payment.

2015Journal article

Open access