The aim of this research is to analyze the effects of innovation strategies, Total Quality Management (TQM) dimensions, and internationalization strategies that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) might adopt, and their effects on their organizational performance. Due to globalization and the constant changes and demands that have taken place today, HEIs are forced to seek new quality assurance instruments in higher education, to ensure greater competitiveness in the markets and their survival. To examine the association between the independent variables, namely, TQM dimensions, innovation strategies, and internationalization strategies with the dependent variable, that is organizational performance of HEIs, we have chosen to use multiple linear regression analysis. A nine-predictor multiple linear regression model was proposed. The nine predictor variables are Communication, Involvement/teacher empowerment, Development/Teacher training, Continuous improvement, Leadership/Administration’s Commitment, Data analysis/Measurement of results, Focus on students, Innovation Strategies, and Internationalization strategy. We conclude that some TQM variables have a significant association with the organizational performance of HEIs, namely, Involvement/teacher empowerment, and Development/teacher training. On the other hand, also the Innovation strategies and Internationalization strategy have a significant association with the organizational performance of HEIs. This research is of enormous importance for the study of HEIs, considering their role in the development of any country and its impact on society as creators of knowledge and science. Since these institutions increasingly must deal with extremely competitive market environments, knowledge of the factors that can assist in increasing the organizational performance of HEIs is of great relevance.

This research study aims to study and identify which dimensions of TQM have influence on and support innovation strategies within the Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in the context of products or services’ innovation and process innovation, as well as to analyze the extent to which this relationship occurs. To examine the linkage between TQM dimensions and innovation strategies, concerning innovation products and innovation processes, a multiple linear regression analysis was chosen and an eight-predictor multiple linear regression model was proposed. The data was collected through a questionnaire sent by email. This research study allows to conclude that several dimensions of TQM, such as benchmarking, quality/conception and product design, and continuous improvement, have a significant and positive association with product innovation. Although the data analysis/measurement of the results dimension has a significant association with product innovation, this association is negative. Conversely, several TQM dimensions, such as leadership/management’s commitment, benchmarking, involvement/empowerment of employees, and continuous improvement, revealed a positive and significant association with process innovation. Our research is of crucial importance for the knowledge of Portuguese SMEs and the fundamental factors that companies must address to both improve their efficiency and be more competitive, thereby increasing profitability and ensuring financial sustainability in the medium and long term.

Nowadays, the dynamism caused by constant changes to strategic decisions in markets poses an additional difficulty in an organization’s management. The strategic decisions made by managers can easily become obsolete. One of the major difficulties in managing a commercial organization is predicting, with some precision, the impact some strategic decisions have on the financial results. Business intelligence (BI) is widely used to help managers make strategic decisions. However, the methods used to achieve the conclusions are kept secret by BI company-based services. Modeling the environment may help predict the impact of an action in a real environment. A good model should provide the most accurate result of an applied action in a given environment. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are proven to be excellent in modeling environments with very high data noise. The same strategic action can have different results when applied to different organizations. A tool that allows the evaluation of an applied strategic action in an environment will be of great importance in the field of management. Modeling the environment will save time and money for the organization, allowing the performance of the strategic plan to be improved. If one evaluates the state of the environment after a certain strategic action is applied, it can be possible to mitigate its risk of failure. As we will verify, it is possible to use ANNs to model strategic environments, allowing precision in the prediction of sales and operating results using particular strategies.

De entre as inúmeras alterações que Portugal conheceu decorrentes da Revolução de Abril, as educativas foram avassaladoras. Desde 1974 assistiu-se a mudanças significativas em todo o edifício educativo, nomeadamente o estabelecimento de uma escolaridade obrigatória e um ensino básico e secundário unificado, a explosão da procura de educação, a criação do ensino superior politécnico, a privatização do ensino superior, a promoção da investigação científica, a ratificação da Declaração de Bolonha ou novas leis de financiamento e de governo e autonomia das instituições públicas de ensino superior. No quadro do ensino superior, a adoção da Declaração de Bolonha obrigou a grandes alterações do enquadramento jurídico da estrutura da formação superior dos países que a ratificaram e, no caso português, concretizou-se num enorme crescimento da pós-graduação e do número de diplomados. Neste artigo, os autores sustentam a sua análise com recurso às estatísticas oficiais de Portugal e de organismos internacionais, analisando a expansão da pós-graduação e da investigação, particularmente no quadro pós-Bolonha. Apresenta-se, ainda, o caminho percorrido pelo sistema científico português e contextualiza-se a situação portuguesa no quadro internacional. Terminar-se-á o artigo com algumas reflexões que poderão ajudar a formular políticas públicas conducentes à melhoria do estado do ensino superior público em Portugal, mormente no financiamento da pós-graduação e da produção científica.