Productivity and Organizational Management : Management Tools, Human Resource Management, Contemporary Engineers

This book covers the issues related to the advances in productivity and organizational management that result from the continuous and highly complex process of change that today’s organizations are facing. Effective work practices and good employee relations are a real necessity of today’s organizations, as they can help to reduce absenteeism, turnover, and organizational costs, conducting high levels of commitment, effectiveness, performance and productivity. Addressing these questions this book focuses on the implications of those changes in productivity and organizational management. It explores the models, tools and processes used by organizations to help managers become better prepared to face the challenges and changes in work and, consequently, in the way how to manage today’s organizations. As a consequence of social, technological, political and economic changes, the field of work and organization management has become highly complex, claiming management for more effective strategies. Conscious of this reality, this book provides support to academics and researchers, as well as those operating in the management field who need to deal with policies and strategies related to work issues. Giving special attention to interdisciplinary perspectives, to further our knowledge and understanding of productivity and related change processes and work practices, the different chapter contributions of this book contribute to a better merger and interrelationship among organization, management and employee needs in order to increase efficiency, productivity and profitability of modern organizations.

Carolina Machado received her PhD degree in Management Sciences (Organizational and Policies Management area / Human Resources Management) from the University of Minho in 1999, Master degree in Management (Strategic Human Resource Management) from Technical University of Lisbon in 1994, and Degree in Business Administration from University of Minho in 1989. Teaching in Human Resources Management subjects since 1989 at University of Minho, she is since 2004 Associate Professor (with Habilitation since 2022), with experience and research interest areas in the field of Human Resource Management, International Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management in SMEs, Training and Development, Emotional Intelligence, Management Change, Knowledge Management, and Management/HRM in the Digital Age/Business Analytics, Sustainability, and Higher Education Sustainability. She is Head of the Human Resources Management Work Group at the School of Economics and Management at University of Minho, Coordinator of Advanced Training Courses at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, Member of the Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA.UMinho), University of Minho, as well as Chief Editor of the International Journal of Applied Management Sciences and Engineering (IJAMSE), Guest Editor of journals, books Editor and book Series Editor, as well as reviewer in different international prestigious journals. In addition, she has also published both as editor/co-editor and as author/co-author of several books, book chapters, and articles in journals and conferences.

J. Paulo Davim is Full Professor at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He is also distinguished as honorary professor in several universities/colleges/institutes in China, India, and Spain. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Mechanical Engineering (materials and manufacturing processes), and Mechanical Engineering degree (5 years), from the University of Porto (FEUP), the Aggregate title (Full Habilitation) from the University of Coimbra and the DSc (Higher Doctorate) from London Metropolitan University. He is a Fellow (FIET) of IET-London and Eur Ing by Engineers Europe FEANI-Brussels. He is also a Specialist Engineer by the Portuguese Order of Engineers with an MBA and Specialist titles in Industrial Management as well as in Metrology. He has more than 35 years of teaching and research experience in Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineering, with special emphasis in Machining, Tribology & Surface Engineering. He also has an interest in Design, Management, Sustainability, Industry 5.0, Engineering Education, and Higher Education for Sustainability. He has guided large numbers of postdoc, PhD, and master’s students as well as has coordinated and participated in several financed research projects. He has received several scientific awards and honors. He has worked as evaluator of projects for ERC-European Research Council and other international research agencies as well as examiner of PhD thesis for many universities in different countries. He is the Editor in Chief of several international journals, book Series Editor and Scientific Advisory for many conferences. He has been listed in World´s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University study.