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The ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict has had significant repercussions for businesses, with many scaling back operations in Russia due to international sanctions. However, some companies continue operating there while making superficial gestures to appear supportive of the oppressed side (a practice known as ‘warwashing’). These actions conflict with profit motives and contribute to consumer skepticism and potential boycotts. This study examines how Portuguese and Danish consumers respond to warwashing, aiming to assess if cultural differences influence reactions. A quantitative survey, including nine questions based on literature and key differences between the two countries, was conducted using a deductive approach. Results were analyzed via JMP statistical software, with paired t-tests applied. Findings reveal a significant difference in reactions between Portuguese and Danish consumers, with Danish consumers showing a heightened response, engaging more frequently in impactful actions. This aligns with Hofstede’s cultural model, which portrays Danes as more open to change and expecting transparency. Boycott theory is also supported, suggesting that Danes are more inclined to boycott products and services, while Portuguese consumers show less faith in the effectiveness of such actions. This cross-country comparison reaffirms Hofstede’s Cultural Value Dimensions, providing insight into real-world cultural differences. Additionally, the study highlights the concept of collective action, where individuals avoid certain products or services as a form of protest, revealing variations in the prevalence of this behaviour across different societies.

The study of Catholic churches in Macau is of significant importance for both architectural heritage conservation and the transmission of cultural values. As religious structures, these churches serve as tangible representations of religious ideology and spiritual essence, thereby embodying the core principles of cultural expression. This paper aims to critically examine the Catholic churches of Macau, exploring their intrinsic values through an architectural research framework that emphasizes three key morphological elements: spatial characteristics, stylistic features, and structural composition. By contextualizing the historical background and architectural attributes, this study sheds light on the multifaceted significance of Catholic church construction in modern Macau, while offering a comprehensive analysis of the intersection, fusion, and coexistence of Eastern and Western cultural influences in this unique locale. Through this investigation, the paper uncovers a range of compelling cultural phenomena, providing insights that may serve as valuable reference points for future practices in architectural heritage conservation in Macau.

"The advent of the metaverse heralds a new era of unparalleled potential within digital ecosystems, significantly transforming industries such as tourism. This study explores the profound changes in tourism marketing induced by the metaverse, particularly through a focused examination of Macau's strategic initiatives. Predicated on the belief that immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are driving a marketing paradigm shift, this research clarifies the theoretical foundations and practical impacts of metaverse marketing in enhancing the tourism experience. Employing mixed-methods research combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, the analysis showcases Macau's utilization of metaverse marketing to bolster value creation and competitive positioning in the tourism sector. Findings indicate that metaverse marketing profoundly influences consumer behavior, highlighting nuanced consumer journeys within the virtual tourism market. Macau's case illustrates the success of its meta-universe initiatives and benchmarks them against global practices to extract sustainable competitive advantages and strategic insights. The study aggregates the marketing experiences of metaverse practitioners, revealing transformative effects on stakeholders ranging from revelant industries. It notes that while metaverse marketing provides some convenience for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in tourism, it lacks long-term effectiveness. Commending Macau's innovative approach in the meta-universe, the research outlines directions for future efforts and contributes to the burgeoning literature on metaverse marketing, offering actionable recommendations and underscoring the imperative for ongoing innovation in this dynamic digital realm."

Against the backdrop of a deepening global concept of sustainable development, environmental, social and governance (ESG) elements have gradually risen to become key components of corporate strategic choices. Within the framework of China's ‘dual-carbon’ strategic goal, green investment, as a key path to promote sustainable development, has attracted widespread attention for its intrinsic driving mechanism. This study selects a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies between 2019 and 2023, and systematically analyses the impact of ESG-linked executive compensation on corporate green investment and its mechanism of action. By establishing a multiple regression model and applying the mediation effect and moderating effect analysis method, the following empirical results are obtained: First, ESG-linked executive compensation has a significant positive impact on green investment; Second, Environmental awareness plays a partially mediating role in the relationship between ESG-linked executive compensation and green investment, suggesting that ESG-linked executive compensation not only acts directly on investment decisions, but also indirectly promotes green investment by enhancing corporate environmental awareness; Third, the nature of enterprise ownership and industry characteristics have a significant moderating effect on this effect, compared with private enterprises, ESG-linked executive compensation promotes green investment in state-owned enterprises more obviously; at the same time, the sensitivity of high-pollution industries to ESG-linked executive compensation is higher than that of low-pollution industries, which suggests that ESG-linked executive compensation has a stronger ‘corrective’ effect in industries facing higher environmental risks. To ensure the robustness of the findings, the study was validated by replacing the dependent variable (EPI for environmental investment), replacing the empirical model (Tobit model), and dealing with endogeneity issues (lag analysis and propensity score matching method), all of which yielded results consistent with the underlying research hypotheses.

This study explores the influence of social innovation facilitated through incubation programs on advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 Decent Work and SDG 17 Partnerships. Employing a qualitative research approach, the investigation involved analyzing the perspectives of 9 participants from Epark Incubation, representing diverse enterprise. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine how social innovation within these incubation initiatives contributes to value co creation and supports the achievement of these SDGs. Out of the initial participants, nine were successfully interviewed, providing rich insights that addressed the core research questions. The qualitative data reveal that the provision of cost-reduction platforms to incubators plays a crucial role in fostering sustainability, which subsequently leads to job creation. This underscores the effectiveness of cost-efficient support mechanisms and providing training through a mentorship in driving decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). Findings also emphasize the importance of digital training, including artificial intelligence (AI) skills, and the enhancement of resource pools to strengthen networks among incubates enterprises. Moreover, the research identifies significant challenges such as funding gaps, cultural frictions, and regulatory barriers. To address these issues, it recommends integrating digital training aligned with current technological trends and navigating policy environments to facilitate easier access to funding for the incubatees. Establishing structured communication frameworks-through workshops, seminars, and benchmarking-can also help mitigate cultural frictions. 3 Looking ahead, the study suggests that future research should focus on diversifying funding sources beyond traditional capital, particularly for technology-driven incubator. Exploring impact investment models, developing crowdfunding platforms tailored for social enterprises, and advocating for government incentives to support social innovation are vital strategies. While the training-to-placement model has demonstrated effectiveness, scaling these programs and adapting them to emerging skill gaps is essential to maintain relevance in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

This research focuses on Nike, Inc., an American multinational corporation and global leader in the design, marketing, and sale of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment. The study executes a financial valuation of Nike with the objective of estimating its intrinsic value and comparing it with the market value as of May 31st, 2023. The analysis combines a review of the company's overall strategic positioning in the industry and its historical financial performance. The methodology involved the reorganization of financial statements, the calculation of key financial metrics (NOPLAT, FCF, ROIC), the estimation of the cost of capital (WACC) using CAPM, and the application of valuation models based on discounted cash flows (Enterprise DCF, APV, DEP). The results imply that, as of May 31st, 2023, Nike's estimated intrinsic value was between $54.94 and $59.23 per share. Comparing this to the market price of $105.26 on the same date, the analysis concludes that Nike shares were significantly overvalued. The sensitivity analysis highlighted the vulnerability of the valuation to changes in the market risk premium and the perpetual growth rate. It is concluded that, despite Nike's strong market position, effective management of external risks, and maintenance of financial discipline are crucial to its future value.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we operate as a society. Generative AI models are especially known for being used to generate synthetic artifacts, such as texts, music, and images. This doctoral thesis explores generative AI's ability to create accurate images from prompt text. Our work aims to prove how generative AI tools are creating images that are remarkably similar in appearance as those created by humans. In addition to the theoretical contributions, this thesis explores broader secondary open questions about generative AI: what implications arise for the perception of what is virtual and non-virtual in our contemporary visual landscape? How does the new nature of interaction with generative AI change human-machine communication? Generative AI tools saw a series of breakthroughs these last years, which led to models that generate texts and images that are increasingly more difficult to distinguish from human- made creative content. As of 2022, Open AI developed and released ChatGPT, a chatbot enabling human users to converse, ask questions, explain concepts, and create new text-based content. However, the capabilities of generative AI went far beyond text generation. For example, gen AI models, Midjourney and DALL-E 3, are specifically designed to create images based on text prompts. These images are artificially created, meaning every screen pixel was produced using AI. Throughout this research, we explore new concepts of creative content generation, perception of virtual and non-virtual, memory, and trustworthiness in our contemporary imagery. Using an interdisciplinary methodological framework, this thesis engages with the creation of synthetic imagery as an opportunity for an infinite source of creativity or a detrimental disruption of contemporary visual culture.

Inclusiveness has become a critical topic nowadays, serving as a benchmark of a nation and community’s level of civilization. As a core component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusiveness underscores its global significance in fostering equitable and justice societies. The changing dynamics of Macao households, characterized by both parents working or engaging in shift work, along with an increasingly aging population, have led to a growing reliance on domestic workers. As a result, these domestic workers often develop deep relationships with the children under their care, becoming integral members of the households. According to statistics from the Labour Affairs Bureau in Macao (2024), Filipino non-resident workers comprise the second-largest ethnic group, totaling 30,267 individuals. Of this group, 48% (14,604 individuals) are engaged in domestic work, highlighting their substantial presence in the sector. This study aims to investigate the experiences of the largest migrant working group in the region—female Filipino domestic workers—focusing on their experiences of inclusiveness within both the workplace and the Macao community. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, the study conducts interviews with 10 female Filipino domestic workers in Macao. These interviews provide valuable insights into their lived experiences, illuminating their perceptions of inclusion within their employed families and society. Additionally, the research examines whether existing laws and regulations facilitate their inclusion in Macao. The results of this study revealed eight key themes and two new models of Perceived Inclusiveness in Domestic Workplace and Community , contributing to a deeper understanding of the inclusiveness experience of Filipino domestic workers in Macao.

The present research aimed to assess and compare the perspectives of teachers, parents, and youth regarding the main positive aspects and concerns they have about youth in Macao, namely: (1 and 2) What are the main positive aspects/concerns Macao teachers, parents, and youth focus on? And (2 and 3) How aligned are teachers, parents, and youth in Macao regarding the positive aspects/concerns? We applied a quantitative methodology based on a quantitative content analysis of open-ended questions included in the Macao validation (Simões et al., Unpublished report) of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (Achenbach, 1991; “what are your concerns regarding your child/your student/yourself”, and “what are the most positive aspects about your child/your student/yourself”). We found alignment regarding positive aspects, with youth, parents and teachers focusing on personality, abilities, and attitudes, and parents additionally on independence. Regarding concerns, there was less alignment. All mentioned academic performance and interpersonal relationships, but parents and teachers also mentioned health, morality, attitudes, and teachers’ class engagement concerns. Teachers and youths mentioned future planning, while only the youth mentioned school activities and facilities, their abilities and character and class rules and assignments. These categories are aligned with development models, including ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1994), social learning theory and social cognitive learning theory (Bandura, 1977, 1986), moral development perspectives (Mead, 1928; Gilligan 1933), self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and positive youth development perspectives (e.g., Lerner, 2005). The main practical implications are that (1) youth should have a greater awareness of their physical and mental health; (2) parents should build up a support system to enhance autonomy (3) schools play a crucial role in promoting students’ health by creating a supportive environment; (4) counsellors should promote re-connection between youth and their parents or teachers; and (5) decision-makers should invest in mental health education awareness to diminish the stigma, de-emphasise education strategies based on standardised testing, and address broader social and economic inequalities to reduce disparities and academic pressure among youths, parents and teachers.

This dissertation investigates the implementation of gender mainstreaming in career development in the Macao Public Security Police Force, specifically how the institutional policies and socio-cultural contexts interact within and influence careers in a traditionally structured organization. The study utilizes the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore the impact of Attitude, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control in influencing career development outcomes. Adopting a qualitative approach, utilizing policy analysis with in-depth interviews to identify gaps in academic studies and assess the effectiveness. Findings demonstrate that while some progress is observed, highly entrenched biases and traditional views of roles remain present and pose significant challenges. Police officers throughout the organization expressed a desire for reducing structural barriers, and enhancing support for employee work-life balance to benefit all personnel. By analyzing the local conditions in Macao and reflecting on relevant global practices in gender mainstreaming, this study concludes that sustainable equality in the workplace requires a balance of institutional and cultural factors, including organizational policies, workplace norms, gender stereotypes and societal expectations. In essence, the study contributes to the multidimensional discussion on how we can all leverage positive practices and offers valuable advice on improving workplace equality.

This study examines the collaboration between kindergarten teachers and resource teachers in Macau's inclusive early childhood education settings, focusing on the extent of their collaboration, challenges, satisfaction, support needs, and suggestions for improvement regarding collabroation. The study surveyed 53 kindergarten teachers and 15 resource teachers from inclusive kindergartens in Macau. Key findings are: (1) Over 60% of kindergarten teachers and all resource teachers had collaborative experience, and both parties reported they primarily used the ""one teaching, one assisting"" co-teaching model; (2) Over 70% of kindergarten teachers reported less than 30 minutes of weekly discussion time with resource teachers, while 40% of resource teachers reported about one hour per week for discussion with kindergarten teachers ; (3) Both groups identified communication as the main challenge; (4) Primary collaboration areas included case information exchange and teaching strategy discussions; (5) Overall satisfaction was above average, with highest satisfaction in ""positive attitude"" and lowest in ""support system;"" (6) Teachers expressed high support need for professional training and parent training; and (7) Both groups emphasized the key to improve collaboration relates to enhanced communication and more professional training and development. Based on these findings, recommendations were offered with a focus on establishing comprehensive support networks and communication platforms at policy, school, and teacher levels. 本研究旨在探討澳門幼稚園教師與資源教師在學前融合教育環境中的合作現況，包括合作程度、合作中遇到的狀況、合作滿意度、對合作的支援需求、以及對合作的建議。研究採用問卷調查法，研究對象包括澳門參與融合教育計劃的幼稚園中的53名幼稚園教師和15名資源教師。結果顯示，(1) 6成以上幼稚園教師與資源教師有合作經驗;資源教師全部都有與幼稚園教師合作的經驗，雙方教師都認為開展最多的合作教學類型是「一人教學，一人協助」;（2）雙方合作時間有限，7成以上的幼稚園教師表示每週與資源教師討論時間少於30分鐘，而有4成資源教師表示每週討論時間約1小時;(3)雙方教師表示合作時最大的困難是溝通協調;(4)最主要的合作領域是交流個案的基本情況和討論學生的教學策略;(5)兩組教師對合作的整體滿意度高於中等程度，其中「正面態度」維度滿意度最高，「支援系統」維度滿意度最低;(6)教師對專業培訓和家長培訓的支援需求較高;(7)雙方教師都認為「加強溝通」和「增加教師培訓與專業發展」是改善合作的關鍵。根據這些研究結果，筆者建議從政策、學校及教師三個層面著手，建立完善支援網絡、多元交流平臺，並持續提升教師專業能力。

Procter & Gamble (P&G) was founded in 1837 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. It is one of the giants of global consumer goods companies. The company has a high reputation in the daily chemical market, with factories and branches in over 80 countries worldwide. Its products from over 300 brands are sold in over 160 countries and regions, including shampoo, hair care, skincare products, cosmetics, baby care products, women's hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, fabrics, home care, personal cleaning products, etc. However, in the context of globalization and the global pandemic, maintaining a competitive advantage in the industry for a long time remains a huge challenge. The article analyzes P&G 's financial data and draws conclusions that will help evaluate its value and future positioning. A comparison between the intrinsic values from three valuation models as of December 31, 2023, will provide valuable information for investors and serve as a reference for the operation and development of other similar companies.

As suicide and medical consultation rates among local adolescents in Macau rise, their mental health becomes increasingly concerning, highlighting a lack of relevant local research. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of adult helping professionals in Macau regarding adolescents' mental health. It involved semi-structured interviews with 12 professionals, including social workers, teachers, counselors, and psychotherapists. The analysis of the interview data revealed six significant themes impacting the mental health of young people: adult sensitivity to adolescents, excessive online information, the influence of peers or significant others, negative self-image and life experiences, and family and socio-cultural factors. The study's findings highlight the protective role of adult sensitivity to adolescents, the prevalence of excessive online information, the influence of peers and significant others, negative self-image and life experiences, and negative socio-cultural factors in Macau. The study underscores the societal demand for success, the need for family-friendly policies, limited public knowledge about mental health, and the protective impact of adult sensitivity on adolescents' mental health. Recommendations include that the government prioritize adolescents' needs, foster multiple abilities, enhance teachers' understanding of mental health and treatment methods, strengthen the workforce, optimize family-friendly policies, value parent-child time, and integrate emotional education courses into the educational system to boost public awareness of mental health. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners committed to improving the mental health of Macau's youth.

Spiritual beliefs enhance work engagement because religious and spiritual perspectives influence how individuals perceive their daily circumstances and organize their activities, impacting their overall happiness and satisfaction with life and reinforcing their meaning in the workplace. This study examines the impact of spirituality on work engagement and wellbeing among religious sisters, focusing on their unique workplace dynamics and coping strategies. Recognizing that work serves not only as a means of survival but also as a source of social, organizational, and spiritual experiences that create meaning, happiness, and a sense of purpose. Moreover, research indicates that spirituality plays a significant role in enhancing well-being, leading to higher levels of work engagement, life satisfaction, and flourishing. This research aims to fill a gap in existing literature about the well-being of religious workers and offer insights that benefit both individuals and organizations. Understanding how spirituality, work engagement, and well-being interact can help organizations and contribute to personal overall well-being. This study has adopted qualitative research as the research as methodology. Semi-structured interviews allow for an in-depth exploration of personal experiences and perceptions, providing flexibility for participants to elaborate on their thoughts. Thematic analysis was then applied to each interview to identify and interpret key themes emerging from the data, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the participants’ insights (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Thematic analysis revealed several key findings: spirituality serves as a source of resilience, provides a sense of purpose, and fosters strong community ties, all of V which significantly enhance subjective well-being. The findings highlight that high levels of subjective well-being are linked to active engagement in spiritual practices and supportive community relationships. The findings suggest that religious organizations should create tailored support programs that address the specific needs of individual religious sisters, including mental health resources, opportunities for spiritual growth, peer support groups, and regular retreats. This research contributes to the understanding of the unique challenges faced by religious sisters and underscores the importance of integrating spirituality into workplace practices, offering valuable insights for religious communities and policymakers.

Macanese Patuá, a Creole language of Macau, also known as "Dóci Língu di Macau", crafted by Macanese people with different cultural backgrounds such as Portuguese, Malay, Cantonese, English, and Spanish, has been forgotten over time and is almost unknown to local new generations. This research aims to explore the historical and social relevance of Patuá, emphasising its rise, evolution, and fall in Macau society. In addition, the study will use a Macanese theatre group as a case study, Dóci Papiaçám di Macau, created by creole Macanese thespians who speak Patuá and wish to continue to use the language and promote their cultural heritage. They offer yearly public performances of Patuá theatre around May. The ensemble integrates multilingual features into performances, humorously interpreting cultural differences and societal themes, earning local acclaim and support, effectively advocating for Macanese Patuá through art.

The suicide rate has been increasing these decades. A good mental health could prevent people from committing suicide. Parents are the ones whom we spend most of the time with. How parents treat us does have an impact on both our development and mental health. However, some people can always see the positive side of things and expect things to turn out well. Therefore, the present study aims to examine if resilience would mediate the relationship between parenting styles and mental health in bachelor students. A cross-sectional research method was used in this study. Data were collected through Google Forms. The sample consists of 110 Bachelor students in Macau, with 46 males (42%) and 64 females (58%). According to the findings of the study, the mediating role of resilience in the relationships between parenting styles and mental health were found to be not significant. However, bachelor students who perceived their mothers as authoritative parenting style were found to have better mental health. While higher resilience was found to have less impact on the mental health of bachelor students. This study has pointed out the importance of different parenting styles on bachelor students' mental health and further proves the positive influence of resilience towards mental health. There is a need to cultivate the resilience of bachelor students to help them better equip themselves for stressful situations and cope with crises. Workshops or interventions are also needed for parents to teach them better parenting skills and knowledge, so that the mental health of their children could be enhanced by that.

his study analyzes the effectiveness of Lancôme's localization strategy in the Chinese market, and explores how international brands can win recognition and achieve sustainable development in a highly competitive market. Against the backdrop of a fast-growing Chinese cosmetics market that is facing the challenges of rising local brands, shifting consumer preferences, and digital marketing, the study employs the Howard Sheth model, combined with in-depth interviews with 16 female consumers, to analyze their purchasing decisions and feedback on localization strategies. The study finds that Lancôme's technological attributes and social media communication have significantly improved brand perception, but the issues of cultural adaptation and price sensitivity still need to be optimized. Consumers generally perceive its high-end technology positioning as contradictory to local needs, and suggest differentiated pricing, deepening of local cultural elements, and emotional marketing to enhance affinity. The conclusion suggests that international brands need to find a balance between ""high-end technology"" and ""local affinity"", and respond to the complex challenges of the market through flexible pricing, in-depth localization and upgrading of the omni-channel experience.

This dissertation investigates consumer satisfaction with the Philippine fast food chain Jollibee in the highly competitive and multicultural Macau market. The study adopts a mixed method approach, combining semi-structured interviews with ten consumers (residents and non-local tourists) to analyze the important factors driving satisfaction. The results show that service quality, especially employee efficiency and the organization of events (such as birthday parties), has a significant impact on satisfaction. However, language barriers and cultural differences when ordering food pose challenges to non-local customers. Although Jollibee's core products (especially fried chicken) are appreciated by many respondents for their taste and freshness, the menu lacks diversity. It is not localized enough to meet Macau's unique Chinese-Portuguese fusion dining preferences fully. Price sensitivity is very significant, and Jollibee is often considered by customers to be more expensive than competitors such as McDonald's, which affects their value perception. Therefore, promotional strategies, especially experiential activities, should show effectiveness and cultural resonance. Finally, the study proposed suggestions on improving service quality, menu localization, strategic pricing, and culturally sensitive promotions to improve Jollibee’s positioning in the Macau market and provide a reference for other Western fast food brands to develop in the Macau market.

Foul language is a common phenomenon in our daily lives. In the modern time, it is no longer a novelty in using foul language. However, the subjective impression of foul language as uncultured or rude is no longer rare. With the popularity of people speaking foul language in their daily life, especially we are witnessing more and more young people in Macau using foul language to communicate in different context. This study aims to explore the experiences of Macau youth in using foul language. This study adopts semi-structured interviews with study participants, and analyze what they understand and perceive as foul language in different certain situations in the context of Macau. Findings of this study indicate that foul language plays a role in emotional expression and relationship building, which are essential element of counselling service. Even with this factor, participants still felt that the use of foul language was more effective only when the client used than in other situations.