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This dissertation explores how smart city strategies are being used in Macau, focusing on what everyday citizens think about them. It explores both the positive aspects and the problems with how these policies are being put into action. While the Macau government has introduced several digital services. For example, the Macau One Account, electronic payments, and smart transport systems. There are many people who feel there’s a gap between technology and how well it actually includes everyone. The research is based on a close look at government plans (like the Macau SAR Five- Year Plan 2016–2020) and interviews with people from different age groups. Using a method of analyzing themes in the data, the study found that younger and middle- aged people generally find these tools useful and convenient. However, older adults often struggle because they aren’t as comfortable with smart city services and don’t get enough support. Also, even though the government says it welcomes public input, most people said they weren’t really involved in decisions, showing that the process is mostly top-down. The study points out some big challenges, like digital inequality, lack of public participation, and a mismatch between what policies aim for and what people actually need in daily life. It suggests making smart city planning more inclusive by offering digital tools in multiple languages, involving citizens in budgeting decisions, and providing digital training for those who need it. Overall, it argues that smart city development should focus more on fairness, access, and building public trust to truly improve urban life in a lasting and meaningful way.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is an American car manufacturer and one of the leading automobile manufacturers with over a century of history in the auto industry. The Company is headquartered in the United States, in Dearborn, Michigan. However, it has operations in over 125 countries around the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, offering a wide range of vehicles under the Ford and Lincoln brands. The Company has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in response to shifts according to consumer preferences, technology advancements, and government regulations. The company has been investing constantly to restructure and position itself and remain competitive. Therefore, finding strategies to boost sales and get high returns from invested capital is a must for the company to keep its market share, even though this is still a challenge due to the nature of the automotive industry, which brings intense competition from both traditional and new entrants, particularly EV manufacturers. In this study the focus is not only to estimate the intrinsic value of Ford Motor Company as of 31, December 2023, but also to analyze essential aspects of the company including SWOT, PESTEL, and Porter’s five forces analysis to get a framework of internal and external environment of the company which enables us to identify strategic opportunities, competitive advantage, vulnerabilities, and threats of the Company. After understanding the dynamics of the company and the economic overview, which are crucial to predict the impact of key assumptions when evaluating the company’s intrinsic value. For the second part of our study, the attention goes to the financial analysis of both historical and forecasted financial statements that are extremely important to apply for the Discounted Cash Flow valuation methods and later to perform a sensitivity analysis to understand the Company’s financial performance. Therefore, Ford Motor Company’s intrinsic value from the three discounted cash flow models leads us to conclude that the Ford stock’s price is currently undervalued, and it is expected to grow in the future.

Macau’s rapid urban development has significantly altered its natural landscapes, leading to the degradation and fragmentation of wetland ecosystems. Although diminished in size, these urban wetlands continue to deliver vital ecological services and sustain a range of biodiversity. Conventional methods for biodiversity assessment are often labor-intensive and unsuitable for regular monitoring in urban environments. This study utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding as a non-invasive and effective approach to survey biodiversity in 2 coastal and 7 freshwater urban wetlands in Macau. Environmental DNA was extracted from water samples collected from these nine representative wetland sites and analyzed using metabarcoding techniques to detect fish species. Three genetic markers were targeted to enhance taxonomic resolution, which included COI (mlCOIintF/LoboR1, 313 bp), 12S (miFish-U, 170 bp) and 18S (V4, 400 bp). Bioinformatic pipelines were used to process sequencing data, identify taxa, and compute biodiversity indices, providing a comprehensive snapshot of aquatic biodiversity in Macau’s urban wetlands. A total of 90 fish species were detected, including native species, migrants, and invasive taxa. Beta diversity analysis shows site and season together explained 50% of the variation in community composition (PERMANOVA R² = 0.50, p = 0.001), shaped by environmental gradients and seasonal turnover. These results highlight eDNA metabarcoding as an effective tool for biodiversity monitoring in urban wetlands and emphasize the need to preserve habitat diversity and management strategies in Macau.

This study investigates the key challenges and success factors influencing collaborative partnerships for social innovation in Cambodia, aiming to develop an effective partnership model tailored to the local context. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research synthesizes findings from a survey of 109 organizations across various sectors—including private companies, government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions—and an extensive review of relevant literature. The study identifies critical obstacles such as trust deficits, communication breakdowns, resource constraints, organizational misalignments, and cultural differences that impede effective collaboration. Conversely, it highlights essential success elements, including open communication, shared goals, mutual trust, clear roles, ongoing engagement, and capacity building. The findings suggest that addressing systemic barriers while fostering trust and shared understanding are vital for sustainable social innovation in Cambodia. Based on these insights, the research proposes a practical collaborative partnership model emphasizing transparency, joint planning, flexibility, and stakeholder empowerment. The study contributes valuable theoretical frameworks and actionable strategies for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars seeking to enhance social innovation through effective collaboration in Cambodia and similar developing contexts.

Financial Valuation of Starbucks Ltd.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

This dissertation examines the implementation of smart policing in Macau, focusing on the adoption and challenges of facial recognition technology within the Macau Urban Electronic Surveillance System. As Macau pursues its smart city ambitions, the integration of advanced technologies into law enforcement has become a central strategy for enhancing public safety and operational efficiency. However, the actual acceptance and use of these technologies by frontline police officers remain underexplored. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach. documentary analysis of government policies and strategic documents provides an overview of Macau’s smart policing initiatives and the legal and infrastructural frameworks supporting them. The core of the research is a quantitative survey of Macau police officers who have direct experience with the facial recognition system. The survey is structured around the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), with additional attention to compatibility and perceived legal knowledge. The results reveal that performance expectancy and perceived legal knowledge are the strongest factors influencing officers’ adoption of facial recognition while effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and compatibility are less influential. Practical challenges were discovered through the Macau police officers.

This dissertation investigates the challenges and opportunities for implementing sustainable tourism practices in Macau from the perspective of tourism operators. With Macau's economy heavily reliant on its vibrant tourism industry, particularly the gaming sector, the rapid growth has led to significant environmental and social impacts, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. This study aims to identify the barriers preventing operators from fully embracing sustainability, such as high implementation costs, a perceived lack of robust governmental support, and insufficient knowledge among stakeholders. Concurrently, it explores the potential avenues for sustainable tourism development, including enhanced collaboration, improved financial incentives, and strengthened environmental legislation. Through qualitative interviews, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape. The findings reveal that while operators acknowledge the importance of sustainability, practical and policy-related hurdles persist. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers and tourism operators to foster a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector in Macau, capable of withstanding global shocks and ensuring long-term prosperity without compromising its unique cultural and natural assets. 本論文調查了實施的挑戰和機遇 從旅遊經營者的角度看澳門的可持續旅遊實踐。 隨著 澳門的經濟嚴重依賴其充滿活力的旅遊業，特別是 遊戲行業的快速增長給環境和社會帶來了重大影響， 引起對長期可持續性的擔憂。 這項研究旨在確定障礙 阻止運營商充分接受可持續性，例如高實施率 成本，被認為缺乏強大的政府支援，以及知識不足 在利益相關者中。 同時，它探索了可持續的潛在途徑 旅遊業發展，包括加強合作，改善財政激勵措施， 並加強了環境立法。 透過定性訪談， 研究提供了對當前格局的全面瞭解。 這 調查結果顯示，雖然運營商承認可持續性的重要性， 實際和政策相關的障礙持續存在。 這項研究以可操作的結論 對決策者和旅遊經營者的建議，以促進更可持續的 澳門有彈性的旅遊業，能夠抵禦全球衝擊和 在不損害其獨特的文化和自然的情況下確保長期繁榮資產

The purpose of this thesis is to assess how the use of prefabricated components alters management practices in fit-out projects and to propose effective adjustments based on real-world evidence. Focusing on the renovation of the Venetian Cotai Arena in Macau, conducted between January and October 2024, this study aims to help project managers anticipate and overcome the unique challenges introduced by prefabrication, especially in areas such as supply chain coordination, cost control, quality assurance, workforce management, and communication. Driven by rising labor costs and growing quality demands in Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, prefabricated construction has emerged as a promising yet complex solution for interior fit-out projects. Despite its theoretical advantages—such as time efficiency and standardized quality—this research finds that practical management issues can offset these benefits if not properly addressed. The study adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing on stakeholder interviews, internal meeting records, and dynamic cost analysis to investigate management failures and derive actionable insights. The findings reveal that delays in prefabricated material production and delivery were the root cause of construction inefficiencies. These delays disrupted work sequencing, led to labor idle time, and triggered costly overtime during final phases. Inadequate supplier capacity and outdated production processes contributed to this problem, while poor quality control caused dimensional mismatches and on-site rework. Cost analysis confirmed that rework expenses reached over MOP 22 million, while material and labor costs also significantly exceeded the original budget. Labor inefficiencies—driven by untrained workers and uncoordinated instructions—added further financial and scheduling pressures. Warehouse mismanagement and unclear material labeling further delayed installation work and increased operational overheads. The study concludes that prefabrication success is contingent not only on technical design but also on the implementation of proactive management strategies, including early supplier engagement, accurate production planning, effective logistics labeling, and structured site-level authority. This thesis contributes practical guidance for future projects by demonstrating how targeted management adjustments—based on real case data—can reduce cost overruns, improve coordination, and increase overall project efficiency when using prefabricated components.

Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott) is a worldwide company that operates, franchises, and licenses a diverse portfolio of hotels, residential properties, timeshares, and other lodging options across various brands, catering to multiple price levels and service standards. Currently, Marriott operates in the U.S. & Canada segment and the international segment, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The major business segment is the U.S. & Canada, representing 80% of the consolidated net sales in 2023. To pioneer the development in the industry, Marriott has to expand its international operations to diversify geographic revenue streams and reduce dependence on the U.S. & Canada markets. Maintaining its competitive advantage is a constant challenge due to the intense competition in the global hospitality industry and the sector’s sensitivity to economic, political, and social changes. Understanding how these factors affect both the industry and Marriott is crucial for accurately assessing Marriott’s intrinsic value and its future positioning. Comparing the intrinsic value derived from three valuation models with Marriott’s market share price as of December 31, 2023, will offer valuable insights for investors.

This research examines aspects that influence career development for women in the public sector in Macau. The combination of local customs and what remains from Portuguese rule in Macau has led to a special society that influences how gender is dealt with in public institutions. While nations promise gender equality, women do not hold many leadership positions in their government agencies. To conduct this study, qualitative research using semi-structured interviews was performed with 12 female public sector staff, some in leadership positions and some aiming for them. Analysis of interview data shows that cultural norms, organizational structures and new technological trends together block women from advancing at work. It appears that strong cultural habits about gender keep valuing women’s domestic duties over professional goals, supporting the belief that top management should be mostly male. Women in these sectors which are largely male, are doubted about their ability to lead. Organizational barriers, including opaque promotion practices, gender-biased recruitment, lack of mentorship, and limited access to gender-sensitive leadership development programs, further impede women's career advancement. Even though work-life balance policies exist in the handbook, managers often ignore them and consider them a hindrance for women hoping to move ahead.In parallel, the study explores how digital transformation—the so-called "Internet+" era— offers both opportunities and challenges for women in the public sector. Although digital tools improve skills and career paths, poor training often keeps women from gaining from these resources. The impact of digitalization brings out more gender inequality, because women find it harder to access major leadership roles in high-tech sectors. To tackle these different problems, the dissertation recommends strategies such as running gender-focused mentorship programs, making sure work-life balance policies are properly enforced, increasing transparency during promotions and launching digital skill training just for female employees. Equally importantly, it stresses the need for shifts in cultural values together with new policies, encouraging campaigns to raise awareness and welcoming new leadership models opposed to patriarchy. The research, by considering Macau’s special setting, helps advance the debate on gender equity in governance and provides useful tips for supporting inclusive leadership paths in societies with similar characteristics.

This study examines consumer perceptions of all-electric vehicles in Macau, focusing on Tesla owners. As the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) pursues its long-term carbon reduction strategy, adopting BEV is a key step towards sustainable urban mobility. However, consumer attitudes and behavioral responses to BEV in Macau's unique high-density urban environment remain underexplored. This study adopts the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-2) model with the addition of the “technological show-off” (TS) dimension to explore how Tesla owners perceive the challenges and opportunities of adopting BEV. This study used a qualitative methodology to conduct in-depth interviews with ten Tesla owners in Macau through semi-structured interviews and unstructured quantitative assessments. Data were analyzed across multiple UTAUT-2 dimensions, including Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Hedonic Motivation, Price Value, Habit, and the added factor of Technology Show-Off. The findings suggest that Tesla owners in Macau value their vehicles' convenience, efficiency, and technological sophistication, with a particular focus on Autopilot, acceleration, and low maintenance costs. However, issues such as limited charging infrastructure, service accessibility, and technology learning curve remain. Social status and identity are influential factors, especially in a compact and socially connected urban environment like Macau. By examining the experiences of EV users, this study fills a gap in the existing literature. It provides practical insights for policymakers and manufacturers aiming to accelerate the diffusion of BEVs. The study concludes that consumer perceptions are critical for practical benefits and emotional fulfillment for the continued growth of the electric vehicle market in Macau and similar regions.