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Drivers of Competitiveness in the Internationalization of SMEs: A Systematic Literature Review
2026-06-14 - Picas, Sara; Ferreira, João J.; Jayantilal, Shital
Competitiveness in the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) is a highly relevant topic in academic and business contexts. Although most existing studies focus separately on SME internationalization or the drivers of competitiveness, few articulate the interrelationship between these two areas. The literature thus challenges the need for studies that integrate these areas and provide a more solid basis for future research. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap through a systematic review to consolidate and integrate the various contributions from the literature, facilitating the analysis and understanding of the competitiveness and internationalization of SME. We therefore intend to answer the following research question: What are the drivers of competitiveness in the internationalization of SMEs? To this end, a sample of 253 articles was selected from the Web of Science database. The results allowed us to identify four main themes as competitiveness drivers significantly impacting SME internationalization: (i) innovation; (ii) the strategy; (iii) performance; and (iv) Entrepreneurship. Additionally, our findings establish an integrative framework laying the foundation for identifying existing gaps in the literature and proposing a future research agenda.
Media narratives on immigration in Portuguese tourism: Between the recognition and silencing of the workers
2026-05-14 - Lobo, Juliana; Veríssimo, Medéia; Martins, Joana
This article examines media representations of labour immigration within Portugal’s tourism sector during the post-pandemic period (2020–2025). Adopting a perspective that recognises the media as central actors in the construction of social meaning, the study investigates how journalistic narratives shape public perceptions of immigrant workers and either reinforce or contest dominant institutional discourses on integration, labour shortages, and economic dependency. The analysis draws on a qualitative content analysis of 66 news articles published in the Portuguese national press, collected through the Google News platform. The sample includes news that intersect themes of immigration, labour, and tourism within the Portuguese context. The findings reveal that media coverage is predominantly shaped by institutional voices, particularly from public authorities and private sector stakeholders. Immigrant workers’ perspectives are largely absent, resulting in an asymmetrical representation of the labour context. Although tourism-focused news coverage tends to adopt a more empathetic tone—highlighting the essential contributions of immigrant labour—it remains embedded in a utilitarian framework that reduces migrants’ value to their economic role. This lack of discursive diversity limits the depth and complexity of media portrayals, concealing critical issues related to labour rights, citizenship, and social inclusion. The research contributes to interdisciplinary studies in communication, tourism, and migration by offering a critical reflection on media framings and their influence on the public construction of immigrant labour in sectors considered crucial to the Portuguese economy.
Digital Paradigms in Architecture: Toward a Layered Computational Ecology from Early Computation to Artificial Intelligence
2026-06-03 - Lima, Ana; Neves, Isabel Clara; Rocha, Ricardo Jorge Gonçalves
This article examines the evolution of computational paradigms in architecture through the articulation of a diachronic framework and a comparative analytical matrix. Moving beyond linear narratives centred on technological progress, the study proposes an interpretation of architectural computation as a layered ecology in which distinct regimes—symbolic, representational, informational, generative, and probabilistic—interact simultaneously.
Based on a critical review of historical, theoretical, and technical sources, the study comparatively examines five major paradigmatic moments in the development of architectural computation. Instead of proposing these paradigms as discrete or sequential stages, the article interprets them as interdependent computational layers that continue to coexist within contemporary architectural practice.
The findings indicate that the transition from rule-based deterministic systems to learning-based systems introduces a fundamental shift in the nature of architectural computation, moving design processes from controlled execution toward probabilistic exploration. In this context, artificial intelligence does not merely extend existing technical capabilities but reconfigures the relationships between designer, tool, and knowledge.
The article concludes that contemporary architecture operates within a layered computational ecology in which multiple paradigms overlap and interact. This perspective allows computation to be understood not only as a set of tools but as an epistemological infrastructure that profoundly transforms architectural practice, its processes, and its critical frameworks.