As a consequence of social, technological, political and economic changes, the field of organizations management and engineering becomes highly complex, calling for more effective strategies. In this book, the authors discuss innovative technological resources and their implications on organizational policies, strategies, and flexibility, as well as on sustainable management.

Effective work practices and good employee relations are a real necessity of nowadays organizations, as they can help to reduce absenteeism, turnover, organizational costs, conducting to high levels of commitment, effectiveness, performance as well as productivity. Addressing these questions, this book focuses on the implications of changes in productivity and organizational management, exploring models, tools and processes.

The development of Operations Research (OR) requires constant improvements, such as the integration of research results with business applications and innovative educational practice. The full deployment and commercial exploitation of goods and services generally need the construction of strong synergies between educational institutions and businesses. The IO2015 -XVII Congress of APDIO aims at strengthening the knowledge triangle in education, research and innovation, in order to maximize the contribution of OR for sustainable growth, the promoting of a knowledge-based economy, and the smart use of finite resources. The IO2015-XVII Congress of APDIO is a privileged meeting point for the promotion and dissemination of OR and related disciplines, through the exchange of ideas among teachers, researchers, students , and professionals with different background, but all sharing a common desire that is the development of OR.

The development of Operations Research (OR) requires constant improvements, such as the integration of research results with business applications and innovative educational practice. The full deployment and commercial exploitation of goods and services generally need the construction of strong synergies between educational institutions and businesses. The IO2015 -XVII Congress of APDIO aims at strengthening the knowledge triangle in education, research and innovation, in order to maximize the contribution of OR for sustainable growth, the promoting of a knowledge-based economy, and the smart use of finite resources. The IO2015-XVII Congress of APDIO is a privileged meeting point for the promotion and dissemination of OR and related disciplines, through the exchange of ideas among teachers, researchers, students , and professionals with different background, but all sharing a common desire that is the development of OR.

Published in 1972, New Portuguese Letters addressed censored issues - such as the colonial war, immigration, the Catholic Church, violence, and the legal and social status of women - becoming a symbol of resistance against the Fascist Portuguese regime. Privileging feminist approaches, this volume maps the reception of the book in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, the UK, Ireland, the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. The scandal that surrounded the banning of New Portuguese Letters, under the accusation of 'pornographic content', and the trial of the three authors for 'outraging public morals', brought the case to the attention of the international community. The book found instant support from feminist movements and well-known writers - such as Simone de Beauvoir, Marguerite Duras, Doris Lessing, Iris Murdoch, Adrienne Rich and Anne Sexton - and was adopted as "the first international feminist cause". Given its great significance in political and aesthetic terms, New Portuguese Letters was - and remains - a fundamental work in contemporary literature and culture, offering an invaluable contribution to the history of women and raising crucial issues relevant for political agendas today, such as equality, justice and freedom.