FMDS Student Papers
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Research outputs by graduate students of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies.
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ItemDeveloping a Proposal on the Establishment of a Research Division in the Municipal Agriculture Office in Zambales( 2025)Agricultural research in the Philippines is primarily conducted by national research agencies and regional field offices. Due to the fragmented structure between national and local government units, research initiatives at the municipal level are virtually nonexistent. Since the devolution of agricultural services under the Local Government Code of 1991, Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) have prioritized extension services over research due to resource constraints. The objectives of this study are to describe municipal agricultural conditions, explain the MAO’s structure, identify benefits and challenges of a research division, analyze stakeholder needs, evaluate existing research models, and develop a comprehensive proposal for the division’s establishment. This study was conducted in a third-class LGU as it represents a middle ground between high-income and low-income municipalities. It is an appropriate study given the potential of its socio-economic growth. The study used a qualitative and descriptive case study design and utilized semi-structured interviews with 31 stakeholders, including farmers, fisherfolk, community leaders, researchers, and local government officials. Data were collected through voice recording and processed through non verbatim transcription. Key informant interviews were processed through thematic analysis, and seven themes emerged: establishing a research ecosystem, defining research agendas, addressing economic and environmental challenges, building capacity, fostering collaboration, managing knowledge dissemination, and engaging stakeholders. Thematic analysis identified key issues. Stakeholders advocate for localized research, partnerships, and accessible dissemination to address these issues. The study determines the necessity of an Agriculture Research Division at the municipal level for productivity and sustainability. This study also serves as a guide for the Sangguniang Bayan to enact an ordinance to formalize its establishment and also as a model for other municipalities to adopt for municipal-led agricultural research.
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ItemRural-Upland Rehabilitation Ecotourism Strategies (RURES) Framework: a Rationalized Authentic Ecotourism Activity Planning Framework for Degraded Upland Areas in the Philippines a Case Study of Brgy. Salde, Culasi, Antique( 2021)Tourism is economically important in the Philippines. Some of the natural destinations are in Protected Areas (PA) under established laws and managed by national government institutions. Some equally beautiful and unique natural areas are not part of PAs. Poor utilization, planning, and management of these areas cause their degradation. This is further exacerbated by climate change and disaster risks. Degradation affects the biophysical, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of the environment, which is detrimental to the survival of communities, especially those living in the rural-upland areas. Ecotourism unites conservation, community needs, and sustainable travel. It is seldom incorporated properly because its principles are sadly overlooked. Current planning methods of sustainable development and environmental rehabilitation typically follow either Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach. There are disjuncts between involved parties and minimal integration of various theoretically related concepts leading to a more “patchwork” solution than an integrated one. This study formulates a new framework that will lay the groundwork for inventory and analysis of the potential of existing elements and requirements of the site and stakeholders while integrating key concepts such as Ecotourism and Landscape Architectural Approaches to planning. The process of gathering and synthesizing the data will be through a Middle-Out Approach that will incorporate inputs from all actors in all levels – Middle, Top, and Bottom – into a more cohesive ecotourism activity development strategy. A case study of the newly formulated framework was done in Brgy. Salde, Antique, Philippines to address the current issues of environmental degradation, livelihood issues, disaster risk, and their desire to delve into tourism development. However, COVID-19 pandemic constraints caused the case study to halt. The environmental site scanning and focused group discussions stage was not completed. Even with the abrupt end of the data gathering, lack of data synthesis, and solution recommendations, the framework has created a guide for the data needed to be gathered, syntheses needed to be made, and plans that are needed to be formulated. When the researcher can continue the study, there will be no disjunct between the previously gathered data and the continued process of the Ecotourism Activity Planning.
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ItemEnhancing New Product Development in R&D Units in a Food Ingredient Company( 2025)The global food ingredient industry is under increasing pressure to respond rapidly to changing consumer preferences, regulatory demands, and sustainability goals. Traditional new product development (NPD) models—such as stage-gate systems—have proven too rigid to meet these evolving demands, particularly in multinational companies managing geographically dispersed innovation teams. This study aims to develop a practical framework to enhance NPD responsiveness, coordination, and consumer alignment in R&D units of a global food ingredient company. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and internal documentation to identify key barriers and enablers of innovation performance. Data analysis was guided by five thematic enablers: global coordination, consumer insight integration, cross-functional collaboration, lean and agile practices, and digital tools. The findings highlight systemic challenges in fragmented innovation governance, underutilized market insights, rigid processes, and limited digital integration. The study proposes a framework designed to address these gaps and strengthen innovation effectiveness. While focused on a single case, the results offer practical relevance for other food ingredient companies seeking to accelerate NPD cycles and deliver more market-aligned, scalable innovation in complex global environments.
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ItemTechnology Assessment of Cloud-based E-wallet as a Technological Innovation in the Philippines( 2025)This study assesses the technical innovation of cloud-based e-wallets in the Philippines, with an emphasis on performance improvements, operational advantages, challenges, and total added value. A qualitative case study methodology was used to collect data through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with selected members, managers, and unit heads of the Technology, Planning, and Innovation department of the currently widely used e-wallet provider in the Philippines. The findings show that cloud infrastructure significantly enhances e-wallet performance by increasing agility, scalability, and resilience, which allows quicker deployment and ongoing development. The significant advantages include exceptional operational efficiency, cost savings, and the potential for the company to shift its attention away from infrastructure maintenance and onto core service and product innovation. While challenges such as vendor lock-in and ambiguities in the shared responsibility model were discovered, the report recommends mitigating techniques such as a cloud-agnostic strategy and clearer operational frameworks. Cloud-based technology provides significant economic value and a competitive advantage by providing 24/7 availability and driving growth in the digital financial services ecosystem. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the cloud's function as a catalyst for future breakthroughs, such as the integration of AI, Machine Learning, Web3, and cryptocurrencies. The growing concern about environmental and economic sustainability in cloud operations is also discussed, emphasizing the importance of green efforts and transparent carbon footprint reporting. This research offers vital information for e-wallet providers, policymakers, and stakeholders, underlining cloud technology's revolutionary potential in promoting digital financial inclusion and sustainable operations in the Philippines.
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ItemCapacitating Research and Development Managers in the Food Manufacturing Industry for Enhanced Management( 2025)This study investigated the gaps that exist in the organizational structure and professional skill sets of research and development teams in the food manufacturing sector in the Philippines. The study focused on R&D managers whose roles and responsibilities have shifted to meet the growing demands of industrialization and globalization. R&D managers not only have to manage a more diverse team of equals but also lead from within a hierarchy that defies both the vertical and horizontal structures of conventional organizations. In this research, three broad foci within which R&D managers operated were identified. Moreover, their needs in professional skills and competencies were examined, namely, 1) core skills for innovation management, such as leadership and knowledge management; 2) obstacles to skill development, including scant resources and faulty organizational culture; and 3) professional development opportunities. Finally, the research analyzed opportunities for enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen R&D managers' innovation leadership competency. These results highlighted the necessity for strategic interventions, such as leadership development and the transformation of organizational culture, to close these gaps and enhance the overall management of innovation in food manufacturing.