FMDS Student Papers

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https://repository.upou.edu.ph/handle/20.500.13073/52
Research outputs by graduate students of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 38
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    Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Ecological Indicators in Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City
    ( 2025) Lopez, Medjel Briones
    The diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates is an effective biological indicator to assess the ecological status of the lake environment. In Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, Laguna, there is limited documentation of macrobenthic invertebrate diversity and ecological patterns. A total of 8 quadrats (1m x 1m) in four established sampling stations were used to obtain samples with an abundance of 690 organisms that were classified into nine taxa (S=9). Most of the macrobenthic invertebrates found in the study were from phylum Annelida (Naididae), phylum Arthropoda (Chironomidae), and phylum Mollusca. The most abundant taxon was Naididae which is an effective indicator of water quality since they are usually found on organically polluted waters. The overall status of macrobenthic fauna in Sampaloc Lake is very low, with a biotic index of H’=1.942, corresponding to a water quality classification of “Moderately polluted”. The pollution level was supported by the Family Biotic Index result of 6.74 with the verbal interpretation “poor water quality”. The biodiversity assessment of Sampaloc Lake indicates low species diversity, primarily due to high nutrient concentration or eutrophication brought by intensive aquaculture. Ammonia levels in Sampaloc Lake exceeded the recommended level and were found to be toxic on macrobenthic fauna affecting their reproductive capacity and species diversity. Reducing anthropogenic pressures and adopting a holistic lake management approach are crucial to avert future deterioration and biodiversity loss.
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    Developing A Stage-Gate Standard Operating Procedure for Digital R&D Requisition and Life Cycle Management in a Philippine Manufacturing Firm
    ( 2026) Camacho, Hemojin G.
    This study addressed the operational vulnerabilities in the manual and informal New Product Development (NPD) framework at S-Line International by designing a cloud- native digital workflow architecture. A qualitative-descriptive research design, a diagnostic evaluation was conducted with core stakeholders (n=8), including the R&D Head, R&D staff, and Sales Managers. The review confirmed that reliance on shared folders, and manual spreadsheet logs caused severe data integrity risks, version control chaos, ad-hoc prioritization and sample release delays. To resolve these gaps, a Stage-Gate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was engineered within the Microsoft Power Platform. The solution automated intake, pre-screening, RACI-based role accountability, and cross-functional alerts for Finance and Production. The findings demonstrated that digitizing quality gates and enforcing an immutable audit trail eliminated tribal knowledge dependencies, protected technical bandwidth, and transformed the R&D function into an adaptive, data-driven innovation engine.
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    Integrating Knowledge Utilization, Technology Transfer and Adoption, and Stakeholder Collaboration in Mango Value Addition and Product Development in Bataan, Philippines
    ( 2026) De Luna, Gina M.
    Mango farming in the Province of Bataan holds economic importance and cultural value, but at present its potential for value addition and product development remains underdeveloped. Persistent constraints that hamper competitiveness and sustainability include the limited adoption of improved practices, inadequate financial and infrastructure support, and weak market linkages. The study utilized a qualitative research approach based on participatory action research (PAR) which gives emphasis to the collaboration between the researcher and stakeholders to create knowledge and produce practical solutions based on their perspectives. By engaging farmers, agricultural cooperatives, small-scale processors, agricultural extension workers, academe, and government agencies, the study further highlights existing practices, facilitating and limiting factors on innovation opportunities. The findings reveal adaptive innovations in production, lack of diversification in processing, and localized marketing vulnerable to price fluctuations. Institutional support from agencies such as DTI, DOST, and PCEDO appears critical in facilitating technology transfer, adoption, and market network. The study proposes a collaborative framework integrating R&D management principles, knowledge creation, technology transfer and adoption, and stakeholder involvement to strengthen the mango value chain in the province. Eventually, this study envisions a participatory and sustainable innovation system that commits or institutionalizes improved practices, develops competitiveness, supports rural livelihoods in Bataan and ultimately the development of financial programs and infrastructure for post-harvest and processing facilities.
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    Adapting R&D Management Approach in the Human Resources Department of a Non-R&D Organization: Why Not?
    ( 2026) Morales, Marvi G.
    This study examines how Research and Development (R&D) management principles can be applied to Human Resource (HR) practices in a non-R&D organization. Although HR functions are generally structured and process-driven, they often focus more on compliance and daily operations than on continuous learning and improvement. The study explores how R&D principles may help HR become more strategic, adaptive, and learning-oriented. The study uses a qualitative autoethnographic approach based on professional experience, field observations, reflective notes, internal document review, and discussions with HR personnel. HR practices were analyzed using key R&D management principles such as planning, evaluation, feedback, experimentation, and knowledge integration. The findings show that HR practices such as recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management are organized and consistently implemented. However, several gaps were identified, including limited evaluation of outcomes, deficient feedback mechanisms, minimal experimentation, and limited knowledge integration across HR functions. While some R&D-related practices are present, HR systems remain largely operational and compliance-focused. Based on the findings, the study developed an R&D-inspired HR framework composed of four stages: identifying opportunities, analyzing and designing solutions, evaluating effectiveness, and institutionalizing learning. The framework aims to support evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, and organizational learning in HR systems. The study highlights the potential of applying R&D management principles to strengthen HR practices in non-R&D organizations and support a more strategic and improvement-oriented HR function.
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    Enhancing Customer Experience in Electric Company Business Center through Customer Journey Mapping to Advance Digital Adoption and Service Innovation
    ( 2026) Camacho, Edeliza C.
    Customer expectations are changing as more services become digital, pushing utility companies to improve how they deliver services. This study focuses on improving customer experience in electric company business centers by using customer journey mapping. Its goal is to help increase the use of digital services and support new ways of delivering better service. Information was gathered from employee interviews, customer feedback, and service performance data. Customer journey mapping was used to track and understand the full customer experience, from beginning to end, to identify delays, issues, and gaps in digital usage. The research was conducted in selected business centers that are currently improving their service processes. The results showed that customer journey mapping helps improve service by clearly identifying problem areas and customer needs. It helped reduce delays and showed opportunities to shift customers to digital platforms. As a result, customer satisfaction improved, services became faster and more efficient, and more customers started using digital options such as online services and mobile apps. The study also found that employee support and proper training are important for successful implementation. In conclusion, customer journey mapping helps improve customer experience and supports digital adoption in electric company business centers. By focusing on customer needs and improving processes, companies can deliver better and more efficient services. This study offers useful insights for organizations working toward service improvement and digital transformation.