Francis Munier

Consultants and experts in management consulting firms

The aim of the article is to explore different aspects concerning the distinction between the expert and the consultant. We analyse theoretically and empirically these distinctions in the framework of the knowledge-based economy in order to introduce the central concepts of epistemic community and community of practice. The question is to know to which community experts and consultant belongs. We also investigate the role that some actors coming from outside the firm play in reinforcing knowledge creation and codification processes in the firm.

The role of knowledge codification in the emergence of consensus under uncertainty: empirical analysis and policy implications

The aim of the article is to empirically analyse the main factors, which allow the emergence of consensus. Moreover, we raise the question of the nature of the codified process involved which seems to be too reducing to promote knowledge flows within the community and, therefore, to contribute to learning processes and better choices about the future. Our analysis relies on a prospective investigation based on a Delphi type study carried out by BETA in 1994.

Firm size, technological intensity of sector and relational competencies to innovate: Evidence from French industrial innovating firms

This article stresses the importance of competencies, specifically relational competencies, in the innovation process. Innovation output is not only produced by R&D but also often supported by networks and interfirm relations that differ according to the size of the firm. We perform an empirical analysis of the relationship between French industrial firms’ relational competencies and their sizes. Our results show that the size and the technological intensity of their sector are strongly correlated with relational competencies. We give also some statistical results concerning the relationship between tacit and codified procedures and external versus internal sources of the competencies.