Olivier Meier

Changing nature and sustainability of the industrial district model : the case of Technic Valley in France

This paper examines the impact of contemporary pressures on industrial districts and analyses the changes that are taking place in an industrial district confronted with disembedding and globalization. We discuss the following questions: what are the processes and consequences of disembedding for the changing shape and form of inter-firm trust, contract and network forms? Is there an evolution in subcontracting and trade interdependency? What is the role of institutional infrastructures? We performed a longitudinal qualitative study using a number of different data sources to analyse the evolution of one French industrial district, particularly how new pressures of internationalization and disembedding work to reconfigure inter-firm relations in this district. While the recent literature is dominated by notions about industrial districts that concern only the trend towards increased competition or disembeddedness, this article shows that there is no unilinear trend. In contrast with the findings of certain recent studies, we argue that economic logic does not fully account for recent developments since the adjustment that are being made by the district are characterized rather by re-embeddedness, increased cooperation and institutionalization.

The evolution of the governance model in instances of highly innovative strategic mergers

Purpose – This paper aims to answer two questions: firstly, how does the mode of corporate governance evolve following a merger between two specific companies looking for a joint innovation policy? Secondly, what are the factors that guide decision makers towards choosing one governance model over another?Design/methodology/approach – In order to answer these questions, this study focuses on two unlisted SMEs within the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, where joint innovation plays a key role. The authors studied the corporate governance decisions made during a strategic alliance between a small enterprise (called eStat) and a medium‐sized enterprise (called Mediametrie), formed with a view to building a strategic partnership based on technological innovation. The method chosen to carry out this research involved a single case study based on passive observation (153 days of observation), participant observation, the conducting of 70 semi‐structured interviews and the analysis of inter...

Alliance management capability: the roles of alliance control and strength of ties

Purpose – Strategic alliances have a low success rate despite the profusion of literature on this topic in the last 20 years. To understand the factors that determine performance of partnership relations, the purpose of this paper is to study the roles of control and the strength of interorganizational ties in businesses ability to manage strategic alliances. Design/methodology/approach – The authors have examined 10,377 partnership relations formed as part of strategic alliances to analyze the capacity of a business to manage its alliances. The authors built a structural equations model (PLS) based on observation of 4,242 alliances. Findings – This research identifies two determinants of the success of alliance management. First, the impact of weak ties and strong ties is identical when the business does not control the alliance. Second, weak ties are a more effective means than strong ties when a business controls the alliance. Originality/value – The main contribution of this study thus lies in our ana...

“Method in their madness”: understanding the behaviour of VSE owner‐managers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the sound practical reasons underlying the behaviour of very small enterprise (VSE) owner‐managers with respect to their perceived resistance to the dominant entrepreneurial and managerial models in areas such as management methods, marketing or internationalisation.Design/methodology/approach – The current literature on VSE managers was reviewed in the light of Raymond Boudons general theory of rationality. Starting from the premise that in science, the simplest explanation tends to be the best, the paper highlights the practical reasons why VSE owner‐managers behave the way they do.Findings – While there may be cultural or personality‐based reasons why VSE owner‐managers often appear to reject the traditional entrepreneurial model, these are not the sole or even the main explanation. In most cases, the behaviour in question can be explained much more simply by practical, down‐to‐earth reasons. From the actors point of view, his behaviour is always r...

The Early Succession Stage of a Family Firm Exploring the Role of Agency Rationales and Stewardship Attitudes

This article examines the early succession stage of a public family firm through a single longitudinal real-time case study conducted over a period of 10 years. We found that, at this stage, the regulation of interdependent conflicts of interest (between family and nonfamily shareholders, and between majority and minority family shareholders) is a prominent objective of the incumbent generation in the purpose of preparing both the firm and the family to facilitate succession. Moreover, we suggest that stewardship, through reciprocal altruism at the family branch level, combined with a permanent collaborative process between generations and a flexible succession “plan” explains at least partially the observed outcomes (shared vision on future ownership and control, and new family firm governance and interfamily branch relationships).

Transmission of family businesses in France

Purpose – The purpose of this research paper is to show to what extent psychological, cultural and behavioural factors can influence on the succession process in the particular case of family‐run businesses? Design/methodology/approach – Data on 12 directors of family‐run SME were grouped together on the basis of questions derived from the research question. To do this, the authors operated using a principle guided by cross referencing responses, that is, finding the incidence of elements that make it possible to justify substantively the existence of the category and the common existence of these elements within the cases studied. Findings – The thematic analysis performed made it possible to highlight five main motives for cultural and psychological resistance in former directors: the loss of power and influence, the risk of deconstruction, the loss of professional and social legitimacy, the loss of references and meaning, and the refusal of old age and death. Originality/value – The results show that transferors search for connections in the aim of identifying common points of anchor, affinities on to which they can project themselves as an element of continuity or an extension of their personality. The paper can in particular note the importance given to cultural proximity and to previous professional relations with the transferor. These criteria, unlike personal factors, are of the interpersonal type and thus deeply imprinted on the transferors most intimate desires and motivations, including the main desire, which is to search for all that can make possible an extension of himself within his company and thus ensure the permanence of his values and his time at the organisation.

From smart grid to smart city business ecosystem: Strategy to define the proper legitimacy for an energy utility firm

DEVER RESEARCH has developed analytical and prospective tools based on the latest research outcomes to decipher, analyze and highlight relationships, environment and strategic opportunities for actors and stakeholders of the electric mobility and energy industry. The aim of this paper is to present the first results of an on-going research related to the impact of smart grid development on the Utility/Energy service providers legitimacy on Smart territories (Smart cities), therefore the required evolutions of company to move from a keystone firm position inserted into a complex but well-known ecosystem (smart grid) to a legitimate actor (and thus potential keystone) in the Smart cities ecosystem. After a comprehensive presentation of the concepts of legitimacy and business ecosystem, this article will present and validate analysis grids and recommendations based on examples and illustrations such as the Pecan Street project in Texas and highlight: the changes in “Smart” ecosystems, the type of legitimacy a firm can mobilize and the conditions that lead the Utility Company to evolve in order to ensure a central legitimate role in Smart cities.

How do strategic networks influence awarding contract? Evidence from French public procurement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study how networks may influence the awarding of a contract. In particular, the authors explore strategic networks originating from cooperative relationships. Design/methodology/approach Based on notices of contracts awarded in the French public sector, the authors identified 10,377 partnership relations within 4,242 strategic alliances. The authors represented the system of relations in a graph. The authors used the networks depicted to measure a set of relational properties and build a structural equation model (partial least squared-path modeling). Findings The results highlight two important elements. First, the authors reveal the impact of the strength of weak and strong ties on contract awarding. Second, the authors show that the strength of weak ties is magnified by lead partners. Originality/value The findings provide insight into strategic behavior that can influence awarding contract. The authors also provide public principals with new means to improve their partner relations.

La question de la transmission des entreprises familiales sous le prisme des tensions paradoxales

Le present article propose de rapprocher deux champs d’etudes : celui de la transmission des entreprises familiales et celui des tensions paradoxales. L’objectif est de discuter de l’existence possible de tensions paradoxales dans le cadre particulier de transmissions d’entreprises familiales. Nous defendons l’idee que cette premiere demarche exploratoire peut s’averer particulierement riche d’enseignements : elle autorise en effet une nouvelle lecture des travaux sur la transmission d’entreprises familiales et dans le meme temps, enrichit la recherche de comprehension des difficultes a la transmission d’entreprises familiales.

Mergers between size‐unequal partners: strategic risks and hurdles

Purpose – This article aims to explore how and why the creation of technological innovation during a merger can end in failure. The objective is to propose new analytical elements to improve the formulation and execution of the integration process between an SME (small and medium enterprise) and a large enterprise.Design/methodology/approach – The authors develop a theoretical framework based on the main research results from several fields, including technology transfer, innovation dissemination, and management. This case study then focuses on a merger in the IT sector in real time.Findings – This study allowed the authors to test theoretical elements, especially the choice of the integration method, which may favour the creation of technological innovation during the integration period. The authors present new reasons for the failure of co‐created innovation between an SME and a large enterprise in the IT sector. This case study allowed them to test theoretical elements such as the choice of an integrat...