Professor Frank BOURNOIS - Research

Direction of scientific work

The production of scientific knowledge is a long process benefiting both researcher and enterprise.

Accreditation to direct research in management science:

Frank directs research dossiers for to the highest qualification in French universities – accreditation to direct research (ADR) leading
to the exercise of the function of teacher-researcher at the highest level. Among the ADRs defended is the work Franck BRILLET
(senior lecturer at the Université de Tours), Loic CADIN (professeur à ESCP-EAP), Anne DIETRICH (maître de conférences à l’IAE
de Lille I), Frédérique PIGEYRE (Professeur à l’Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin en Yvelines), Philippe TROUVE (professeur à
l’ESC de Clermon-Ferrand).

Doctorate in management science:

Frank has directed over twenty doctoral theses in management science. They were defended at the University Panthéon-Assas
(Paris II) or at Université Jean-Moulin (Lyon III). To quote a few of them:

• Perron Michel [1998], “The transferability of preventive mediation in Quebec” Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Falcoz Christophe [1998], “Dealing with management potential" Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Rive Jérôme [1998], “Managing sales executives – the specifics” Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Merle Karine [1999], “Reform and reduction of executive working hours”
  Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Stéphane Mistral-Bernard [2000], “Creating value and diagnostics in a company”, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)
• Voynet-Fourboul [2000], “European Joint Consultative Committees – management and questions” Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Jérôme Duval-Hamel [2001], “Human Resources Management in company mergers”, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) 2
• Point Sébastien [2001], “Discourse in large European enterprises and their international development” Université Jean-Moulin
  Lyon III
• Inzirillo Christophe [2001], “Practice and policy in personnel development”, Université PanthéonAssas (Paris II) 2
• Bouveret Céline [2001, “Organisational learning and the internationalisation of medium-sized enterprises” Université
  Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Bachelard Olivier [2002], "HRA in multi-site enterprises", Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)
• Leila Barakat [2004], “Towards modern management of public service elites in Lebanon”, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)
• Gellrich Stéphane [2004], “The social network as developer of managerial skills – the example of the Corps of Duellists
  in Germany”, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)
• François Ludovic [2004], “The destabilisation of the enterprise in the name of ethics”, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II)

Research subjects:

We began our research on organisations in about 1983/1984 when, under the direction of John Child, we worked on several projects
inspired by the hypotheses of the contingency schools (particularly Aston - GB).

Our contributions focused on the strategic administration and management of human resources (H.R.A. and H.R.M.). We consider it
useful to distinguish between administration (technical aspects) and management (relational and behavioural aspects). Whether it
concerned executives’ careers or international comparisons, our work concentrated on large enterprises (over 3000 people for the
first and over 500 employees for the second).

Research methodologies are characterised by methodological pluralism, and clinical intervention sometimes occurs alongside the
quantitative approach. Our work can be identified in five main, but different, areas:

• International comparisons in Human Resources Management
• Strategy and management of Human Resources
• Economic intelligence and National Defence
• Managing executives (careers, potential,…)
• Research epistemology and methodology in Human Resources management

The identified fields are not all of the same type:

• the first concerns the specific view (international comparisons)
• the second refers to coordination with other functions in the enterprise (strategy)
• the third addresses the link between human resources administration and National Defence
• the fourth relates to a particular group of employees (executives)
• the fifth takes a meta-view of knowledge production in human resource management

A. Research projects:

Research contracts - Managing / leading / conducting financed projects, notably:

Research 1999/2000: In the context of economic intelligence in France:

• The aim of this study was to make a quantitative assessment of economic intelligence, a field that has shown strong growth in
  the last few years. 5000 directors of companies with over 200 employees were canvassed and 1200 replies were received, a
  response rate of 24%.
• The experts questioned, while making use of economic intelligence, referred mostly to strategic intelligence (S.I.), as in
  Anglo-Saxon countries with strategic, competitive, corporate or business intelligence. 51% of the French companies questioned,
  think they use strategic intelligence effectively. One definition given by the experts questioned was “An organised approach
  aimed at improving competitiveness by gathering, processing and distributing information originating in the environment which
  informs the strategic project, mobilises the internal players, uses specific tools and depends on internal and external networks”.
• There is a complex, but statistically proven link between the practical use of strategic intelligence and profits.
• The investigations considered:
  - the enterprises’ environment. Among the important factors are the size of the enterprise, the existence of previous attacks, the
  nature of the competition, activity sector and the proportion of turnover exported.
  - their strategic project. The general feeling is of an economic war where States are no longer the major players. Strategic
  intelligence methods emerge from the enterprise. It becomes a priority even though it was observed that long-term planning varies
  considerably from enterprise to enterprise.
  - the players in strategic intelligence. The key player is the strategic intelligence manager. He or she usually reports to the chief
  executive, the sales director or the director of planning and strategy. Trained in engineering or administration, he or she
  stimulates the behaviour of the other players in the enterprise to the benefit of S.I. and participates in anticipating certain
  serious risks.
  - the tools of strategic intelligence. The field seems to come under special engineering in which enterprises consider themselves
  more or less advanced (size and global competition largely explain these differences). They continue to use different types of
  monitoring and the rising power of the Internet is in evidence. There is still a great deal to be done in evaluating the actions
  carried out by the S.I. function, such as the need for key business indicators, etc.
  - external networks providing strategic intelligence. Internally, groups of internal experts seem to be used by the majority of
  companies. Activation of external networks requires special technical knowledge
• The results show two differentiated types of strategic intelligence behaviour - identity and strategic autonomy on one hand and
  engineering and formalisation on the other
• We have been able to highlight 4 business profiles – "Multinationals", "Technicians", "Nationals" and "Exporters". No one
  profile is better than the others. What matters most is the internal coherence of the choices made in relation to environmental
  factors
• “Strategic intelligence in large French companies”, Economica, September 2000 details the main results. It is a genuine
  database (over 150 indicators) on strategic intelligence in France. It also makes possible benchmarking and self-diagnosis
  of the practices of the enterprises providing information for the database.

Research prior to 1999/2000:

• 1999: DARES – Ministry of Work: "Working time reduction in very small companies" - 300KF
• 1999: Ministry of Defence – Department of Strategic affairs: "Reorganinsing military careers : Army and Air Force process
  audit" : 150 KF
• 1997: DARES – Ministry of Work. Restructuration management and European Workers council : project involving lawyers
  and managers
• 1996-1997: Research work on managers training financed by FNEGE – project carried out with P. Romelaer and
  B. de Montmorillon (Université Paris IX - Dauphine)
• 1996: Research work for the benefit of AEDP – European Association of Staff Directors on employees information and
  consultation in big European Companies. Research carried out at LVMH- British Airways - Henkel - ABB - Ericsson
• 1994-1996: "The company work environement: compared values and attitudes in Western Europe (UK, Germany, France) and
  Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria). Co-responsible with Professor Peter Collett (University of Oxford,
  Department of Experimental Psychology) of a European Union financed project [Copernicus programme, 300 000 ECU out of
  which 40 000 allocated to France, to be carried out between 1994 and 1996].
• 1995: "Difficulties experienced by independant professionals in the field of tourism". Study carried out in partnership with
  Cabinet Deloitte et Touche for the benefit of the office of Strategy, economic situation and prospective – Ministry of Tourism
• From 1989 to 1994: In charge of the European Observatory for HRM, better known as 'Project Price Waterhouse Cranfield'.
  The research was carried out simultaneously in twelve European Universities or Institutes, coordinated by Cranfield University.

B. Member of scientific magazines drafting committees:

Member of the drafting committee of:

• Editorial Board Member of Human Resource Management Journal, international journal of human resources management,
  directed by Professor John Storey of Great Britain
• Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Managerial Psychology, international journal of managerial psychology applied to the
  management of human resources. Other committee members: Prof. Y. Altman, Chris Argyris, Prof. Warren Bennis,
  Prof. Cary Cooper, Dr. Geert Hofstede, Prof. Andrew Kakabadse, Prof. H.J. Leavitt, Prof. Edgar H. Schein
• Member of the drafting committee of the French journal of geoeconomy
• Member of the drafting committee of the Revue Defense (Defense journal)

Regular selector of articles for:

• French Management Journal
• French journal of Human resources management and
• European Management Journal
• Journal of Managerial Psychology

C. Organisation of scientific conferences or conventions:

• "Econometrics and Human Resource Management" scientific organisation committee in the framework of the Association
  of applied econometry (Helsinki – 21 and 22 September 2000)
• "Economic intelligence" Institute of National Defence Studies; 20 April 2000
• "AGRH convention – French association of human resource management" - CIFFOP – Paris 1995

D. Participation in examining boards for accreditation to direct research or doctoral theses – as chairman, reporter
or suffragan:

.......................................................................1996/1997.......... 1997/1998.......... 1998/1999........... 1999/2000
Doctoral theses registered: ..........................5.............................7...........................7............................ 9
Doctoral theses defended:
.....- Members of examining board................... 10......................... 13........................ 15.......................... 14
.....- Director of research .....................................1........................... 2........................... 3........................... 2
Accreditation to direct research:
.....- Director of research - .................................................................1........................... 2 ...........................1
.....- Member of examining board .......................1........................... 2 ...........................2........................... 3

A few examples:

• Loic CADIN, [2000], HDR – Université JeanMoulin Lyon III, directeur de la recherche
• Loos-Baroin J. [2000], HDR – Université de Strasboug III
• Baret C. . [1999], HDR – Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Belle F. . [1999], HDR – Université Pierre Mendès-France
• Gilbert Patrick . [1999], HDR – Paris IX-Dauphine
• Plane Jean-Michel . [1999], HDR - Université Montpellier I
• Barabel M. [1999], "Activités quotidiennes, caractéristiques et performances des PDG des grandes entreprises françaises",
  Paris IX-Dauphine
• Michel N. [1999], "La gestion des actifs spécifiques humains – le cas des hommes-clés", Université Paris IX-Dauphine
• Roques O. [1999], "Les réactions des salariés aux transitions de carrière : une approche en termes de stress au travail",
  Université Aix-Marseille (IAE)
• Savifian M. [1999], "Le lien entre le diplômeet la logique d’acteur relative à la carrière", Université Paris I (bUFR06)
• Amiel M. [1998], "La perception de la justice organisationnelle du plan social et ses effets sur les comportements et les
  attitudes du personnel restant dans l’entreprise", Université Aix-Marseille (IAE)
• Brunstein I. [1998], HDR - Université de Strasbourg III
• Meschi P-X. [1998], HDR – Université Aix-Marseille II
• Van Poppel S. [1999], "Entre cohérences et tensions : les effets productifs des outils de gestion", Lille I
• Dumas M.[1999], "Temps partiel et an du changement de l’implication organisationnelle", Paris I (UFR06)
• Brémond A. [1998], "Incertitude et processus de négociation", UFR06 – Université Paris I
• Bailly AF. [1998], "Les pratiques de gestion des carrières et des mobilités : une approche par la théorie de la structuration",
  UFR06 – Université Paris I, rapporteur
• Lambert C. [1998], "La gestion prévisionnelle des emplois et des compétences – un processus d’apprentissage", Université
  Toulouse I
• Vavasseur F. [1998], "Comparaisons France – GB dans les politiques de formation", Université Panthéon - Assas - Paris II
• Valéau P.[1998], "La gestion des volontaires dans les associations humanitaires : un passage par les contingences
  de l‘implication", IAE de Lille, rapporteur
• Sleilati [1997], "Formation et changements techniques dans les entreprises industrielles libanaises", CIFFOP, Université de
  Paris II-Assas
• Bruneau-Duperron [1997], "Contribution à l'amélioration de la qualité des politiques et des pratiques de recrutement", Université
  Lumière - Lyon II, rapporteur
• Biget D.[1997], "Pluriculturalisme et mécanismes de coordination dans l’interaction filiale-maison-mère : le cas franco-allemand"
• Poirey K [1997], "La gestion des expatriés", IAE de Poitiers, rapporteur
• de Saint-Ginez [1997], "xx", IAE Aix en Provence, rapporteur
• Fredy A [1996], "La discipline, outil de gestion", Université de Paris I, rapporteur
• Pierson [1996], "Etude de l'application d'accords collectifs d'entreprise : le cas du travail à temps partiel dans le secteur des
  assurances", Université de Paris I, rapporteur
• Cerdin J-L [1996], "Mobilité internationale des cadres - adaptation et décision d'expatriation", Université de Toulouse I rapporteur
• Ben Kahla K [1996], "Cohérences et performances organisationelles : propositions conceptuelles et discussions empiriques",
  Université de Paris I, rapporteur
• Park W [1996], "Le rôle de la famille dans l'adaptation des cadres à l'expatriation : une comparaison France-Corée", HEC, rapporteur
• Taillat M-C [1996], "Tableau de bord social et contrôle de gestion sociale", CIFFOP, Université de Paris II-Assas, rapporteur
• Pol P [1996], "La mobilité internationale du personnel dans les firmes internationales : histoire, gestion, mesure et impact sur
  les carrières", IAE de Paris, rapporteur
• Pontier M [1996], "L'entretien d'appréciation comme outil de gestion : une approche multi-critères", Université de Montpellier II,
  IAE de Montpellier, rapporteur
• Perron Michel [1998], "La transférabilité de la médiation préventive au Québec", Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III, directeur
  de la recherche
• Rey P [1995], "L'entreprise dans son environnement turbulent : formes d'auto-organisation proposées à partir d'une
  recherche-action menée au sein du groupe SEB", IAE de Lyon
• Thibaudon Y. [1998], "La gestion multidimensionnelle de la formation professionnelle continue dans les PME", Université
  Jean-Moulin Lyon III
• Melessike A [1995] "Les stratégies de domaines et les systèmes de rémunérations (Bases théoriques et étude empirique)",
  IAE de Paris, Université Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne, IAE de Paris, 1995, rapporteur
• Faure G [1995], "Organisation et missions de conseil", IAE de Lyon
• Dietrich A [1995], "Compétence et gestion des ressources humaines / Contribution à une approche critique et opérationnelle
  de la gestion des compétences en organisation", Université de Lille I, IAE de Lille, rapporteur
• Huault I [1993], "La gestion internationale des cadres", IAE de Lyon, rapporteur
  

E. Directing doctoral and post-doctoral work:

• Thesis subjects supervised: self-organisation in flexible enterprises, H.R.A. development in multi-site companies, man
  management and organisational control in SMIs, preventive mediation in France and Quebec, European joint consultative
  committee, etc.
• Since September 1997, supervision of research at CIFFOP (Université Paris II)
• From 1991 to 1997, supervision of doctoral candidates at the IAE research centre in Lyons.

a) Accreditation to direct research:

• Frédéricque Pigeyre (2000)
• Loic Cadin (1999)
• Trouvé Philippe (1999)

b) Doctoral theses directed and defended – a few examples:

• Rey Pierre [1995], "L'auto-organisation"
• Dany Françoise [1997], "The promise of employability – a possible substitute for the promise of a career? Construction of an
  analytical framework for the development of management practice in executive careers"
• Perron Michel [1998], “The transferability of preventive mediation in Quebec” Université Jean-Moulin Lyons III
• Stéphnae Mistral-Bernard [2000], “Creating value and diagnostics in the enterprise”
• Voynet-Fourboul [2000], “The European Joint Consultative Committee – management and questions”, Université Lyons III

c) Ph.D thesis under way: a few examples:

• Augustin Bernard, "Professionalisation of the armed forces and changes of organisation: the example of the Army Commissariat"
• Bachelard Olivier, "The H.R.M in multi sites companies"
• Bouveret Céline, "The organisational learning of a medium size company turning international"
• Carteron Catherine, "Work legislation as a constraint to employment management"
• Falcoz Christophe, "Managing managerial potentials"
• Fourboul Catherine, "The European work council and the restructurations"
• Goujet Régis, "The small and medium sized companies manager"
• Inzirillo Christophe, "Practices and policies of personal development"
• Landré Jean-Claude, "Evolution and management of I.T. specialists competences"
• Merle Karine, "Managing and reducing the executive working time"
• Nicoulaud Bruno, "HRM in direct services: the example of banks"
• Point Sébastien, " Big European companies policies and their international development"
• Rive Jérôme, "Managing marketing executives: a special case"
• Radrianmanana Dominique, "HRM in small and medium companies: comparing France vs. United States"
• Soulier Nicolas, "HRM, the female way"

F. DEA Memorandum coaching. A few examples:

• Mérignac Olivier, "The double career of international executives", September 1998
• Melkonian Tessa, "Stress for young graduates working in consultancy business", September 1998
• Cubukcu Ebrar [1997], "Turkish policy and companies facing Europe", IAE de Lyon
• Costantini Christel, "Managing customers retention: The Air France case", IAE de Lyon, September 1998
• Inzirillo C.[1997], "Personal development in French companies", IAE de Lyon
• Point Sébastien [1997], "La dimension internationale dans les rapports d’activité des grandes entreprises françaises",
  IAE de Lyon
• Bouveret Céline [1996], "Internationalisation de la P.M.E. et apprentissage organisationnel", IAE de Lyon
• Carteron Catherine, "Le DRH, contributeur – acteur de l’emploi", IAE de Lyon
• Fourboul Catherine [1997], "Circulation de l'information stratégique dans les grandes entreprises européennes : analyse
  de six monographies", IAE de Lyon
• Gaudin Anne [1997], "Les caractéristiques managériales des cadres français intervenant dans la zone Sud-Est asiatique",
  IAE de Lyon
• Pages Alexandre [1996], "Désinformation et intelligence économique", financement de l'Institut des hautes études de sécurité
  intérieure (I.H.E.S.I.), IAE de Lyon
• Carlet-Leymee Agnès [1995], "Le FMI et ses employés : fonctionnement et dysfonctionnements du système de gestion
  interne d'une bureaucratie internationale", IAE de Lyon
• Maurier-Shebabo Véronique 1995], "Décision de changement organisationnel et management des ressources humaines:
  le cas des chaussures Bally-Moulins SA", IAE de Lyon
• Neyrat Sandrine [1995], "L'influence des dimensions temporelles sur la prise de décision des cadres français", IAE de Lyon
• Rive Jérôme [1995], "Etude sur l'interférence vie professionnelle/ vie extra-professionnelle des cadres français", IAE de Lyon
• Falcoz Christophe [1994], "Protéiformité des changements dans les organisations et complexité : le cas d'Alcatel Réseaux
  d'Entreprise Rhône-Alpes", IAE de Lyon