Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um estudo sistemático dos mecanismos de difusão responsáveis pelo switching de resistência em memórias resistivas. Essas memórias possuem estrutura semelhante a de um capacitor, a qual sofre uma transição de resistência induzida pela aplicação de um campo elétrico. A transição é provocada pela formação de filamentos condutivos no interior da matriz semicondutora. Os filamentos podem ser constituídos por metal originado de um dos eletrodos (ECM) ou por regiões do óxido deficientes em oxigênio (VCM), geradas pela difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio. Dispositivos de TiO2 foram construídos e sua resposta elétrica foi adquirida através de medidas elétricas do tipo I-V para diferentes metais de eletrodo. Técnicas de análise por feixe de íons, como retroespalhamento Rutherford por micro-feixe e perfilometria com reação nuclear ressonante, foram usadas para detalhamento dos processos de difusão. Constatou-se uma dependência do comportamento elétrico em função do método de deposição da camada semicondutora, sua espessura e os parâmetros da medida de tensão. No caso do filamento ser composto por átomos de metal, espectros de micro-RBS foram adquiridos para identificar a sua estrutura no interior do óxido. Ainda, observaram-se bolhas na superfície do eletrodo superior dos dispositivos com difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio após o tratamento elétrico. Nesse mesmo contexto, foi medida a difusividade e energia de ativação da difusão de oxigênio em filmes finos de TiOy. / In this work we developed a systematic study of diffusion mechanisms which are responsible for resistance switching in resistive memories. The structure of these memories is similar to a capacitor which suffers resistance transition induced by electrical field. The transition is caused by the formation of conductive filaments inside the semiconductor matrix. The filaments may be constituted by metal from one of the electrodes (ECM) or by oxygen deficient areas (VCM), generated from oxygen vacancies diffusion. Devices of TiO2 have been built and its electrical response was acquired through electrical measurements (I-V) for different electrode metals. Ion beam techniques such as micro-probe Rutherford Backscattering and Nuclear Reaction Profiling were used to detail the diffusion processes. It was observed a dependence in the electrical behaviour with the semiconductor layer deposition method, its thickness and bias measurement parameters. In the case which filaments are composed by metal atoms, measurements of micro-RBS were performed to identify its structure inside the oxide. Also, bubbles have been observed over the surface of top electrode in devices with oxygen vacancies diffusion after the electrical treatment. In this context, it was measured diffusivity and activation energy for oxygen diffusion in thin TiOy films.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um estudo sistemático dos mecanismos de difusão responsáveis pelo switching de resistência em memórias resistivas. Essas memórias possuem estrutura semelhante a de um capacitor, a qual sofre uma transição de resistência induzida pela aplicação de um campo elétrico. A transição é provocada pela formação de filamentos condutivos no interior da matriz semicondutora. Os filamentos podem ser constituídos por metal originado de um dos eletrodos (ECM) ou por regiões do óxido deficientes em oxigênio (VCM), geradas pela difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio. Dispositivos de TiO2 foram construídos e sua resposta elétrica foi adquirida através de medidas elétricas do tipo I-V para diferentes metais de eletrodo. Técnicas de análise por feixe de íons, como retroespalhamento Rutherford por micro-feixe e perfilometria com reação nuclear ressonante, foram usadas para detalhamento dos processos de difusão. Constatou-se uma dependência do comportamento elétrico em função do método de deposição da camada semicondutora, sua espessura e os parâmetros da medida de tensão. No caso do filamento ser composto por átomos de metal, espectros de micro-RBS foram adquiridos para identificar a sua estrutura no interior do óxido. Ainda, observaram-se bolhas na superfície do eletrodo superior dos dispositivos com difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio após o tratamento elétrico. Nesse mesmo contexto, foi medida a difusividade e energia de ativação da difusão de oxigênio em filmes finos de TiOy. / In this work we developed a systematic study of diffusion mechanisms which are responsible for resistance switching in resistive memories. The structure of these memories is similar to a capacitor which suffers resistance transition induced by electrical field. The transition is caused by the formation of conductive filaments inside the semiconductor matrix. The filaments may be constituted by metal from one of the electrodes (ECM) or by oxygen deficient areas (VCM), generated from oxygen vacancies diffusion. Devices of TiO2 have been built and its electrical response was acquired through electrical measurements (I-V) for different electrode metals. Ion beam techniques such as micro-probe Rutherford Backscattering and Nuclear Reaction Profiling were used to detail the diffusion processes. It was observed a dependence in the electrical behaviour with the semiconductor layer deposition method, its thickness and bias measurement parameters. In the case which filaments are composed by metal atoms, measurements of micro-RBS were performed to identify its structure inside the oxide. Also, bubbles have been observed over the surface of top electrode in devices with oxygen vacancies diffusion after the electrical treatment. In this context, it was measured diffusivity and activation energy for oxygen diffusion in thin TiOy films.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um estudo sistemático dos mecanismos de difusão responsáveis pelo switching de resistência em memórias resistivas. Essas memórias possuem estrutura semelhante a de um capacitor, a qual sofre uma transição de resistência induzida pela aplicação de um campo elétrico. A transição é provocada pela formação de filamentos condutivos no interior da matriz semicondutora. Os filamentos podem ser constituídos por metal originado de um dos eletrodos (ECM) ou por regiões do óxido deficientes em oxigênio (VCM), geradas pela difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio. Dispositivos de TiO2 foram construídos e sua resposta elétrica foi adquirida através de medidas elétricas do tipo I-V para diferentes metais de eletrodo. Técnicas de análise por feixe de íons, como retroespalhamento Rutherford por micro-feixe e perfilometria com reação nuclear ressonante, foram usadas para detalhamento dos processos de difusão. Constatou-se uma dependência do comportamento elétrico em função do método de deposição da camada semicondutora, sua espessura e os parâmetros da medida de tensão. No caso do filamento ser composto por átomos de metal, espectros de micro-RBS foram adquiridos para identificar a sua estrutura no interior do óxido. Ainda, observaram-se bolhas na superfície do eletrodo superior dos dispositivos com difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio após o tratamento elétrico. Nesse mesmo contexto, foi medida a difusividade e energia de ativação da difusão de oxigênio em filmes finos de TiOy. / In this work we developed a systematic study of diffusion mechanisms which are responsible for resistance switching in resistive memories. The structure of these memories is similar to a capacitor which suffers resistance transition induced by electrical field. The transition is caused by the formation of conductive filaments inside the semiconductor matrix. The filaments may be constituted by metal from one of the electrodes (ECM) or by oxygen deficient areas (VCM), generated from oxygen vacancies diffusion. Devices of TiO2 have been built and its electrical response was acquired through electrical measurements (I-V) for different electrode metals. Ion beam techniques such as micro-probe Rutherford Backscattering and Nuclear Reaction Profiling were used to detail the diffusion processes. It was observed a dependence in the electrical behaviour with the semiconductor layer deposition method, its thickness and bias measurement parameters. In the case which filaments are composed by metal atoms, measurements of micro-RBS were performed to identify its structure inside the oxide. Also, bubbles have been observed over the surface of top electrode in devices with oxygen vacancies diffusion after the electrical treatment. In this context, it was measured diffusivity and activation energy for oxygen diffusion in thin TiOy films.

Since the advent of the millennium, a growing interest has arisen in information and communication technologies (ICT) given the potential to bridge the digital divide. ICT have had a central role to play in terms of economic, regulatory and political development. Telecommunications is used in this thesis as a sector case to study policy diffusion, which focuses on the movement of policies across borders and actors. This thesis answers the following research question: does policy diffusion take place in the telecommunications sector in the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries? This is answered using qualitative methods, such as expert interviews and the comparison of six cases, composed of two sectors of ICT; Universal Service Obligation (USO) and spectrum management, and of three countries; Morocco, Jordan and Egypt. In case the research question is positively answered two further foci are central to the thesis. Firstly, the thesis explores the conditions leading to policy diffusion. The thesis argues that the conditions leading to policy diffusion are linked to different degrees of vulnerability of countries to external actors. This vulnerability is described through four variables, which reveals the levels of governance and market openness and economic and political interconnectedness of the adopting countries. Secondly, it scrutinizes the links between sector variables and mechanisms of diffusion. The argument of this part is that different combinations of these sector variables support the differentiation across the four traditional mechanisms of policy diffusion; learning, imitation, competition and coercion. The main contributions of this thesis are both theoretical, to the literature of policy diffusion and empirical, regarding telecommunications regulation in three MENA countries. The thesis underlines the key role of government administrations as the main driver for policy change in MENA countries, compared to international pressures and market forces. Furthermore this thesis concludes that, in the telecommunications sector, transgovernmental channels are nowadays omnipresent in the phenomenon of policy diffusion and are thus not sufficient to disentangle mechanisms of diffusion. The thesis examines the additional factors of efficiency, economic interests and sanction capacity for explanatory power.

La croissance de la phase vésiculée, moteur de l'éruption, est contrôlée par les processus de diffusion qui permettent la migration des gaz (et notamment des gaz rares) dans les bulles. On utilise la haute volatilité des gaz rares comme traceur géochimique de l'évolution d'une phase gazeuse sans interaction chimique. Ainsi, documenter précisément les mécanismes de diffusion des différents gaz rares (He, Ne, Ar) lors de l'éruption (c'est-à-dire en fonction de la chute de température et de pression du système), permet de quantifier les phénomènes de fractionnement de la phase gazeuse. La compréhension des processus de fractionnements cinétiques, permet dès lors de prédire le temps nécessaire pour atteindre une certaine quantité de gaz rares dans une bulle (située au sein d'un système magmatique), lors de l'éjection des laves. Pour cela, la compréhension de l'influence de la température et de la structure du réseau silicaté sur les coefficients de diffusion est nécessaire. Cependant, la compréhension physique des processus de diffusion ainsi que l'évolution des coefficients de diffusion en fonction de la température, n'est pas suffisante pour dériver des temps caractéristiques d'une éruption volcanique de type Plinian. La complexité symptomatique de tels systèmes, nécessite une résolution numérique des équations de diffusion prenant en compte la dépendance des coefficients de diffusion à la température. Plusieurs verres synthétiques et naturels de composition basaltique ont été fabriqués dans le but de déterminer la vitesse de diffusion des gaz rares. Les données de diffusivités expérimentales mesurées sur ces systèmes, depuis l'état vitreux de basse température (T = 423 K) jusqu'à des températures sur-liquidus (T = 1823 K), documentent nos connaissances des processus physiques de diffusion dans ces milieux. Un modèle numérique intègre ces données et permet de suivre en continue la variation des coefficients de diffusion lors de la trempe d'une lave. On a pu ainsi montré : - La relation particulière entre la structure du milieu diffusif et les espèces diffusantes. La quantité de formateurs de réseaux (SiO2) et de modificateurs (CaO - MgO - etc.), joue sur la connectivité des chemins de diffusions de chaque gaz rare, avec un effet antagoniste entre l'ouverture globale du réseau et la connexion des tétraèdres de la structure. - La présence de comportements non-arrheniens des gaz rares proches de la Tg, due à la relaxation du réseau silicate. - L'importance des données expérimentales dans l'étude des mécanismes de dégazage des magmas basaltiques. En effet, les études précédentes utilisent des extrapolations des coefficients de diffusions, mesurés dans le verre pour extrapoler les diffusivités dans le liquide silicaté. Nos données montrent que le fractionnement cinétique des gaz rares pendant le dégazage de lave basaltique, est surestimé par ces extrapolations basées sur les vitesses de diffusions aux basses températures (T << Tg) / Noble gas geochemistry is an important tool for constraining the history of the volatile phase during magmatic eruptions. Degassing processes control the gas flux from liquid to bubble, leading to solubility- or kinetic-control of the fractionation mechanisms. Noble gases have no chemical interactions at magmatic conditions and are therefore well adapted to tracing gas fractionation mechanisms during the evolution of the gas phase. Well constrained diffusion coefficients, and their dependence on temperature, of several noble gases are critical for estimating the timescale of a plinian eruption, for example. During the quench phase of the lava ejected in the plume, atmospheric noble gases will diffuse through the liquid/glass shell surrounding gas bubbles. Diffusion of these atmospheric gases determine the gas content measured in the eruption products, which are therefore a function of the timescale of the eruption, the initial and final temperatures, the glass/liquid shell thickness and the cooling rate of the magma. Therefore, it should be possible to calculate plinian eruption timescales from noble gas fractionation patterns trapped in pumice. However, in order to perform the diffusion calculations, it is first necessary to model the diffusive system: a numerical resolution of the diffusion equations for hollow sphere geometry is required as there are no analytical solutions (for complex thermal histories such as for a plinian ash column). In order to constrain the diffusion mechanisms (He, Ne and Ar) in silicate glasses and liquids, several synthetic basaltic glasses were produced. Diffusion coefficients were measured from low temperatures (423 K) to the Tg (glass transition temperature) of the system (1005 K). These experiments allowed us to investigate the physical processes that limit diffusion in glassy media: He, Ne and Ar diffusion in silicate glasses show non-Arrhenian behavior as the Tg is approached thought to be due to structural relaxation of the silicate network itself. Complementary diffusion experiments (on He and Ar) at super-liquidus conditions (1673 K and 1823 K) provide important information on the temperature dependency of He/Ar fractionation in silicate liquids. These diffusion measurements required that a new experimental protocol was developed in order to investigate noble gas diffusivities in silicate melts. The results show that relative He and Ar diffusion (i.e. DHe/DAr) decreases with temperature, from 165 at temperatures close to the Tg to 3.2 at high (>1823K) temperature. The measured coefficient diffusions are incorporated to a numerical model of the diffusion equations for a hollow sphere geometry that were developed as a MatLab code as part of this thesis work. This enabled us to determine the likely timescales of plinian eruptions from existing noble gas measurements. These results also have important implications for mechanisms of degassing in basaltic magmas: previous work used diffusivities measured on glasses in order to extrapolate to noble gas diffusivities at magmatic temperatures. Our measurements show that kinetic fractionation of noble gases during degassing of basaltic magmas has likely been overstated because noble gas diffusion in the glass cannot be extrapolated to the liquid state

Cette recherche s'intéresse à l'acteur patronal organisé, encore peu étudié en Amérique du Nord. Pourtant, cet acteur est fortement organisé au Québec et il exerce une influence reconnue sur les politiques publiques et les relations industrielles. Cette recherche vise à mieux comprendre la logique d’action des employeurs et les lieux où ils exercent leur influence. Plus important encore, la recherche s’interroge sur les mécanismes de diffusion utilisés par les associations patronales pour transmettre à leurs membres des orientations et des lignes directrices à adopter. Tout comme pour l’acteur syndical qui doit développer sa capacité représentative (Dufour, Hege, Levesque et Murray, 2009), nous croyons qu’il en est de même pour l’acteur patronal. Bref, cette étude cherche à comprendre comment les associations patronales vont s'assurer que leurs membres adoptent des pratiques en lien avec les positions défendues dans les institutions du marché du travail et dans la sphère des politiques publiques. Notre question de recherche est la suivante : Quels sont les mécanismes développés par les associations patronales pour diffuser leurs orientations en matière de politiques publiques et de relations du travail en vue d’influencer les pratiques locales de gestion de leurs membres? Au plan théorique, cette étude mobilise les idées développées par les approches néo-institutionnalistes pour mieux expliquer comment les acteurs vont utiliser les institutions en place pour façonner les règles dans leurs intérêts, ce qui suppose d’abord une capacité de représentation et une cohérence dans les actions entre les niveaux où se situent l’acteur. On cherche à comprendre comment les associations peuvent coordonner les actions patronales en réaction aux changements qui s’opèrent dans l’environnement institutionnel. Les associations patronales sont des entrepreneurs institutionnels (Crouch, 2005) qui sont à la recherche active d’opportunités et de leviers de pouvoir à utiliser pour maximiser leurs intérêts de leurs membres et par la même occasion, réduire les incertitudes en provenance de l’environnement (Campbell, 2004; Streeck et Thelen, 2005; Crouch, 2005). Toujours au niveau théorique, cette étude se base sur les idées avancées par la sociologie des logiques d’action. Cette approche théorique nous permet de rendre compte des niveaux sectoriel et local où s’enracinent les comportements des employeurs. Au niveau sectoriel, il existe une pluralité d’instances qui contribuent à façonner les logiques d’actions des associations patronales. La sociologie des logiques d’actions nous permet d’envisager l’association patronale comme un groupe qui dispose d’une vie qui lui est propre avec une relative autonomie de fonctionnement. La capacité d’influence de l’association serait tributaire des mécanismes de coordination de l’action utilisés pour susciter l’accord au sein du groupe. Les mécanismes de coordination de l’action devraient permettre une connexion régulière et stable entre l’association et ses membres. Cette recherche s’intéresse aux associations patronales qui ont recours à un ensemble de moyens pour diffuser les orientations privilégiées aux entreprises membres. Au plan empirique, cette recherche propose de répondre aux trois objectifs suivants : (1) mieux comprendre les formes d’organisation patronales dans les mines au Québec; (2) mieux saisir la structure et la logique d’action des associations patronales sur les politiques publiques, les relations de travail et le marché du travail et finalement (3) mieux comprendre les mécanismes développés par les associations patronales pour diffuser leurs orientations en vue d’influencer les pratiques locales de gestion de leurs membres. Pour atteindre nos objectifs de recherche, nous avons utilisé une méthodologie qualitative de recherche soit une étude de cas du secteur des mines au Québec. Cette dernière a été conduite en trois étapes : la préparation, la collecte des données et l’interprétation (Merriam, 1998). Les données de cette étude ont été recueillies à l’hiver 2012, par le biais d’entretiens semi-directifs auprès de gestionnaires d’entreprises minières et de dirigeants d’associations minières. Une analyse qualitative du contenu de ces entrevues a été effectuée en lien avec la revue de littérature et nos propositions de recherche. À cette fin, nous avons utilisé la technique de l’appariement logique de Yin (1994), ce qui nous a permis de comparer nos observations à nos propositions de recherche. Au niveau des résultats, nous avons pu constater que les associations patronales du secteur des mines au Québec, endossent davantage le rôle de porte-parole de l’industrie auprès du gouvernement que celui de développeur de services aux membres. Les actions des associations patronales s’exercent à tous les niveaux décisionnels afin d’assurer la meilleure promotion possible des intérêts des employeurs. La représentation politique représente le champ d’activité le plus important qui compose la logique d’action des associations patronales de la filière minérale québécoise. Mentionnons également que la représentation des intérêts des entreprises auprès du public et des médias est également vitale à l’action collective patronale dans un souci d’acceptabilité sociale. Les associations d’employeurs vont tenter principalement d’influencer les pratiques en relations industrielles qui permettent d’assurer une meilleure image de l’industrie et qui sont jugées prioritaires en fonction du contexte institutionnel en place. La recherche nous a permis d’observer un impact favorable et significatif à la capacité de diffusion pour cinq des sept mécanismes de diffusion faisant partie de notre modèle d’analyse. Trois de ces cinq mécanismes favorisent la capacité de diffusion descendante (transposition de la logique d’action sectorielle sur les pratiques locales des membres) et les deux autres favorisent plutôt la capacité de diffusion ascendante (transposition des enjeux locaux jugés prioritaires sur la logique d’action sectorielle). Les mécanismes qui supportent au mieux la cohésion au sein de l’association sont ceux qui impliquent une relation dynamique entre les représentants et les membres et entre les membres eux-mêmes d’où la pertinence d’une diffusion descendante et ascendante des orientations. Il est à noter qu’étant donné que cette recherche consiste en une étude de cas, des limites méthodologiques liées à la généralisation des résultats sont présentes. Il n’est pas aisé d’affirmer que les résultats de cette microanalyse soient généralisables en raison des spécificités du secteur à l’étude. En contrepartie, les analyses ont servi à l’élaboration d’un modèle qui pourra être utilisé dans des études futures. / This research focuses on employer collective action to this day little studied in North America. Yet, this actor is highly organized in Quebec and has an influence on public policies and industrial relations. This research aims to gain a better understanding on employer’s logic action and the areas where they exert their influence. Most important, the research questions the diffusion mechanisms used by employer’s organizations to transmit orientations and guidelines to adopt by their members. Like the unions who has to develop their representative capacity (Dufour, Hege, Levesque and Murray, 2009), we believe it should be the same for the employers. Notably, this research wants to understand how the employers’ organizations makes sure that their members adopt practices related to the positions defended in labor market institutions and in the area of public’s policies. Our research question is the following one: What are the mechanisms developed by employers’ organizations to diffuse their orientations about public’s policies and labor relations on the local managing practices of their members? On the theoretical plan, this research is based on ideas developed by neo-institutionalism theories for a better explanation of how the actors used the institutions in place to shape the rules to their best interests, what points to a representative capacity and coherence in the actions between the levels where the employer is present. We are looking to understand how the employers’ organizations can coordinate the employers’ actions in reaction to the transformations in the institutional environment. The employers’ organizations are institutional entrepreneurs (Crouch, 2005) who are actively researching opportunities and power leverage to use to maximize their members’ interests and by the same occasion reduce the uncertainty issued from the environment (Campbell, 2004; Streeck et Thelen, 2005; Crouch, 2005). Still on the theoretical plan, this research is based on the ideas proposed by the logic of action sociology. This theoretical approach allows us to account for local and sectorial levels where the employers’ behaviors are rooted. On sectorial level, there is a plurality of instances who contributed to shape the logic of action of employers’ organizations. The logic of action sociology considered the employer organization as a group with a distinct life and a functional autonomy. The influence capacity of the organization depends on the coordination mechanisms used to generate agreement within the group. The coordination mechanisms should allow a regular and stable connection between the organization and their members. This research is interested by the employers’ organization that uses a set of means to diffuse the privileged orientations to the enterprises members. On the empirical plan, this research targets three objectives: (1) To gain a better understanding of the employers organizations forms in the Quebec mining sector; (2) obtain a better understanding of the structure and the logic of action of the employers organizations on the public policies, labor relations and labor market and finally, (3) to attain a better understanding of the mechanisms developed by the employers organizations to diffuse their orientations on the managing local practices of their members. In order to meet our research objectives, we used a qualitative research methodology; the case study of the Quebec mining industry was used. This method was processed in three steps; the preparation, the data collection and the interpretation (Merriam, 1998). Data for this research was collected during the winter of 2012 from interviews with mining enterprises managers and mining association managers. A qualitative analysis of the interview content was made and linked to the literature review and our research propositions. To this end, we used the patterns matching Yin (1994). This allowed us to compare our observations with our research propositions. In terms of results, we found that employers' associations in the mining sector in Quebec endorse further the role of spokesman for the industry to the government rather than service developer to members. Actions of employers' association takes place at all levels of the decision making process to ensure the best possible promotion of employers interests. Political representation is the most important field of activity which composes the logic action of employers' associations in the Quebec mining sector. It is important to note also that the representation of business interests with the public and media is also vital to employers’ collective action in the interests of social acceptability. Employers' associations will mainly try to influence industrial relations practices that ensure a better image of the industry and are prioritized based on the institutional context in place. Research has allowed us to observe a positive and significant impact on the diffusion capacity for five of the seven diffusion mechanisms composing our analysis model. Three of these five mechanisms promote downward diffusion capacity (transposition of the logic of sectoral action of members on local practices) and the other two tend to favor the upward diffusion capacity (transposition of local issues judged a priority on the sectors logic action). Mechanisms that better supports cohesion within the organization are those that involve a dynamic relationship between representatives and members and between members themselves thus demonstrating the relevance of a downward and upward diffusion direction. It should be noted that since this research is a case study, there is some methodological limits specifically in the generalization of the results. It is hard to state that the results of this micro-analysis are generalized regarded to the specificities of the case study. On the other hand, the analysis helped to the elaboration of a model that can be used for future studies.

Cette recherche s'intéresse à l'acteur patronal organisé, encore peu étudié en Amérique du Nord. Pourtant, cet acteur est fortement organisé au Québec et il exerce une influence reconnue sur les politiques publiques et les relations industrielles. Cette recherche vise à mieux comprendre la logique d’action des employeurs et les lieux où ils exercent leur influence. Plus important encore, la recherche s’interroge sur les mécanismes de diffusion utilisés par les associations patronales pour transmettre à leurs membres des orientations et des lignes directrices à adopter. Tout comme pour l’acteur syndical qui doit développer sa capacité représentative (Dufour, Hege, Levesque et Murray, 2009), nous croyons qu’il en est de même pour l’acteur patronal. Bref, cette étude cherche à comprendre comment les associations patronales vont s'assurer que leurs membres adoptent des pratiques en lien avec les positions défendues dans les institutions du marché du travail et dans la sphère des politiques publiques. Notre question de recherche est la suivante : Quels sont les mécanismes développés par les associations patronales pour diffuser leurs orientations en matière de politiques publiques et de relations du travail en vue d’influencer les pratiques locales de gestion de leurs membres? Au plan théorique, cette étude mobilise les idées développées par les approches néo-institutionnalistes pour mieux expliquer comment les acteurs vont utiliser les institutions en place pour façonner les règles dans leurs intérêts, ce qui suppose d’abord une capacité de représentation et une cohérence dans les actions entre les niveaux où se situent l’acteur. On cherche à comprendre comment les associations peuvent coordonner les actions patronales en réaction aux changements qui s’opèrent dans l’environnement institutionnel. Les associations patronales sont des entrepreneurs institutionnels (Crouch, 2005) qui sont à la recherche active d’opportunités et de leviers de pouvoir à utiliser pour maximiser leurs intérêts de leurs membres et par la même occasion, réduire les incertitudes en provenance de l’environnement (Campbell, 2004; Streeck et Thelen, 2005; Crouch, 2005). Toujours au niveau théorique, cette étude se base sur les idées avancées par la sociologie des logiques d’action. Cette approche théorique nous permet de rendre compte des niveaux sectoriel et local où s’enracinent les comportements des employeurs. Au niveau sectoriel, il existe une pluralité d’instances qui contribuent à façonner les logiques d’actions des associations patronales. La sociologie des logiques d’actions nous permet d’envisager l’association patronale comme un groupe qui dispose d’une vie qui lui est propre avec une relative autonomie de fonctionnement. La capacité d’influence de l’association serait tributaire des mécanismes de coordination de l’action utilisés pour susciter l’accord au sein du groupe. Les mécanismes de coordination de l’action devraient permettre une connexion régulière et stable entre l’association et ses membres. Cette recherche s’intéresse aux associations patronales qui ont recours à un ensemble de moyens pour diffuser les orientations privilégiées aux entreprises membres. Au plan empirique, cette recherche propose de répondre aux trois objectifs suivants : (1) mieux comprendre les formes d’organisation patronales dans les mines au Québec; (2) mieux saisir la structure et la logique d’action des associations patronales sur les politiques publiques, les relations de travail et le marché du travail et finalement (3) mieux comprendre les mécanismes développés par les associations patronales pour diffuser leurs orientations en vue d’influencer les pratiques locales de gestion de leurs membres. Pour atteindre nos objectifs de recherche, nous avons utilisé une méthodologie qualitative de recherche soit une étude de cas du secteur des mines au Québec. Cette dernière a été conduite en trois étapes : la préparation, la collecte des données et l’interprétation (Merriam, 1998). Les données de cette étude ont été recueillies à l’hiver 2012, par le biais d’entretiens semi-directifs auprès de gestionnaires d’entreprises minières et de dirigeants d’associations minières. Une analyse qualitative du contenu de ces entrevues a été effectuée en lien avec la revue de littérature et nos propositions de recherche. À cette fin, nous avons utilisé la technique de l’appariement logique de Yin (1994), ce qui nous a permis de comparer nos observations à nos propositions de recherche. Au niveau des résultats, nous avons pu constater que les associations patronales du secteur des mines au Québec, endossent davantage le rôle de porte-parole de l’industrie auprès du gouvernement que celui de développeur de services aux membres. Les actions des associations patronales s’exercent à tous les niveaux décisionnels afin d’assurer la meilleure promotion possible des intérêts des employeurs. La représentation politique représente le champ d’activité le plus important qui compose la logique d’action des associations patronales de la filière minérale québécoise. Mentionnons également que la représentation des intérêts des entreprises auprès du public et des médias est également vitale à l’action collective patronale dans un souci d’acceptabilité sociale. Les associations d’employeurs vont tenter principalement d’influencer les pratiques en relations industrielles qui permettent d’assurer une meilleure image de l’industrie et qui sont jugées prioritaires en fonction du contexte institutionnel en place. La recherche nous a permis d’observer un impact favorable et significatif à la capacité de diffusion pour cinq des sept mécanismes de diffusion faisant partie de notre modèle d’analyse. Trois de ces cinq mécanismes favorisent la capacité de diffusion descendante (transposition de la logique d’action sectorielle sur les pratiques locales des membres) et les deux autres favorisent plutôt la capacité de diffusion ascendante (transposition des enjeux locaux jugés prioritaires sur la logique d’action sectorielle). Les mécanismes qui supportent au mieux la cohésion au sein de l’association sont ceux qui impliquent une relation dynamique entre les représentants et les membres et entre les membres eux-mêmes d’où la pertinence d’une diffusion descendante et ascendante des orientations. Il est à noter qu’étant donné que cette recherche consiste en une étude de cas, des limites méthodologiques liées à la généralisation des résultats sont présentes. Il n’est pas aisé d’affirmer que les résultats de cette microanalyse soient généralisables en raison des spécificités du secteur à l’étude. En contrepartie, les analyses ont servi à l’élaboration d’un modèle qui pourra être utilisé dans des études futures. / This research focuses on employer collective action to this day little studied in North America. Yet, this actor is highly organized in Quebec and has an influence on public policies and industrial relations. This research aims to gain a better understanding on employer’s logic action and the areas where they exert their influence. Most important, the research questions the diffusion mechanisms used by employer’s organizations to transmit orientations and guidelines to adopt by their members. Like the unions who has to develop their representative capacity (Dufour, Hege, Levesque and Murray, 2009), we believe it should be the same for the employers. Notably, this research wants to understand how the employers’ organizations makes sure that their members adopt practices related to the positions defended in labor market institutions and in the area of public’s policies. Our research question is the following one: What are the mechanisms developed by employers’ organizations to diffuse their orientations about public’s policies and labor relations on the local managing practices of their members? On the theoretical plan, this research is based on ideas developed by neo-institutionalism theories for a better explanation of how the actors used the institutions in place to shape the rules to their best interests, what points to a representative capacity and coherence in the actions between the levels where the employer is present. We are looking to understand how the employers’ organizations can coordinate the employers’ actions in reaction to the transformations in the institutional environment. The employers’ organizations are institutional entrepreneurs (Crouch, 2005) who are actively researching opportunities and power leverage to use to maximize their members’ interests and by the same occasion reduce the uncertainty issued from the environment (Campbell, 2004; Streeck et Thelen, 2005; Crouch, 2005). Still on the theoretical plan, this research is based on the ideas proposed by the logic of action sociology. This theoretical approach allows us to account for local and sectorial levels where the employers’ behaviors are rooted. On sectorial level, there is a plurality of instances who contributed to shape the logic of action of employers’ organizations. The logic of action sociology considered the employer organization as a group with a distinct life and a functional autonomy. The influence capacity of the organization depends on the coordination mechanisms used to generate agreement within the group. The coordination mechanisms should allow a regular and stable connection between the organization and their members. This research is interested by the employers’ organization that uses a set of means to diffuse the privileged orientations to the enterprises members. On the empirical plan, this research targets three objectives: (1) To gain a better understanding of the employers organizations forms in the Quebec mining sector; (2) obtain a better understanding of the structure and the logic of action of the employers organizations on the public policies, labor relations and labor market and finally, (3) to attain a better understanding of the mechanisms developed by the employers organizations to diffuse their orientations on the managing local practices of their members. In order to meet our research objectives, we used a qualitative research methodology; the case study of the Quebec mining industry was used. This method was processed in three steps; the preparation, the data collection and the interpretation (Merriam, 1998). Data for this research was collected during the winter of 2012 from interviews with mining enterprises managers and mining association managers. A qualitative analysis of the interview content was made and linked to the literature review and our research propositions. To this end, we used the patterns matching Yin (1994). This allowed us to compare our observations with our research propositions. In terms of results, we found that employers' associations in the mining sector in Quebec endorse further the role of spokesman for the industry to the government rather than service developer to members. Actions of employers' association takes place at all levels of the decision making process to ensure the best possible promotion of employers interests. Political representation is the most important field of activity which composes the logic action of employers' associations in the Quebec mining sector. It is important to note also that the representation of business interests with the public and media is also vital to employers’ collective action in the interests of social acceptability. Employers' associations will mainly try to influence industrial relations practices that ensure a better image of the industry and are prioritized based on the institutional context in place. Research has allowed us to observe a positive and significant impact on the diffusion capacity for five of the seven diffusion mechanisms composing our analysis model. Three of these five mechanisms promote downward diffusion capacity (transposition of the logic of sectoral action of members on local practices) and the other two tend to favor the upward diffusion capacity (transposition of local issues judged a priority on the sectors logic action). Mechanisms that better supports cohesion within the organization are those that involve a dynamic relationship between representatives and members and between members themselves thus demonstrating the relevance of a downward and upward diffusion direction. It should be noted that since this research is a case study, there is some methodological limits specifically in the generalization of the results. It is hard to state that the results of this micro-analysis are generalized regarded to the specificities of the case study. On the other hand, the analysis helped to the elaboration of a model that can be used for future studies.