En décembre 2004, les autorités publiques françaises lancent le premier appel à projet donnant le coup d'envoi de la politique des pôles de compétitivité dont la phase 3, lancé par le gouvernement le 6 janvier 2013, met particulièrement l'accent sur les retombées économiques issues des pôles de compétitivité qui devront être amplifiées. L'objectif de cette thèse est de vérifier l'existence de telles retombées (spillovers) issues des investissements directs étrangers (IDE) dans le cas français. Plus précisément nous analysons les conséquences de spillovers sur la productivité des firmes en France et nous cherchons à savoir si les décisions d'investir en Recherche et Développement (R&D) sont étroitement liées au niveau des spillovers circulant entre les firmes locales et les firmes étrangères implantées en France. Dans un premier chapitre, nous vérifions l'existence de spillovers de connaissance à travers deux canaux de transmission : horizontal et vertical. Nous mettons en évidence les spillovers qui se diffusent d'une part entre clients étrangers et fournisseurs locaux dans les secteurs en amont (backward linkages) et d'autre part, entre fournisseurs étrangers et clients locaux dans les secteurs en aval (forward linkages). Nous suggérons que dans le cas de la France, les spillovers de connaissance se manifestent principalement via les backward spillovers, alors que les spillovers au sein d'un même secteur (horizontal spillovers) et les spillovers diffusés par les fournisseurs étrangers vers les clients locaux agissent plutôt comme un frein à la productivité des firmes en France. Dans le second chapitre, nous portons notre attention à l'intérêt des firmes d'investir davantage en R&D en fonction de l'intensité des retombées issus de ces activités. Nous construisons, pour ce faire, un modèle théorique permettant de modéliser les stratégies des firmes en termes de R&D en fonction du savoir-faire diffusé par une filiale étrangère dans le pays d'accueil (international R&D spillovers), du savoir-faire diffusé par une firme locale (reverse R&D spillovers) et de l'échange du savoir-faire entre une filiale et sa maison-mère située dans son pays d'origine (internal technological transfer). Nous montrons que la prise en compte de ces différents canaux de spillovers exogènes dans le modèle renvoie à un cadre du dilemme du prisonnier où la diffusion d'un niveau élevé et comparable du savoir-faire encourage les firmes à investir en R&D et qu'une diffusion faible par rapport à un seuil (établi en fonction de l'intensité de la concurrence) les incite à réduire leurs activités de R&D. Dans un cadre de extit{spillovers} asymétrique, la firme qui absorbe le plus la technologie de sa concurrente a intérêt à investir davantage en R&D. Dans le dernier chapitre, nous nous intéressons aux international spillovers et reverse spillovers issus non seulement des activités de R&D mais aussi des activités d'outsourcing. Nous suggérons que les effets des spillovers internationaux sur la productivité des firmes en France sont plus importants que ceux des reverse spillovers. Lorsqu'il s'agit de spillovers issus des activités de R&D, l'effet est positif et significatif en amont et en aval mais plus important pour les liens en backward. Concernant les spillovers issus des activités d'outsourcing, l'effet est uniquement en faveur des spillovers diffusés par les donneurs d'ordre. Ces effets sont mitigés selon le niveau technologique du secteur concerné. L'effet des spillovers sur la productivité des firmes appartenant à un secteur de niveau technologique élevé semble être plus important que pour celles appartenant à des secteurs de bas et/ou moyen niveau technologique. / In December 2004, the French public authorities launched the first call for projects kicking off the policy clusters, including Phase 3 launched by the government on 9 January 2013, with particular emphasis on issues of economic spinoffs clusters that should be amplified. The objective of this thesis is to verify the existence of such spinoffs (spillovers) from foreign direct investment (FDI) in the French case. Specifically, we analyze the impact of spillovers on the productivity of firms located in France and we want to know if the decisions to invest in R&D are closely related to the level of spillovers flowing between local firms and foreign firms operating in France. In the first chapter, we aim at verifying the existence of knowledge spilovers through two transmission channels: horizontal and vertical ones. We highlight that the know-how spreads on the one hand, between foreign customers and local supplier in the upstream sector (backward linkages) and on the other hand, between local suppliers and foreign customers in the downstream sector (forward linkages). We suggest that, in the French case, the knowledge spillovers occur primarily through backward spillovers, while spillovers within the same sector (horizontal spillovers) and spillovers diffused from the foreign suppliers to the local customers rather act as a brake on the productivity of firms located in France. In the second chapter, we focus on the incentive of firms to further invest in R&D with respect to the intensity of spillovers resulting from these activities. For this purpose, we build a theoretical model to explain the strategies of firms in terms of R&D based on the technological know-how disseminated by a foreign subsidiary in the host country (international R&D spillovers), know-how issued by a local firm (reverse R&D spillovers) and the know-how that being exchanged between the subsidiary firm and its parent company located in its home country (internal technological transfer). We show that taking into account these different channels of exogenous spillovers refers to the prisoner's dilemma where the diffusion of a high and comparable level of know-how encourages firms to invest in R&D and a low level of spillovers compared to a threshold value (determined based on the intensity of competition) forces them to reduce their R&D investment. In a context of asymmetric spillovers, the firm which more absorbs the technology of its competitor increases its investment in R&D. In the last chapter, we focus on international spillovers and reverse spillovers not only from R&D activities but also from outsourcing activities. We suggest that the effects of international spillovers on the productivity of firms in France are more important than those of reverse spillovers. As far as R&D spillovers are concerned, their effect on a firms' productivity is positive and significant in the upstream and downstream sector, but is more important for backward linkages. Concerning spillovers from outsourcing activities, the effect is only in favor of spillovers diffused by the contractor. These effects depend on the technological level of the sector concerned. The effect of spillovers on the productivity seems to be more important for firms belonging to high-tech sectors than for firms belonging to medium- and low-tech sectors.

The aim of this thesis is to present the top management of 3M Czech Republic with a comprehensive solution to their CSR implementation task. The thesis starts by giving the reader an insight into the today's forms of business ownership including corporations and by covering the issue of governance explains why corporations need a solution like CSR. Subsequently, the theoretical foundations of CSR are presented, followed by an explanation of the actual business tool. Additionally, a generic implementation roadmap is devised together with key success factors of this process identified. Based on this generic roadmap, a tailored solution for 3M Czech Republic including specific recommendations on measures and key performance indicators is developed.

Cross-sector social partnerships have become a widely used instrument to work towards sustainable development and especially to deal with social issues. However, research on this phenomenon commonly addresses possible solutions directly, without a deeper analysis of the underlying obstacles and possibilities. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap by exploring the obstacles and possibilities for cross-sector social partnerships in achieving sustainable development. To do so, an empirical case study of a multinational mining corporation and its partners is conducted. Data is gathered from seven semi-structured interviews. The study shows that cross-sector social partnerships (CSSPs) are used by the interviewees to address social issues. Interviews are conducted with actors in different sectors who have relationships with the multinational corporations, this allows a diverse data collection. The study provides analytical results by identifying the obstacles and possibilities that are significant to the collaborations among partners, that is to say the CSSPs. Thus, three main obstacles are found: ​power imbalance, diverging focus and lack of trust among partners​. Whereas, three main possibilities are identified: ​optimism towards future development, broader involvement and more frequent & constructive dialogue​. The study also provides insights on partners at different influential levels and thereby makes a contribution to existing literature. From a practical perspective, understanding the underlying obstacles and possibilities could help to make the partnerships more effective.

The rise of market globalization creates challenges for business executives seeking to pursue foreign direct investment (FDI) in least developed countries (LDC), such as Afghanistan. Multinational corporate (MNC) executives need strategies that will improve the timely delivery of minerals for mining projects in LDCs. Guided by the force field analysis theory, the purpose of this holistic, single-case study was to explore the strategies that 5 MNC executives in Beijing, China, used to improve the timely delivery of minerals associated with the Aynak copper mine project in Afghanistan. Semistructured interviews were used to elicit detailed narratives from MNC executives about their experiences to develop strategies for mining projects in LDCs. A review of company documents, as well as member-checking of initial interview transcripts, helped to bolster the trustworthiness of final interpretations. Study results included 2 themes. Theme 1 was determinants of mine investment strategies in LDCs that included an exploration of driving forces, restraining forces, neutral forces, and the effect of those forces. Theme 2 was FDI strategies for copper mine projects in LDCs that included the comparison of cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy, and combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategies. By implementing a cost leadership strategy and best practices, MNC executives were able to achieve greater success to improve timely delivery of minerals associated with FDI copper mine projects in LDCs. Social implications include ongoing efforts of Afghan government leaders to implement effective economic policies that decrease unemployment while reducing poverty.

Cette thèse tend à évaluer dans quelle mesure la définition du concept de RSE, son étude académique ou sa mise en œuvre sont contextualisées par des facteurs locaux, notamment institutionnels, ou au contraire peuvent s’intégrer dans une approche universelle. L’analyse se fait selon une approche franco-chinoise mais la thèse se focalise plus particulièrement sur l’environnement institutionnel chinois, objet du premier chapitre. Au terme d’une étude en sciences de gestion et en droit, essentiellement en français et accessoirement américain et chinois, le chapitre 2 propose une définition de la RSE mais conclut qu’une définition universelle de la RSE parait effectivement difficile à atteindre. Dans le chapitre 3, une analyse textuelle effectuée sur un échantillon de 600 articles permet de décrire la façon dont est structuré le champ de la recherche académique sur la RSE et les concepts associés en Chine, de 1980 à 2011. Les chapitres 4 et 5 consistent en l’étude de cas unique d’une multinationale française opérant en Chine depuis 1995. Le chapitre 4 a révélé l’existence d’une combinaison de facteurs déterminant la stratégie d’internationalisation de la RSE de la multinationale étudiée, à savoir globale et adaptable localement au niveau de la mise en œuvre. Le chapitre 5 analyse les facteurs justifiant la variété transnationale des pratiques RSE et permet d’établir que, dans un même environnement institutionnel, selon les sujets RSE et les normes institutionnelles en cause, la mise en œuvre de la stratégie RSE de la Filiale tantôt reflète le contexte économique et institutionnel chinois et tantôt s’y substitue alors même que, dans certains cas, il est délicat de se prononcer. / The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the conditions under which CSR definition, research or implementation are influenced and contextualized by local, especially institutional, factors or in the contrary can be integrated in a universal approach. Two different national context are explored, France and China. However, thesis analysis is more specifically focused on Chinese institutional environment and the first chapter deals with this topic. In the chapter 2, through an analysis within two disciplines, management and law (primarily French but also American and Chinese law), a CSR definition is proposed but results highlight the difficulty to reach a universal definition of CSR. In the chapter 3, a textual analysis was used on a 600 articles sample to investigate the structure of academic research in the field of CSR and related concepts in China from 1980 to 2011. In the chapters 4 and 5, a single case study concerning a French multinational corporation (MNC) operating in China since 1995 was conducted. Findings of the chapter 4 establish that a combination of different factors influence the CSR internationalization strategy of the said MNC. Factors that may drive variation in CSR practices across countries are studied in the chapter 5. Findings show that in the same institutional environment, depending on CSR issues and institutional norms, the implementation of CSR strategy by the said MNC subsidiary in China sometimes reflects and sometimes is a substitute to Chinese institutional and economic context while the impact remains unclear in certain cases.

The environment became an established issue on the international political agenda after World War 2. How to preserve natural resources became an issue that concerned several powerful participants, affected by changed conditions in the environmental legislation. This paper is a study of the growing environmental work within the multinational Swedish corporations Boliden, IKEA and SAS and how it was affected by the globalization. The material studied is environmentally related information produced by the companies and also interviews with the Environmental Managers. The information provided has been analyzed and compared with well-known opinions of globalization, trying to find out how the process of globalization has affected the handling of environmental work within the companies. The conclusion is the globalization brings several disadvantages, but it also results in an international legislation and co-operation between different participants, something that does have a positive effect on the environment.

In brief, the motivation for conducting this study has been the societal changes brought upon the Covid-19 pandemic from a socio-economic perspective. The outbreak of the pandemic has resulted in that companies faced major organizational challenges to adapt to the virtual working setting in terms of communicating and transferring knowledge. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether firms that adopt new technologies for communication (e.g. Microsoft Teams or Zoom) and adapt to virtual working settings are positively or negatively affected in terms of barriers to knowledge transfer. Thus, the focus of has been on finding potential benefits and/or drawbacks of transferring knowledge in a virtual setting. The following research question has been answered to cover this: How is digital transformation, in terms of increased adoption of novel communication technologies driven by Covid-19, affecting barriers to knowledge transfer in an intra-unit setting in multinational corporations (MNCs)? In order to study this, the authors conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with participants from one department at Ernst & Young (EY). The empirical data have been analyzed with a conceptual framework that the authors have developed themselves. Based on the exploratory investigation, the authors draw the conclusion that knowledge-related barriers have decreased due to the increased adoption of novel technologies, while relational barriers have increased overall. Yet, we suggest that the relational barriers could be further mitigated, by incorporating an approach similar to EY’s hybrid model into the firm’s organizational routine.

In order to stay competitive in the market, multinational corporations (MNC) need to expand their businesses in the international market. Sending employees to work abroad is a great way of expanding. However, having employees working abroad, brings a lot of advantages for the corporation, but it can also be a disadvantage for the corporation if the final step of international assignments, which is the repatriation process, has not been handled correctly. This thesis investigates how the managers of IKEA, Electrolux and SEB handle the repatriation process and how the repatriates experienced the process, during their pre-return period and post-return period. Our findings show that the repatriates experienced that the repatriation process was poorly conducted by the corporations due to lack of engagement from their side. On the other hand, managers of the companies felt that they handled the repatriation process very well. Therefore, it is essential that corporations prepare the employees well, before they start the international assignments, as well as help them to readjusting back in the home country. Working with practical expectations may lead to a smooth adjustment, which in turn, leads to a well-functioning repatriation process.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo tratar do modo como a classe trabalhadora brasileira tem reagido às mudanças na organização da produção com a passagem de um padrão fordista para um pós-fordista a partir de um estudo de caso envolvendo trabalhadores da planta da Natura de Cajamar (SP). Com inspiração em Beaud e Pialoux (2009), aqui se pretende demonstrar como tais mudanças significaram a desestruturação do grupo operário e a ascensão de um novo grupo, marcado por novas características e sobre o qual os antigos valores, símbolos e referências não exercem mais a mesma influência. O interesse é analisar de que modo o novo grupo operário interage com as exigências da produção orientada por princípios do toyotismo, isto é, de qualidade e de flexibilidade. A descrição da fábrica, a apresentação de entrevistas, com trabalhadores e diretores da empresa, e de materiais corporativos e sindicais permitem analisar como foram introduzidas as mudanças na produção. Além disso, pretende-se debater o significado do descompasso entre a realidade concreta do trabalho na empresa e o discurso empresarial que prega a transparência das relações, de modo a identificar quais são os fundamentos do consentimento dos trabalhadores às práticas de produção flexíveis adotadas na fábrica. / This present work intends to discuss the way that Brazilian working class has reacted to changes in the organization of production after the transition from \"fordism\" to \"post-fordism\", using a case study around Naturas workers in the plant of Cajamar (São Paulo Brasil). Inspired by Beaud and Pialoux (2009), the attemp is showing how these changes have meant a kind of dismantling for the group of workers and a rise of a new group of them, influenced by new characters. Old values, symbols and references do not exercise the same influence as they used to. The point is to examine the way that this new group interacts with the production\'s demands guided by toyotism elements, like quality and flexibility. The factory\'s description, the presentation of the interviews with workers and companys manangers, and the examining of companys and trade unions documents make possible to analyse how changes in production have been introduced in Natura. Beyond that, the meanings of the gap between the factual reality of working in the company and companys discourse, that talks about transparency\' in relations, will also be examined to identify wich are the basis of workers consent to the flexible production practices adopted in that factory.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo tratar do modo como a classe trabalhadora brasileira tem reagido às mudanças na organização da produção com a passagem de um padrão fordista para um pós-fordista a partir de um estudo de caso envolvendo trabalhadores da planta da Natura de Cajamar (SP). Com inspiração em Beaud e Pialoux (2009), aqui se pretende demonstrar como tais mudanças significaram a desestruturação do grupo operário e a ascensão de um novo grupo, marcado por novas características e sobre o qual os antigos valores, símbolos e referências não exercem mais a mesma influência. O interesse é analisar de que modo o novo grupo operário interage com as exigências da produção orientada por princípios do toyotismo, isto é, de qualidade e de flexibilidade. A descrição da fábrica, a apresentação de entrevistas, com trabalhadores e diretores da empresa, e de materiais corporativos e sindicais permitem analisar como foram introduzidas as mudanças na produção. Além disso, pretende-se debater o significado do descompasso entre a realidade concreta do trabalho na empresa e o discurso empresarial que prega a transparência das relações, de modo a identificar quais são os fundamentos do consentimento dos trabalhadores às práticas de produção flexíveis adotadas na fábrica. / This present work intends to discuss the way that Brazilian working class has reacted to changes in the organization of production after the transition from \"fordism\" to \"post-fordism\", using a case study around Naturas workers in the plant of Cajamar (São Paulo Brasil). Inspired by Beaud and Pialoux (2009), the attemp is showing how these changes have meant a kind of dismantling for the group of workers and a rise of a new group of them, influenced by new characters. Old values, symbols and references do not exercise the same influence as they used to. The point is to examine the way that this new group interacts with the production\'s demands guided by toyotism elements, like quality and flexibility. The factory\'s description, the presentation of the interviews with workers and companys manangers, and the examining of companys and trade unions documents make possible to analyse how changes in production have been introduced in Natura. Beyond that, the meanings of the gap between the factual reality of working in the company and companys discourse, that talks about transparency\' in relations, will also be examined to identify wich are the basis of workers consent to the flexible production practices adopted in that factory.