Laboratoire d’Économie et de Gestion de l'Ouest

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a medical emergency but also a business emergency that has created the need for organizations to be resilient and versatile in managing the impact of the pandemic on their business operations. At this time, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the most vulnerable to the economic disaster caused by the recent crisis, because these companies do not have the necessary resources to absorb losses. This research reviewed the impact of digital technologies on SMEs’ resilience during the pandemic, focusing on companies in developing countries. Based on the 96 SMEs surveyed across six developing countries, the study shows that digital technology has helped SMEs to survive the pandemic, assisting SMEs in becoming more robust and ensuring their survival. This research fills a significant research gap in the literature, highlighting the inherent challenges of SMEs in developing countries and their digital transformation strategies. This study also offers practical recommendations for SMEs, tech developers, and policymakers to invest more effort in putting new procedures in place to ensure the efficacy of digital technology.

L’objet de l’article est de s’intéresser au x effets positifs du télétravail sur la conciliation vie personnelle et vie professionnelle ainsi qu’à ses effets négatifs sur le brouillage des frontières. La recherche a porté sur deux entreprises nommées Telecom et Administration. Cinquante-quatre entretiens auprès de télétravailleurs, de cadres et membres de la direction ont été réalisés. Deux types d’organisation du télétravail sont étudiés : d’une part, le télécentre et d’autre part, le télétravail à domicile. Les résultats s’articulent autour de trois axes : motivations au télétravail et qualité de vie, télétravail et gestion des frontières entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle et l’organisation du télétravail, les leviers d’actions pour réduire les risques pour les salariés du brouillage des frontières spatio-temporelles.

International audience

Cette recherche étudie le rôle des différents types de proximité dans les dynamiques collaboratives des espaces de coworking. À partir d’entretiens avec des acteurs des espaces de coworking situés dans des villes petites et moyennes, l’étude met en évidence que la proximité géographique ne suffit pas pour générer des collaborations et que d’autres formes de proximité sont nécessaires. Elle révèle aussi que la proximité électronique est importante pour s’affranchir des distances et que la proximité d’opportunité favorise la collaboration interorganisationnelle.

International audience

The objective of this article is to assess the impact of a gradual increase in the number of labels appearing on some food products on consumer valuation of the given product. Three empirical studies were designed to measure the effects of using labels to differentiate food products (Organic Farming, Fairtrade, and Label Rouge (a French label that concerns organoleptic quality)) on the willingness of 519 French consumers of honey to pay a premium. These three studies shed light on a complementarity effect, often dominating the effects of redundancy and information overload. This effect differed depending on the features and the number of associated labels, and was influenced by consumer trust in the labels. These findings should encourage producers to associate their products with labels on packaging when they are consistent in terms of reputation but complementary in terms of attributes.

Contrary to existing literature that underlines metaverse opportunities for adapting tourism management and tourism marketing, our study aims at understanding customers' perspective on tourism metaverse, as potential virtual tourists. This helps answer two questions: (1) what are customers’ expectations, i.e. which offers and offers should be designed? (2) how should these offers be ethically marketed? To investigate how consumers imagine metaverse simulated tourism experiences (MVSET), we employed a qualitative research methodology using interviews with 24 regular travelers. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview transcripts. Findings reveal five categories of expectations: reproduction, customisation, immersion, emancipation, and disillusionment avoidance. Discussion focuses on ethical issues regarding the experience modulation requests and the possible negative consequences of MVSET consumption and its regular usages.

Le leadership peut susciter de la méfiance dans les organisations publiques. Dans les lycées et collèges, il est pourtant attendu des chefs d’établissement d’être capable de construire et de porter une politique éducative. Pour y faire face et apparaître comme des leaders crédibles, proviseurs et principaux peuvent s’appuyer sur des aspects du leadership transformationnel, mais aussi sur le leadership transactionnel ou sur celui d’une équipe de travail. Malgré des limites, dont un effet dirigeant discuté, ces processus peuvent conduire à des changements organisationnels touchant l’identité professionnelle des acteurs concernés et générant de nouveaux comportements au service des élèves.

Le terme « commun de connaissance » utilisé pour décrire les projets de production collective de connaissance, notamment en ligne, renvoie aux travaux d’Ostrom & Ostrom. Parce que non rivale, la connaissance apparaît étrangère aux questions de régulation d’accès et d’exploitation des communs classiques, ou des collectifs plus traditionnels de collaboration scientifique. À l’aide de trois exemples de production collective en ligne (Debian, Georezo, Wikipedia), nous précisons ce qu’est la ressource partagée et en quoi celle-ci est rivale. Nous montrons ainsi ce qu’est le « commun numérique de connaissance » : un système sociotechnique de production de connaissances nouvelles. Cette analyse réduit, mais précise ce qu’est un commun de connaissance, et permet de proposer des hypothèses sur quand et comment un commun peut apparaître pour organiser la production de la connaissance, notamment scientifique. Codes JEL : H41, L17, O35

Adherence to exercise programs for chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major issue. The R‐COOL feasibility study evaluated humanoid robot supervision of exercise for CLBP. Aims are as follows: (1) compare stretching sessions between the robot and a physiotherapist (control), (2) compare clinical outcomes between groups, and (3) evaluate participant perceptions of usability and satisfaction and therapist acceptability of the robot system. Prospective, randomized, controlled, single‐blind, 2‐centre study comparing a 3‐week (3 hours/day, 5 days/week) physical activity program. Stretching sessions (30 minutes/day) were supervised by a physiotherapist (control) or the robot. Primary outcome: daily physical activity time (adherence). Secondary outcomes: lumbar pain, disability and fear and beliefs, participant perception of usability (system usability scale) and satisfaction, and physiotherapist acceptability (technology acceptance model). Clinical outcomes were compared between groups with a Student t ‐test and perceptions with a Wilcoxon test. Data from 27 participants were analysed ( n = 15 control and n = 12 robot group). Daily physical activity time did not differ between groups, but adherence declined (number of movements performed with the robot decreased from 82% in the first week to 72% in the second and 47% in the third). None of the clinical outcomes differed between groups. The median system usability scale score was lower in the robot group: 58 (IQR 11.8) points vs. 87 (IQR 9.4) in the control group at 3 weeks ( p < 0.001). Median physiotherapist rating of the technology acceptance model was <3 points, suggesting a negative opinion of the robot. In conclusion, adherence to robot exercise reduced over time; however, lumbar pain, disability, or fear and beliefs did not differ between groups. The results of the participant questionnaires showed that they were willing to use such a system, although several technical issues suggested the KERAAL system could be improved to provide fully autonomous supervision of physical activity sessions.

International audience

Abstract While age is the variable most often used to explain household recycling behavior, research findings reveal only limited or contradictory effects. This study demonstrates the utility of several additional variables related to age in regard to explaining the effect of aging on household recycling behavior. These variables are generativity, available time, and perceived skills. By drawing on the theory of planned behavior, this paper offers a model that clarifies how age indirectly influences household recycling behavior. The model is tested on a stratified sample, and the results are analyzed through mediation tests and structural equation modeling. While aging is associated with lower levels of enthusiasm for recycling, more skills and available time allow recycling to be accomplished with increased ease. Finally, the results enable an explanation of the previous contradictory results about age effects and lead to managerial and societal recommendations on how household recycling can be effectively promoted.

Raised-line graphics are tactile documents made for people with visual impairments (VI). Their exploration relies on a complex two-handed behavior. To better understand the cognitive processes underlying this exploration, we proposed a new method based on “tactile fixations”. A tactile fixation occurs when a finger is stationary within a specific spatial and temporal window. It is known that stationary fingers play an active role when exploring tactile graphics, but they have never been defined or studied before. In this study, we first defined the concept of tactile fixation, then we conducted a behavioral study with ten participants with VI in order to assess the role of tactile fixations under different conditions. The results show that tactile fixations vary according to different factors such as the graphic type as well as the involved hand and the aim of the exploration.

Exploring geographic maps on touchscreens is a difficult task in the absence of vision as those devices miss tactile cues. Prior research has therefore introduced non-visual interaction techniques designed to allow visually impaired people to explore spatial configurations on tactile devices. In this paper, we present a study in which six blind and six blindfolded sighted participants evaluated three of those interaction techniques compared to a screen reader condition. We observed that techniques providing guidance result in a higher user satisfaction and more efficient exploration. Adding a grid-like structure improved the estimation of distances. None of the interaction techniques improved the reconstruction of the spatial configurations. The results of this study allow improving the design of non-visual interaction techniques that support a better exploration and memorization of maps in the absence of vision.

(VF)Quel rôle joue le contrôle des comportements et que devient la place de la déviance lorsque les règles s’écartent et que l’autonomie, l’initiative, le progrès constant, deviennent des principes du fonctionnement de l’entreprise et de l’organisation du travail ? Pour tenter d’apporter des éléments de réponses à cette question, nous l’étudions sous l’angle des théories de la déviance. L’objectif est, à partir d’une exploration bibliographique, de retirer les principes d’une perspective conceptuelle et d’un questionnement précis permettant de guider l’analyse du lien déviance-contrôle dans les situations concrètes de travail et de gestion.(VA)Which role is played by the control of workplace behavior and which becomes the place of deviance when the rules deviate and when autonomy, initiative, constant progress, become operating principles of the company and organization of work ? In order to try to sketch out tentative answers to this question, we study it under the angle of the theories of deviance. The objective is, starting from a bibliographical exploration, to identify the principles of a precise conceptual framework making it possible to guide the analysis of the deviance-control relation in concrete situations of work and management

Cette recherche définit la pression temporelle ultime (PTU) comme la conscience d’un temps restant à vivre limité par le rapprochement de la mort et les réactions affectives qui l’accompagnent. Il s’agit d’une nouvelle catégorie de pression temporelle se différenciant des pressions temporelles chronique (PTC) ou situationnelle (PTS). Une échelle de mesure en est proposée dont la validité nomologique est testée sur différentes motivations au bénévolat des retraités, permettant notamment d’aller au-delà de l’utilisation du temps disponible de cette population comme critère primordial de recrutement et fidélisation de bénévoles.

Purpose While some collaborative consumption activities are underpinned by commercial logics and dispositions, local collaborative consumer communities are organised around non-commercial values and driven by the desire to organise social relationships differently. These communities are based on the notions of a commons, sharing and reciprocity. However, because they make little use of digital tools (internet to coordinate the exchange of services, social media to communicate), they are not very visible to consumers. This paper aims to identify these non-commercial organisations’ relationship to digital tools and determine how these organisations can generate individual and/or collective well-being. Design/methodology/approach This study examined the case of the local exchange trading system (LETS), a local collaborative consumer community that practices a moneyless exchange of services. A qualitative study was conducted based on 23 in-depth interviews with LETS managers. Findings Due to the communities’ local roots and regular face-to-face meet-ups, there did not seem to be a pressing need to use an online platform to coordinate the exchange of services. However, the results showed that the use of digital tools increased these communities’ well-being potential (e.g. development of social ties, solidarity and social equality) while reducing their negative effects (e.g. fatigue due to community involvement and difficulty integrating new members). They also introduce the notions of generation, founder’s personality and management team’s dynamism into the collaborative consumption literature. Originality/value It is important to focus on how these “alternative” markets function. Consumers use them but without abandoning more traditional markets. Understanding how they work improves the understanding of the competition they pose to traditional services and how the different ecosystems complement one another.

The concept of intergenerational transmission has given rise to a heterogenous body of research in consumer behaviour. It has been mobilised in domains as varied as consumer socialisation and heritage disposition. This article proposes an integrative conceptual framework for the intergenerational transmission of consumer behaviour. This framework has emerged from an interpretation of Erikson’s theory of human personality development. Its first contribution is that it links the developmental concerns of the younger and older generations (learning, differentiating, taking care and preserving) around the notion of intergenerational capital. Its second contribution is that it puts forward the concepts of sociocultural, economic, psychological and genetic capital, which serve to enrich and clarify the nature of intergenerational capital. Finally, it opens up new research directions, including a much-needed focus on the central role of the ‘pivot’ generation (the 30–65 age group) and on taking into account the concept of attachment in the study of the effect of inherited psychological resources on the adoption of consumer practices.

L’article interroge la notion de comme intermédiaire entre l’ underground et l’ upperground ( Cohendet , 2010 ), appliquée au contexte spécifique des villes petites et moyennes. Nous cherchons à savoir dans quelle mesure le modèle des grounds est pertinent pour ces territoires et s’il permet de révéler le fonctionnement des espaces de travail collaboratifs. Les résultats reposent sur une analyse de cas multiple réalisée à partir d’une enquête par entretiens semi-directifs. Ils montrent certaines particularités qui n’ont pas été mises en évidence par la littérature comme un faible cloisonnement entre acteurs (multi-appartenance communautaire, mobilité interstrate) et un fonctionnement ouvert et transversal des espaces étudiés. En conclusion, les différentes strates dans les villes petites et moyennes semblent plus difficiles à distinguer que dans les métropoles. Codes JEL : O18, P25, R58

In this paper, we propose a supervised approach for toxic comment classification for French language. We choose a set of features proposed for toxic comment detection for English and use it for French toxic comment detection. Our approach is based on N-gram features, linguistic features and a dictionary of insulting words and expressions. We obtain a F1-score of 78% with N-grams, linguistic and lexicon features, a precision of 87% with N-gram features and a recall of 83% with N-gram, linguistic and lexicon features. Classifier used are linear SVM and decision tree.