Academic literature on the topic 'Small business – France – Rhône-Alpes'

Purpose – Rapid growth constitutes both a theoretical and an economic issue. Thanks to a comparative study of five high growth small and medium sized enterprises located in Rhône-Alp and Provence (France), the authors propose a processual analysis of high growth trajectories. The purpose of this paper is to identify trajectories and tools implicated in the construction and maintenance of a high growth trajectory. Design/methodology/approach – The contribution is a comparative, qualitative study of five medium size companies in France that have experienced growth of more than 20 percent annually for at least four years. This study is based on 25 semi-directive interviews with company managers. Findings – First, high growth is a result of the psychological state of the company leader. Second, high growth is a manifestation of a secure enterprise geographically based where the company originated. This, however, implies discomfort once high growth occurs when physical expansion obliges moving to unfamiliar locations. Finally, in companies with high growth trajectories, support functions develop relatively late. Originality/value – The results corroborate certain previously presented findings and bring forth new conclusions particularly concerning the place of the leader, the existence of thresholds and the relative homogeneity of trajectories.

The Case Study section of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves two purposes. First, the case studies presented are concerned with problematical issues that are pertinent to students of entrepreneurship. Thus they constitute appropriate teaching and learning vehicles on a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. Each case study is accompanied by a set of guidelines for the use of tutors. Second, it is envisaged that those engaged in entrepreneurial activities will find the cases both interesting and useful. This case study focuses on Domaine de Mourchon, a niche producer of Côtes du Rhône Villages, Séguret Wines in France, owned by the Scottish McKinlay family. The case explores the role of entrepreneurial marketing in helping small independent wine producers to craft strong niche positions in a mature industry. Over the last two decades, French wine producers have been faced with changing consumption and production patterns and fiercer competition, particularly from the New World wine producers. McKinlay entered wine production in 1998 at the height of the industry decline in France. The case allows for the exploration of how a small independent domaine has been proactive in integrating customer preferences, competitor intelligence and product knowledge into the process of creating and delivering superior value to customers in an attempt to achieve a strong market positioning. The activities of McKinlay highlight some of the important considerations for successful entrepreneurial marketing in an industry facing severe marketing problems. Learning objectives: a) to explore the role of entrepreneurial marketing in promoting small firm growth, particularly in mature and/or declining industries; (b) to assess branding and the establishment of or involvement in cooperative interorganizational networks as key factors in successful entrepreneurial marketing; and (c) to stimulate debate about the role of entrepreneurial marketing for small and large firms in different industries.

Young and rapidly internationalizing firms, known as ‘international new ventures’ (INVs) or ‘born globals’ (BGs) have developed their ability to grow rapidly in international markets primarily because the entrepreneur and his or her team have established an international network. Based on six case studies of young technological firms located in the Rhône–Alpes region of France and using a qualitative method, this study focuses on the founders' capabilities in creating and developing an international business network. The results show that entrepreneurs build on their previous professional experience to mobilize international networks during the start-up phase in order to drive the firm's activities.

Since the publication of the highly cited book of Richard Florida (“The Rise of the Creative Class. And How it's Transforming Work, Leisure and Everyday Life”), creativity has been considered as a new paradigm for economic development of cities and regions. In this context, evaluating the creative class and the creative capital has become an increasingly important concern. At the same time, measuring creative capital, in European countries in particular, remains underinvestigated. This paper is aimed at redressing this gap by evaluating the creative capital index for several regions of France. A multi-method research design was based on the Creative Capital Index project by PwC Russia. It was used to analyze both primary and secondary data on five main variables – “Regional development”, “Population”, “Business environment”, “Government” and “Brands” – from several French regions (Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bretagne, Occitanie and Pays de la Loire) obtained from European, national and regional open databases, official websites of governmental and non-governmental organizations and other online resources. The analysis of the results of creative capital index estimation and the investigation of creative projects, strategies and programs that were implemented in the regions under study has shown that each region has its competitive advantage in terms of specific aspects of creative capital. The results of the study may be of use to economists and policymakers by enabling them to recognize the key factors of creativity in their regions.

SummarySeventy unrelated patients suffering from haemophilia B have been screened for determining the molecular defect and for evaluating the spectrum of factor IX mutations in the Rhône Alpes region in France. Most patients were characterized with respect to factor IX antigen and factor IX coagulant activity. We have used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to obtain a full scanning of the whole coding, promoter, and exon flanking sequences of the factor IX gene. This technique enabled us to determine the molecular defect in 68 out of 70 families (97%), and the mutation was further identified in the two last patients with a direct sequencing of the gene. A total of 2 complete gene deletions in patients with antifactor IX inhibitor, 6 small insertions/ deletions and 62 point mutations were found. Two of these nucleotide substitutions (Arg145His and Ala233Thr) were detected in 21 patients (30%) suggesting the existence of a local founder effect. Thirteen mutations were previously undescribed, including 7 missense mutations. The detection of mutations in patients affected with haemophilia B may shed some light in the structure-function relationship of factor IX molecule within the coagulation system.

In February and March 2016, four cases of serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) occurred over 3 weeks in a small area north of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. There were no deaths but two cases had sequelae. This community outbreak was caused by a rare meningococcal strain of the clonal complex ST-32, covered by the 4CMenB/Bexsero vaccine. The incidence rate for serogroup B IMD in this area was 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is above the epidemic threshold (10/100,000). The number of cases observed was significantly higher than expected in the age group of 0–24 year-olds (standardised incidence ratio: 96). These results suggested the potential emergence of this invasive strain in this sub-population. In accordance with French recommendations, it was decided to vaccinate the population aged between 2 months and 24 years, living, working or studying in the epidemic area. The vaccination campaign took place from April to September 2016. Vaccination coverage was estimated at 47% for one dose and 40% for two doses. The lowest coverage estimations were observed for the age groups younger than 3 and 15–19 years. Enhanced epidemiological and microbiological surveillance reported a fifth case in June 2016, outside the epidemic area.

ObjectiveDefine analytic areas at a sub-regional level to better meet the needs of local decision-makers.IntroductionSince 1 January 2016, the Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions have merged as part of the territorial reform. The new region is composed of 12 departments and accounts for more than 8 million inhabitants. Its territory is heterogeneous in population density with very urban areas (Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon and Saint-Etienne) and important mountainous areas (Arc Alpin, Massif Central). In France since 2004, the syndromic surveillance system SurSaUD® [1] coordinated by the French Public Health Agency (Santé publique France) collects morbidity data on a daily basis from two data sources: the emergency departments (ED) network Oscour® and the emergency general practitioners SOS Médecins associations. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the number of structures participating in the scheme has gradually increased from 2006 to today; as of 1 September 2018, all emergency services (N = 84) and all SOS Médecins associations (N = 7) transmit their data on a daily basis. Both data sources collect medical diagnoses, using ICD10 codes in the ED network and specific medical thesaurus in SOS Médecins Associations.These data are routinely analyzed to detect and follow-up various expected or unusual public health events all over the territory [2]. A reflection on the analysis of monitoring data at the sub-regional level was conducted in the region in order to refine the analyses carried out and better meet the expectations of local partners.MethodsThe SurSaUD® system has been progressively upgraded in recent years reaching its regional completeness in 2018. At the same time, the quality of the data also improved, making it possible to work on finer spatial levels.Three infra-regional partitioning scenarios were studied: the Territorial Hospital Groups (GHT) created in 2016. Although they represents 15 groupings in our region, the 12 departments and the 3 emergency physicians networks, we wondered about the possibility of carrying out analyzes on this scale to answer to local needs. The former Rhône-Alpes region had the particularity of being endowed with three networks of emergency physicians rooted in the region for more than 10 years. These networks are:- The RENAU network (North Alpine Emergency Network) which covers the Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and part of Isère regions (including Grenoble University Hospital);- The RESUVAL network (emergency network of the Rhone Valley) which covers the Ain, the Rhône (including the University Hospital of Lyon), the Drôme, the Ardèche (except the northern part) and the rest of the Isère regions;- The REULIAN network (Loire and northern Ardèche emergency network) which covers the Loire (including the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne) and the northern part of Ardèche (Annonay).These networks were created to structure the sectors and the organization of health care provision in emergency medicine.ResultsA breakdown into departments seemed of little relevance due to the large number of departments within the region and the significant heterogeneity in terms of activity, data transmission and quality. At this departmental scale, the volume of activity in the number of emergency reports transmitted varies from 51,300 to 608,400 annual visits depending on the department. Similarly, the coding of diagnoses varies between 19% and 81%, depending on the department.For the 15 GHTs, very recent in the region, the organization is not yet homogeneous in terms of healthcare provision and business software. Indeed, GHTs represent between 53,000 and 514,000 annual emergency visits. In addition, the quality of the data provided varies from 10 to 94% of coded diagnoses. This breakdown was thus not finally retained.In order to have coherent territories of relatively homogeneous weight, three sectors were defined: the first two sectors relied on the networks of emergency physicians in the east and center of the region (RENAU and RésuVal). For the west, the territory of the REULIAN network was merged with the former Auvergne region, which was also consistent with medical practices. Consequently, these three networks make it possible to have a logic of organization of health care and present relatively balanced sectors. These sectors comprise between 21 and 34 emergency services, and account for one to three SOS Médecins associations. This represents between 545,000 and 1,028,000 annual visits to emergency services, and between 93,000 and 109,000 annual consultations with SOS Médecins. The transmission quality of emergency visits data at D + 1 varies between 51% and 73%.A breakdown into 3 sectors (West, Center, and East) was finally retained.To illustrate the situation, a study on the characteristics and sub-regional spatio-temporal diffusion of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis epidemics in children under 2 years in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region did not show any major differences between sectors to identify the start of the outbreak (+/- 1 or 2 weeks). However, the identification of the start of the outbreak in 1 or 2 sectors only did not seem to trigger outbreak onset at regional level. There is therefore a delay in informing the start of the outbreak for the sector (and the facilities) concerned, which may also delay the possibility to adapt health care provision with respect to the epidemic peak.Another use of these sectors was performed during the surveillance of allergies in the region. In the spring, the pollens are different from one week to another and depending on the territory. Also, thanks to these three sectors, it is possible to refine the observations to allow a prevention closer to the field. In the spring of 2018, in the East sector, a peak higher than in previous years was observed, while in the other two sectors, this dynamics was relatively similar to the one observed over the last two years.ConclusionsThe 3 networks of emergency physicians in the former Rhône-Alpes region, which have been active for more than 10 years, show that there is a real logic of health care provision between facilities belonging to the same network (common health problems, geographical characteristics, etc.). It was therefore relevant to rely on these networks to propose a sub-regional breakdown. In order to balance the sectors (in terms of the number of reports of emergency visits, number of facilities, population), it was decided to group within the Western sector the REULIAN territory and the territory of the former AuvergneThe results of the study on bronchiolitis show that the analysis of the spread of RSV-related bronchiolitis outbreaks at the sub-regional level could allow a better anticipation of outbreak onset, and therefore of the epidemic peak which constitutes the main stake for the organization of health care provision. The interest of this surveillance in sectors will also have to be evaluated for other seasonal disease.References[1] Caserio-Schönemann C, Bousquet V, Fouillet A, Henry V. Le système de surveillance syndromique SurSaUD (R). Bull Epidémiol Hebd 2014;3-4:38-44.[2] Josseran L, Nicolau J, Caillère N, Astagneau P, Brücker G. Syndromic surveillance based on emergency department activity and crude mortality: two examples. Euro Surveill 2006;11:225-9.

Cette thèse vise à évaluer et analyser les effets directs et indirects des Instituts de Recherche Technologique (IRT) Rhônalpins qui sont l'un des dispositifs des politiques d'innovation fondées sur les transferts science-industrie, créés en France dans le cadre du Programme d'investissement d' Avenir. En appliquant un modèle de différence-en-différence combiné aux méthodes d'appariement, les résultats montrent un effet direct positif sur le chiffre d'affaires et l'autonomie financière et indiquent que cet effet varie en fonction de la durée de participation et du type d'aide reçu. Par ailleurs le type d'aide jouerait un rôle plus important que la durée de traitement dans l'efficacité des IRT. Les résultats indiquent aussi que l'IRT a eu les effet indirects positifs sur le chiffre d'affaires, l'autonomie financière et la part des cadres des PMEs non-directement bénéficiaires, localisées dans la zone traitée et que ces effets n'apparaissent pas immédiatement après le traitement mais quelques années plus tard. Par ailleurs, ce travail de recherche évalue et analyse les effets directs des IRT en se focalisant sur les performances de R&D des grandes entreprises. En utilisant le modèle à tendance aléatoire et le modèle de contrôle synthétique, les résultats du premier modèle indiquent que la participation aux IRT a eu un effet direct additionnel sur les dépenses totales de R&D nettes et que ces dépenses sont largement autofinancées et utilisées à l'extérieur de l'entreprise à travers les collaborations et les sous-traitances. Les résultats du second modèle montrent qu'une seule entreprise a des effets quasi-systématiques sur tous les indicateurs de performance de R&D
This thesis aims to evaluate and analyse the direct and indirect effects of the Rhône-Alpes Technological Research Institutes (IRTs), which are one of the innovation policy devices based on science-industry transfers, created in France as pait of the Future Investment Programme. By applying a difference-in-difference model combined with matching methods, the results show a direct positive effect on turnover and financial autonomy and indicate that this effect varies according to the duration of participation and the type of assistance received. In addition, the type of assistance would play a more important role than the duration of treatment in the effectiveness of TRis. The results also indicate that the TRI had positive indirect effects on turnover, financial autonomy and the share of executives of non-directly beneficiary SMEs but located in the treated area and that these effects do not appear immediately after the treatment but a few years later. In addition, this research work assesses and analyses the direct effects of TRis by focusing on the R&D performance of large companies. Using the random trend model and the synthetic control model, the results of the first model indicate that participation in TRis has had an additional direct effect on total net R&D expenditures and that these expenditures are largely self-­financed and used outside the company through collaborations and outsourcing. The results of the second model show that a single company has almost systematic effects on all R&D performance indicators

Defence date: 10 May 1991
Examining Board: Prof. Bernd Marin (Europäisches Zentrum für Wohlfahrtspolitik und Sozialforschung, Wien, supervisor) ; Prof. Philippe Ch. Schmitter (Standford University, co-supervisor) ; Prof. Giandomenico Majone (Istituto Universitario Europeo, Fiesole) ; Prof. Yves Mény (Institut d'Etudes Politique de Paris)
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digitised archive of EUI PhD theses completed between 2013 and 2017