French Case Research Articles

Factors influencing career advancement in supply chain management with gender perspectives: French case study

PurposeThe field of supply chain management (SCM) needs to attract and retain workers to solve the current talent shortage. The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate factors that influence career advancement in SCM and compare male and female supply chain experts' perceptions of the importance of those factors.Design/methodology/approachFirst, 32 factors perceived as affecting career advancement in SCM were identified by conducting a literature review and consulting 36 experts. Those factors were grouped into four categories: “environmental and structural”, “human capital”, “individual” and “interpersonal”. Those factors were validated via the Delphi method, and ten factors were retained for further study. Second, the voting analytical hierarchy process was used to determine the priority weights experts assigned to these factors. The weights assigned by male and female experts were compared to determine if there were differences between the women's and men's perceptions of the factors' importance.FindingsThe findings reveal that the category of human capital factors is the most important, followed by individual factors and the least important is interpersonal factors. The experts consulted for this research emphasized “skills”, “a good fit between an individual and an organization” and “self-confidence” as important factors for career advancement. There were two unexpected results. First, the experts rejected all the environmental and structural factors. Second, no significant difference was found between the male and female groups' evaluations.Originality/valuePrior to this study, no integrated approach to identify and evaluate the factors perceived which affect career advancement in SCM had been developed. This research is a single empirical and integrative study in France that provides valuable insights for academics and practitioners.

When Military Interventions Decrease Military Power. Evidence from the French Case

ABSTRACT Military interventions create dilemmas for military organizations which must balance security-related tasks (such as peacekeeping or crisis management operations) and defense-related tasks involving deterrence and the preparation for high-intensity operations. This article specifically examines the trade-off between security and defense tasks through an original analysis of the impact of the intensification of the French armed forces’ operational tempo on the overall availability of military equipment. We argue that the intensification of military interventions generates gaps in a country’s military capabilities. More precisely, an excessive operational tempo, understood as an unsustainable level of deployment given regeneration capabilities, can reduce the ability of military organizations to generate operationally effective forces. Through an original methodological approach, using a multilevel econometric model that estimates a specific dimension of military power applied to the French case, this article contributes to the literature on the strategic utility of military interventions by examining their structural impact on the armed forces.

Application of sensitivity analysis on building dynamic lifecycle assessment of GHG emissions: a French case study

This study presents a novel approach to simplify the dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA) of buildings by identifying and prioritizing influential dynamic parameters (DPs) to improve building energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Current life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies lack temporal considerations, which can significantly impact a building’s environmental footprint over its multi-decade life span. We conducted an extensive literature review on DPs in DLCA, informing the creation of a multi-scenario parametric framework. A case study was then selected to apply the developed DLCA methodology and perform a global Sensitivity Analysis to pinpoint the most influential DPs on global warming potential. The DLCA framework integrates data from the French database for environmental product declarations and utilizes EnergyPlus simulations for operational emissions assessment. The study identifies ten DPs, revealing the most impactful ones to be industry and waste sector emissions reductions, building occupancy, and global warming. Additionally, we found minimal interactions between DPs, which facilitates the simplification of the DLCA process. This research enables building stakeholders to focus on a more selective set of parameters, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of building life cycle assessments. Overall, our findings contribute to the continuous improvement of LCA methodologies and promote sustainable building practices.

A cost calculation model for urban delivery of parcels by river

Public and private actors in cities have embarked on a race to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. However, parcel delivery in urban areas is booming, especially due to e-commerce. This context necessitates the study of sustainable transportation use. Among the various city-center parcel delivery modes, delivery by river is largely understudied. This study proposes a cost calculation model for delivery by inland waterways. This model considers fixed and variable costs for pre-carriage, transshipment, and last-mile delivery using a two-echelon last-mile delivery network framework. The model is tested using a real-life French case study and worldwide academic investigation. The results show that load optimization is key for profitability and that the most important costs are personnel and investment costs.

Impact of dividend policy on earnings management and the moderating effect of the board of directors and the audit committees: The French case

Research Question: To what extent can governance mechanisms (audit committee and board of directors) affect the relationship between dividend policy and earnings management? Motivation: The majority of the literature has showed that dividend policy can influence earnings management. However, the empirical results did not lead to the same results. Our study seeks to fill this gap by examining whether this impact can vary by taking into account certain moderating variables such as: the size of the board of directors, the number of board meetings, the independence and expertise of the members of the audit committees. Idea: This study examines the moderating effect of certain variables related to the effectiveness of the board of directors and the audit committee on the impact of the dividend policy on earnings management. Data: The authors selected French non-financial companies listed on the CAC All Tradable index during the 2008-2015 period. Tools: To test study’s hypotheses, the authors applied linear regression with a panel data using the datastream database. Generalized least squares method is used to estimate the models. Findings: The results of this study show that the effect of the dividend policy on earnings management is more favorable in the case of companies where the board of directors is large. Contribution: This study shows that dividend policy constitutes an objective of earnings management especially in the companies with boards made up of a large number of directors. Investors and academics have an interest in better understanding the concepts: dividend policy and earnings management because the debates relating to these two variables have always been the subject of controversy. Thus, they can refer to corporate dividend policy as a mechanism for assessing the authenticity of corporate financial reports.

Prehistory of journalism studies: Discovering the Brazilian tradition

Aiming to broaden and diversify knowledge about the origins of journalism studies, this article proposes a longitudinal examination of research on the press and journalists produced in Brazil, from the 1840s to the 1940s. It is shown that the first intellectuals interested in investigating the subject were doctors, engineers, jurists and theologians, as well as self-taught. Instead of simply classifying the production of this dilettante group under the label of “Whig history,” the study intends to understand the meaning and role that they, in common, attributed to journalism: the beacon of a young nation in progress. The analysis of the set of historical accounts identifies an approach that is at the same time liberal — as it frames absolutist Portugal as the main obstacle to the introduction of the press in Colonial Brazil — and nativist — as it overestimates the development of Brazilian journalism during the period of the Empire, equating it with the British and French cases. Ultimately, these reactions to colonial powers could be seen as early impulses to current efforts to decolonize the field.

US-based SVoD services and the restructuring of the audio-visual production market: The French case

This article studies the impact of the rise of new content consumption methods on French audio-visual production. To this end, we conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with producers, investigating their relationship with new online players, as well as their work habits. This study makes it possible to distinguish between two market segments: the first is organized around US-based subscription video on demand platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+) and the second around players from the competitive fringe, who are smaller but whose demand still fuels the French audio-visual sector.

Familial central precocious puberty due to DLK1 deficiency: novel genetic findings and relevance of serum DLK1 levels.

Several rare loss-of-function mutations of delta-like noncanonical notch ligand 1 (DLK1) have been described in non-syndromic children with familial central precocious puberty (CPP). We investigated genetic abnormalities of DLK1 gene in a French cohort of children with idiopathic CPP. Additionally, we explored the pattern of DLK1 serum levels in patients with CPP and in healthy children at puberty, as well as in wild-type female mice. Genomic DNA was obtained from 121 French index cases with CPP. Automated sequencing of the coding region of the DLK1 gene was performed in all cases. Serum DLK1 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 209 individuals, including 191 with normal pubertal development and in female mice during postnatal pubertal maturation. We identified 2 rare pathogenic DLK1 allelic variants: A stop gain variant (c.372C>A; p.Cys124X) and a start loss variant (c.2T>G; p.Met1?, or p.0) in 2 French girls with CPP. Mean serum DLK1 levels were similar between healthy children and idiopathic CPP children. In healthy individuals, DLK1 levels correlated with pubertal stage: In girls, DLK1 decreased between Tanner stages III and V, whereas in boys, DLK1 decreased between Tanner stages II and V (P = .008 and .016, respectively). Serum levels of Dlk1 also decreased in wild-type female mice. Novel loss-of-function mutations in DLK1 gene were identified in 2 French girls with CPP. Additionally, we demonstrated a pattern of dynamic changes in circulating DLK1 serum levels in humans and mice during pubertal stages, reinforcing the role of this factor in pubertal timing.

The complex relationships between non-food agriculture and the sustainable bioeconomy: The French case

The article studies the diversity of models of sustainable bioeconomy by focusing on the productive strategies of the farmers who engage in it. To account for this diversity, we use the framework of analysis of Beckert's socio-economics of capitalism in terms of compromises between four institutionalised economic processes: commodification, competition, innovation, and financing. We complete it by a fifth institutionalised process: the social relationship to the environment. We apply this framework analysis to the results obtained through a qualitative survey of 85 actors in the Grand Est region (France) involved in the bioeconomy between 2017 and 2021. We identify four models for the agricultural non-food bioeconomy that fit into various value chains and which approach sustainability issues differently.

Reterritorialisation of agricultural activities in land-use and food planning: comparing the Netherlands and France

ABSTRACT The reterritorialisation of agricultural activities (RAA) consists of reinforcing local food production and its diversification activities oriented toward local consumers. RAA helps shape the local food system, which is an increasingly studied topic in the planning field. However, institutional impacts on planning approaches for RAA remain unknown. This study examines this question by comparing land-use and food planning in Dutch and French cases, where France defines food planning via national law and the Netherlands does not. Through analysis of planning documents and semi-structured interviews, we identified planning goals and instruments, and analysed governance models. We then linked these three components to understand institutional impacts. Our empirical findings reveal that regarding planning policies on RAA, there are differences between the two countries in terms of focused action fields, planning instruments, and links between land-use and food planning. Our results show that the dominance of state-local relationships in France and civil society-government relationships in the Netherlands has a significant effect on planning approaches. This study supports the need for an emphasis on institutional design for effective planning for RAA.

Serious Games as an Organizational Learning Tool for Sustainable Innovation: A French Case

Serious Games as an Organizational Learning Tool for Sustainable Innovation: A French Case

Immediate hypersensitivity to dupilumab: a French case series.

Immediate hypersensitivity to dupilumab: a French case series.

Pregnancy outcome in patients with a medical history of immunoglobulin A vasculitis: a case–control study

Objective Data on obstetric outcomes in patients with a history of immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgA-V) are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess maternal, neonatal, and vasculitis outcomes during pregnancy. Method We conducted a French retrospective case–control study. Pregnancies of patients with a history of IgA-V (cases) were retrospectively studied and compared to pregnancies in women who developed IgA-V after their pregnancies and to pregnancies in healthy women (controls). Results Twenty-six pregnancies in patients with a history of IgA-V were included and compared to 15 pregnancies in women who later developed IgA-V and 52 pregnancies in healthy women. Both gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia were more frequent in the case group than in the other groups (23% vs 0% vs 0%, p < 0.01; 12% vs 7% vs 0%, p = 0.04). Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy occurred more frequently in patients with pre-existing kidney disease (78% vs 12%, p < 0.01). Caesarean section was more often performed in the case group than in the other groups (27% vs 0% vs 10%, p = 0.04). No foetal loss or maternal deaths occurred. There were no differences in delivery term or birth weight. No vasculitis flares were observed during pregnancy. Conclusion Women with a history of IgA-V appear to be at higher risk for gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, especially in cases with renal involvement; however, both mother and newborn outcomes appear to be favourable.

Questioning the business model of sustainable wine production: The case of French “Vallée du Rhône” wine growers

This study develops and examines novel insights into attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable wine production and the Business Model (BM) concepts surrounding them. It employs multi-methods – two focus groups, survey (n = 350) and seven in-depth interviews. The aim is to analyse sustainable wine production and consumption in a specific context in order to better understand challenges, opportunities and expectations facing wine producers and the conditions in which they operate. Equally, the paper identifies emerging trends in the sustainable value chain. This research is highly important as the wine industry constitutes a major global industry with substantial environmental impacts. The research findings show the need for: integrated strategic vision; diversification into wine-related services; and marketing communications to inform and educate consumers, in line with BM innovation. Given the current paucity of research in this field, the present study provides novel and valuable insights and implications for business managers, policy makers and scholars.

« Islamogauchisme » ? The fallacy and function of an empty signifier

This article introduces the special issue ‘« Islamogauchisme » ? Moral Panics, Culture Wars and the Threat to Academic Freedom’. It begins by outlining the polemic in 2020, whereby the government accused universities of being overrun by so-called ‘Islamogauchistes’, placing this moral panic within the wider French context of ideological redefinitions of laïcité and debates on the compatibility of Islam with the universalism of a secular republic, as well as of neoliberal reforms and authoritarian crackdowns on public protest. The article then explores the history and fallacy of the concept and associated government claims, arguing that the term is best understood as an empty signifier, an umbrella term under which almost anything vaguely Muslim or left-wing could be covered, before moving on to critique the function of this kind of discourse, arguing that as well as continuing the Islamophobic scapegoating of minorities, it serves to ‘other’ the left-wing opposition and normalise the far-right while the neoliberal centre itself becomes increasingly illiberal and authoritarian. Finally, the text will place this very French polemic in the wider global context, considering it in terms of the wider culture wars that we are witnessing around the world while also focusing on what is specific to the French case – namely, a particularly republican form of racism that supplements the neoilliberalisation of the state. The introduction concludes with a summary of the contributions to the issue from Philippe Marlière, Reza Zia-Ebrahimi, Michel Wieviorka, Caroline Ibos &amp; Eric Fassin, Houria Bouteldja &amp; Anna Younes, Farid Hafez, and Aurélien Mondon &amp; Simon Dawes.

IFRS adoption and audit delay: the case of the large French listed companies

Abstract&#x0D; Listed French companies in European regulated markets were required to present their consolidated accounts using the international financial reporting standards (IFRS) from 1 January 2005. This study investigates the impact of this adoption on audit delay, which is the number of days from a company’s fiscal year-end to the date of its auditor’s report. The sample used in this paper is a panel of 69 French firms over a period of 6 years (2002-2007). Data was gathered from the SBF 250 index. The fixed effects regression results show that the transition to IFRS is associated with a significant increase in audit timeliness. This significant rise in audit delay occurred only in 2005, but was not found during the post-IFRS period. This paper proved the complexity of the IFRS and thus auditors required more hours in performing their audit engagement. The contribution of this study is to investigate an audit report in a developed capital market (listed French firms) by taking advantage of access to proprietary data on audit delay and audit fees.&#x0D; Keywords: IFRS, Audit delay, French firms, complexity.

Sustainable Banking through Robotic Process Automation: What Role does ESG and Cognitive AI play?

This study explores the factors for implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions that contribute to the advancement of sustainable banking. The banking industry faces the dual challenge of maximizing operational efficiency while embracing environmental responsibility to align with long-term sustainability objectives in an era of technological advancements and intelligent tools. Employing a qualitative research approach, this study leverages a prominent French bank case study supplemented by semi-structured interviews with bank personnel. Drawing insights from an extensive literature review and interview responses, the findings uncover three factors (Cognitive AI, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives, difficulty of implementing the RPA solution) critical for effectively implementing sustainable RPA within the banking sector. The findings of this research offer practical insights and relevant solutions for promoting sustainability within the banking sector while harnessing the potential of robotic process automation.

Local implementation of public health policies revealed by the COVID-19 crisis: the French case

BackgroundImproving health system performance depends on the quality of health policy implementation at the local level. However, in general, the attention of researchers is mainly directed towards issues of health policy design and evaluation rather than implementation at the local level. The management of the COVID-19 crisis, especially in Europe, has particularly highlighted the complexity of implementing health policies, decided at the national or supranational level, at the local level.MethodsWe conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with the main stakeholders in the management of the COVID-19 crisis in the second largest French region in order to identify the different actors and modes of coordination of the local implementation of health policies that this crisis management illustrates in a very visible way. Our methodology is complemented by a content analysis of the main guidelines and decisions related to this implementation.ResultsThe analysis of these data allows us to identify three levels of implementation of health policies at the local level (administrative, organizational and operational). Interviews also reveal the existence of different types of coordination specific to each of these levels of local implementation of health policies. These results then make it possible to identify important managerial avenues for promoting global coordination of these three levels of implementation.ConclusionsAlthough research on health services emphasizes the existence of several levels of local implementation of health policies, it offers little in the way of definition or characterization of these levels. The identification in this study of the three levels of local implementation of health policies and their specific forms of coordination contribute to a more precise characterization of this implementation in order to promote, in practice, its global coordination.

P-460 The Impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies on Climate Change : The French Case

Abstract Study question How much tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) are generated by Assisted Reproductive Technologies in France in a year ? Summary answer It is estimated that Assisted Reproductive Technologies generated 55 691 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in France in 2022. What is known already Since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). Created in 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. On December 12th 2015, 196 Parties adopted The Paris Agreement at COP 21 (Paris), a legally binding international treaty on climate change, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The French health sector is only beginning to measure it's carbon emission footprint. Study design, size, duration This study was conducted in Poissy/Saint-Germain-En-Laye Hospital during the year 2022 in the Department of reproductive medicine and biology. Greenhouse gas emissions were classified into three scopes. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions divided into four categories : stationary combustion, mobile combustion, fugitive emissions, process emissions. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions, including both upstream and downstream emissions (separated into 15 categories). Participants/materials, setting, methods Every couple that required IVF or ICSI (including donors) during the year 2022 was included in this study. Number of personnel, transportation of patients, total medication prescribed, electricity consumption and medical furnitures were considered for the calculus of total emissions. Emission factors to calculate carbon emission were taken on the Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME) database. Extrapolation to all of France's ART clinics was possible using the BioMedical Agency (ABM) 2020 report on ART activities. Main results and the role of chance Assisted Reproductive Technologies generated 55 691 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in France in 2022 from 30 963 ICSI and 15 674 IVF procedures. We estimate that every oocyte retrieval procedure generated 1.19 tCO2e (ICSI and IVF). Department of Reproductive Medicine and Biology of Poissy/Saint-Germain-En-Laye (PSGEL) generated 796 tCO2e from 666 oocyte retrieval procedures (449 ICSI, 217 IVF), representing 1.43% of all IVF and ICSI in France. Electricity consumption at PGSEL generated 1 051 tCO2e based on a total of 14 200 kw/h (average price of 0.1740 euros) in 2022. Drugs prescriptions (758 069 euros) and Furniture (194 648 euros) at PGSEL generated respectively 409.584 tCO2e and 61.314 tCO2e in 2022 . 32 members of medical and non-medical at PGSEL staff generated 320 tCO2e in 2022. Transportation of patients to PGSEL generated 4.44 tCO2e in 2022. This is the first study to report an estimation of the carbon emission footprint of French ART. Limitations, reasons for caution Not all data was available (CO2 emissions created by the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients in Asia) or taken into account (waste management, anesthesia type, hospital construction, etc). Fertility preservation procedures were not considered in our calculations. Results are therefore an under-estimation of real CO2 emissions. Wider implications of the findings French Healthcare was responsible for 46 MtCO2e (8% of national total) in 2021. The biggest impact we can have in ART to lower our carbon footprint is optimise the pharmaceutical supply chain of drug manufacturing and use recycled materials for drug packaging (plastic, glass, aluminium, steel) as much as possible. Trial registration number not applicable

P-409 Oocyte cryopreservation following ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation in transgender men: a French case series

Abstract Study question To evaluate the feasibility and results of a fertility preservation program for transgender men. Summary answer Ovarian stimulation outcomes are similar between transgender men and oocyte donation candidates, leading to a satisfactory mean number of cryopreserved oocytes. What is known already The reproductive potential of transgender people may be impaired by gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) and is obviously suppressed in case of gender-affirming surgery involving bilateral ovariectomy and/or hysterectomy. The evolution of medical support for transgender people has made fertility preservation strategies possible. Fertility preservation in transgender men mainly relies on oocyte cryopreservation following controlled ovarian stimulation. However, few data are available to date on the subject, concerning small sample sizes, so no reliable conclusions can be drawn about the feasibility and efficiency of fertility preservation procedures in trans men. Study design, size, duration This retrospective study reports the results of fertility preservation counselling in 118 transgender men referred to our fertility centre from September 2018 to December 2022. Among them, 16 benefited from oocyte cryopreservation. Ovarian stimulation outcomes were compared with those of cisgender oocyte donors. Participants/materials, setting, methods Sixteen transgender men benefited from oocyte cryopreservation following ovarian stimulation and were matched 1:1 to cisgender oocyte donors according to age and body mass index. Antral follicle count and serum AMH levels were systematically measured. Primary outcomes included duration of the stimulation, total FSH dose, peak serum estradiol, oocyte yield, number of mature oocytes, and maturity rate (mature oocytes/total oocytes collected). Results were compared using Fisher’s exact or Wilcoxon’s rank sum tests. Main results and the role of chance One hundred and eighteen transgender men were referred in our centre for fertility preservation counselling. Among them, 95 asked for a medical consultation, and 86 came to the appointment. Following the consultation, only 16 (18.6%) finally decided to benefit from oocyte cryopreservation following ovarian stimulation, including 2 that had already started testosterone therapy. Sixteen presumably fertile oocyte donors were matched based on age and BMI. Mean age of trans’ men was 23.9 ± 5.0. Basal ovarian reserve tests showed satisfactory results in trans’ men and oocyte donors, with similar AMH (4.5 ± 2.3 vs. 4.4 ± 3.2, respectively, NS) but lower AFC in trans’men than in oocyte donors (13.8 ± 11.0 vs. 26.7 ± 10.1, p = 0.033). This result may be explained by a more frequent use of the abdominal approach to assess AFC in the transgender group. Ovarian stimulation outcomes were comparable, with no differences in the duration of stimulation, total FSH dose and peak estradiol levels, leading to a comparable mean number of mature oocyte (15.4 ± 9.9 vs. 17.2 ± 10.6, respectively, NS). Thirteen out 16 transgender men had 10 or more cryopreserved mature oocyte following a single procedure. Limitations, reasons for caution Only a low percentage of trans men that were referred to our centre finally chose to perform oocyte cryopreservation, leading to a small sample size. The majority of them had not started any GAHT, preventing us to evaluate the potential consequences of these treatments on ovarian stimulation outcomes. Wider implications of the findings While parenthood strategies for transgender people have long been ignored, fertility preservation is an important issue to consider, especially because medical treatments and surgeries may be undertaken in very young adults. Oocyte cryopreservation seems to represent a feasible way for trans men to preserve their fertility for future biological parenting. Trial registration number N/A