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The intensification of competitive pressure now requires companies to achieve high levels of manufacturing performance on several dimensions in a simultaneous way. This reality challenges the traditional idea that the production function cannot be all things to all people and must choose between manufacturing objectives such as low cost, high quality or flexibility. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in 250 SMEs in the manufacturing sector. It examines the level to which companies were able to resolve manufacturing performance trade-offs. The results demonstrate that a large number of SMEs have managed to avoid the traditional trade-offs and that trade-offs avoidance is linked with superior financial performance. These high performance SMEs are also characterized by new product development capabilities and the use of flexible operators.

Keywords: Stratégie d'opération, Politiques manufacturières, Petites et moyennes entreprises, Priorités de compétition, Excellence manufacturière

This study aims to identify the strategies used by preschool teachersto facilitate the emergence of early communication skills of childrenwith global developmental delay. Based on interactive observationperiods in Quebec preschool settings (multi-case study), the resultsshow the use of 11 pre-linguistic intervention strategies by teachers.The applications of those strategies used are discussed in relation tochildren's characteristics. Modifications are proposed toincrease communication skills among all children and enrich theeducational program in preschools.

Keywords: observation de pratiques, stratégies d'intervention, communication prélinguistique, préscolaire, incapacités, observation of practices, intervention strategies, communication, pre-linguistic skills, preschool, disabilities, observación de prácticas, estrategias de intervención, comunicación prelingüística, preescolar, discapacidades

Coopetition is a strategy that brings performance and potential risks to firms. This is also true for small business. Indeed, on the one hand, past researches show that small business can highly benefit from coopetition. On the other hand, coopetition carries tensions and conflicts destructing value. Consequently, coopetition in small business has to be efficiently managed to perform well. Past researches has focused on methods of intern management of coopetition in small business but not on inter-organizational devices. In so doing, we develop a theoretical framework based on the Proximity Law, in which four elements are essential: small businesses in coopetition form a community separated from the rest of competitors by a wall phenomenon; small businesses in coopetition develop a high sense of belonging to the community ; there is a hierarchization of the members inside the coopetitive network ; the wall of the coopetitive community is not totally hermetic because there are entry and exit doors. The relevance of this theoretical framework is evaluated by studying small businesses in the real estate brokerage industry in France. This research shows the relevance of coopetition strategies in small business and that the four main characteristics of coopetition in small business are present.

Keywords: Coopétition, Spécificités des PE, Dirigeant-propriétaire, Loi proxémique, Agences immobilières, Coopetition, Specificities of small business, Owner-managers, Proximity law, Real estate agencies, Coopetición, Especifidades de las pequeñas empresas, Dirigente-proprietario, Ley proxémica, Agencias immobiliarias

Test anxiety affects about 15% of students and has a negative impact on their psychological and academic functioning. Several programs showing promising effects have been developed to intervene with these adolescents. However, no study seems to have tested the change mechanisms of these programs. This study aims to analyze the specific mechanisms and in-session processes of the Pastel program, a group program consisting of six one-hour workshops aimed at reducing test anxiety, through semi-structured interviews conducted with 21 secondary 4 and 5 students (85% identifying as female) and nine facilitators (78% identifying as female). Initially, a hypothetico-deductive approach was used to examine the change mechanisms of the program, and then, an inductive approach was used to identify other potential processes. Thematic analyses were used to identify main and sub-themes based on recurring patterns in the interviews. Thus, perceived changes were explained by specific change mechanisms (e.g., reduction of cognitive distortions, improvement in problem-solving abilities, enhancement of organizational and study skills, etc.) and in-session processes (e.g., group format, motivation and engagement, or relational patterns). These results validate the change model of the Pastel program and more broadly, the usefulness of the different strategies used in programs targeting the reduction of test anxiety.

Keywords: anxiété de performance scolaire, mécanismes de changement, processus généraux programme, adolescence, test anxiety, change mechanisms, in-session processes, program, adolescence

SummaryThe nature of the compromise and the main features of organizational and institutional (industrial relations and human resource management) levels define a model for organizing work. It could take different forms. It can evolve towards the strengthening of management control or work democratization, according to organizational choices and unions strategies. In order to cope with labor crises in Alcan plants in the Saguenay region, management, employees and union tried different approaches to organizing work. Their content, emergent conditions and evolution are examined.

Keywords: modèles de travail, fordisme, syndicalisme, crise de travail, sortie de crise, démocratisation du travail, Alcan, Saguenay, labour models, Fordism, unions, labour crisis, crisis resolution, democratizing labour processes, Alcan, Saguenay, modelos de trabajo, fordismo, sindicalismo, crisis del trabajo, salida de crisis, democratización del trabajo, Alcan, Saguenay

This article seeks to show how the theory of coercive diplomacy can help advance the conceptual debate over the continuity or discontinuity existing between peacekeeping and peace-enforcement. The lessons learned after the operations in Somalia and Bosnia have clearly drawn a conceptual fine line between "traditional peacekeeping" and peace-enforcement. Many questions still remain about the possibility of using more coercive strategies in circumstances where there is neither a cease-fire in place nor consent from the parties to the conflict, as normally required by traditional UN peacekeeping doctrine. By studying the case of the use of air strikes to maintain a UN "safe area" in Bosnia, the article illustrates the great difficulties - at the political, strategic and operational levels - in combining "power strategies" and "co-operative strategies." The article concludes that the conceptual fine line must be drawn between these two types of strategies. it becomes difficult to combine "power strategies" and "co-operative strategies" to the extent that the political context and operational constraints cause the two of them to weaken - instead of strengthen - each other.

AbstractLiberal intergovernmentalism approach proposed by Andrew Moravsick is an important contribution to regional integration studies in Western Europe. Can it also help explaining integration among developing countries ? The objective of this paper is to examine the extent to which liberal intergovermentalism can be used to explain the process of integration in the Caribbean Basin, in particular, the Association of Caribbean States (acs). Firstly, this paper evaluates Moravcsik's approach to regional integration and its contribution to integration theory. Secondly, one analyses the development of the acs by using a variable of Moravsick approach : the process of formation of national preferences. Based on the study of the formation of national preferences in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, the paper shows the extent to which Moravsick ideas could account for regionalism in the Caribbean Basin.

AbstractThe objective of this action- research is to develop and implement a strategy for integrating information and communication technologies at the primary school level. As well, the authors' aim is to analyze the impact of this strategy on teachers' perception of efficacy (quantitative aspect) and on their adoption of this innovation (qualitative aspect). The research sample included 8 primary level teachers who participated in this research over a two year period, and a control group of 9 teachers. The analysis showed no significant difference regarding the perception of efficacy by the participating teachers. The strategy implemented, however, did permit these teachers to progress at least one level in the process of adopting innovation proposals.

The objective of this article is to provide further insight into the review of the internationalization process, especially the Uppsala and Innovation models through a resource and competency-based approach. Corroborated by an in-depth and cohort analysis of three SMEs, we demonstrate how the process of internationalization (in terms of techniques, objectives and dynamics) is, for the most part, linked to the high level of competency of the top management team. As well, our results highlight the fact that within the framework of these management teams, strategic competencies (those which help start and build the internationalization process) and operational competencies (those supporting the implementation of the strategic process) can be identified.

Keywords: Processus d'internationalisation, Stratégie internationale, Compétences, Équipe dirigeante, PME