Search Results

This article presents the results of a survey of the data base searching abilities of first-year education students. The methodology used was two-fold: a qualitative approach based on the direct observation of the students and a quantitative approach using a questionnaire. A total of 24 students participated in this project. The results indicate that the students experienced difficulties in the first stage of the research process, namely the definition of the information need. Therefore, it becomes apparent to improve their ability to define the topic to be researched.

While innovation is considered a key driver of SMEs' competitiveness, there is little research on how SMEs remain innovative. This article aims to fill this gap by considering the role of dynamic capabilities in this process. To answer this question, we use an original approach based on the in-depth study of a case of failure to maintain innovation performance in an SME. The results obtained help to explain the decline of the SME innovation by the absence of certain dynamic capabilities. They shed new light on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and innovation capacity and highlight the influence of dynamic capabilities and their micro-foundations on the innovation capacity, while taking into account the specificities of SMEs.

Keywords: Capacités dynamiques, Capacité d'innovation, Micro-fondations, Cas d'échec, PME, Dynamic capabilities, Innovation capacity, Micro-foundations, Failure case, SME, Capacidad dinámicas, Capacidad de innovación, Micro-fundaciones, Caso de fracaso, PyME

Strategic work — strategizing — is difficult to seize, in particular when it comes to its occurrences outside of executives' meetings deliberately organized for this purpose. In this paper, we explore the ability of a specific unit of analysis, the strategic episode (Hendry and Seidl, 2003), to ease this challenge and to allow for the study of a wide range of strategizing occurrences. Based on a systematic literature review, we suggest several research paths in order for this concept to achieve its full potential. In doing so, this paper aims at helping researchers to better seize all strategizing occurrences, notably beyond its formal exercise.

Keywords: Épisode stratégique, travail stratégique, strategizing, Strategic episodes, strategy-as-practice, strategizing, process, Episodios estratégicos, estrategia como práctica, desarrollo de estrategias, proceso

We tested the effects of explicit writing instruction for opinion essays with 5th grade elementary students in Quebec. We developed a mixed sequential explanatory design in which qualitative data were used to explain the data obtained with quantitative tools. These tools allowed us to measure the writing progress and perceived self-efficacy of 483 students in three groups: two experimental groups practiced explicit instruction, one with peer feedback, and the other without, as well as a control group. We conducted interviews with 21 students to get them to explain their use of the strategies taught, to see if the intervention had helped them strengthen their self-regulation skills. Results show the effectiveness of explicit instruction on students' writing performance, their self-efficacy, and on the development of their self-regulation skills.

Keywords: autorégulation, enseignement explicite, méthodes mixtes, perception d'efficacité personnelle, stratégies d'écriture, explicit instruction, mixed methods, self-efficacy, self-regulation, writing strategies, autorregulação, ensino explícito, estratégias de escrita, métodos mistos, percepção eficácia pessoal

SummaryPreparation for bargaining is considered by many to be the most important stage in the collective bargaining process. However, surprisingly, preparation for collective bargaining seems to have received little attention in the literature presenting experimental results. Faced with this situation, we sought to answer the following question: How do employers prepare for collective bargaining? Using a theoretical model which defines total preparation for collective bargaining as a construct with three dimensions (technical, political and synoptic dimensions), each containing four components, we sought to determine the occurrence of activities pertaining to this stage in the collective bargaining process as well as the relative importance of total preparation and its dimensions/components.In a survey of those responsible for preparing employers for collective bargaining conducted in 2003, the latter were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. The survey aimed at unionized organizations in Quebec, with the exception of the provincial and federal public services. Two-hundred-and-thirty-two (232) valid questionnaires were used for analysis. This random sample proved to be representative of the different sectors of economic activity in Quebec, except for an over-representation of manufacturing industries (32% versus 23.8%) and an under-representation of the wholesale and retail sector (6.5% versus 21.5%). Each of the dimensions/components was measured based on four sets of behavioural and attitudinal indicators aimed at assessing, on the one hand, the practices that were implemented the last time they prepared for collective bargaining and, on the other hand, the relative importance attached by the organization to each practice. The results are reported as a percentage of the relative importance of each of the variables examined.A mean score of 62.1% (standard deviation (SD) = 13.5) corresponded to the rate at which respondents stated that they had prepared for the last round of collective bargaining. The aggregate index for technical preparation showed that the organizations' average level of preparation was 50.5% (SD = 14.4). With a minimum of 21.1% and a maximum of 91.1%, the importance attached to technical preparation varied substantially, although no organization was found to have omitted to conduct this activity. Similarly, the results showed that no organization conducted all the technical preparation activities and considered them as “very important.” The activities associated with analysis of the internal environment (73.3%) were most highly valued, followed in order by those related to sectoral analysis (50.3%), external environment (43.7%) and lastly forecast analysis (34.3%). Our results showed that the importance attached to analysis of the internal environment stood out markedly from the other three components.On the other hand, the results pertaining to political preparation showed that this preparation, which had a mean score of 69.6% (SD = 16.3) was the dimension with the highest mean score when the three types of preparation were compared. It appears that meeting with the agents (85.7%) and creation of a bargaining committee (85.3%) obtained the greatest results. Not far behind these two components, the result associated with consultation of managers at different levels (76.3%) also revealed the great importance attached by the organizations to this activity. As regards the results for analysis of union activities (31.1%), the activities pertaining to this component appeared to be relatively marginal in terms of actual achievement and relative importance.Lastly, synoptic preparation appeared to be the second most “important” dimension of employer preparation for collective bargaining, with a mean score of relative importance of 66.2% (SD = 19.6). The analysis of results showed that the formulation of the list of demands (72.8%) was the most important component of the synoptic dimension. Almost at the same level, the elements related to the implementation of a bargaining strategy (65.3%), the validation of the mandate and the strategy (62.7%) as well as the evaluation of bargaining power (62.3%) also showed the great importance attached by the organizations to these components of synoptic preparation.Based on the analysis of all the research results, it can be maintained that the activities involved in employer preparation based on the theoretical model used were present in the preparation carried out by almost all the organizations surveyed. Although the actual presence of these activities can be unequivocally identified, their relative importance should nevertheless be differentiated. Although our results are firmly in line with the literature, they nevertheless reveal some elements that should be considered. It is surprising to note that, of the three types of preparation, technical preparation appeared to be the least important for the organizations participating in the survey. With regard to these participants, the results associated with employer political preparation seem to lead to an analysis of the dynamic of the collective bargaining process which is in line with the evolving theoretical advances put forward by American authors associated with the strategic approach in industrial relations. The same is true of the results for synoptic preparation, in particular with regard to the proactivity of employers in the formulation of a list of demands. Moreover, while some authors highlight the advantages of formulating strategies in the framework of a collective bargaining process, our research results show that there was a real implementation of a bargaining strategy, in line with these authors' recommendations. Despite the intrinsic limitations due to its innovative character and small sample size, our study opens the door for future research in order to better understand the dynamic involved in preparing the parties for collective bargaining.

Keywords: pratiques organisationnelles, processus de négociation, préparation politique, organisations québécoises, organizational practices, bargaining process, political preparation, organizations in Quebec, practicas organizacionales, procesos de negociación, preparación política, organizaciones quebequenses

AbstractThis article presents the analytic frame and the methodology related to a didactic approach within a sociological perspective which was used to analyze teachers' reprensentations. These teachers work with students enrolled in a diploma program of professional studies (DEP) in machinery or in secretarial services. The authors describe the socio-professional characteristics of these teachers and their methods for developing socialization processes. These processes are examined from information about teachers' representations of the types of knowledge related to content area taught and to the workplace, as well as teachers' perception of their students and of their own role towards students. The analysis shows that teachers promote social skills, specifically those related to developing capacities to participate more fully in the workplace. The study of didactic representations shows the presence of both humanistic and cognitive objectives. Observations from both sociological and didactic perspectives show that teachers are preoccupied with the need to develop students' participatory skills as well as their abilities to adapt to a changing workplace environment.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to present, to analyze and to compare models in the field of industrial organization in which firms can strategically use their debt in order to influence the market structure or the degree of competition within the industry. The original feature of this particular trend in industrial organization is shown. It is essentially based on the new function of the strategic interaction instrument in association with the debt contract. An examination of the relationship between the characteristics of the production game and the debt strategic behavior constitute the purpose of this paper. First, we consider the influence of the debt on the collusive/competitive dimension of the industry or on the acquisition of a monopolistic power. Second, we examine the impact of the debt on an entry game.

Advanced practices training at the master of social work (MSW) level is based on the optimal integration of theoretical, empirical, and methodological knowledge relevant to social intervention. It is also intended to develop a reflective, analytical, and critical approach to the design, implementation, and evaluation of social intervention. However, the optimization of this training raises a certain number of issues related to the educational means to be implemented to better support students in learning advanced social work practices. The goal of this article is to present the process followed and the findings obtained in the course of research conducted at Université Laval's School of Social Work, designed to develop a structured and integrated educational strategy optimizing support for students and the various stakeholders involved in this training. The consultations conducted with all the stakeholders involved identified the elements facilitating or hindering students' progress and eight principles for selecting the educational strategy to be employed. The educational means selected as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the process are also discussed. The results of this research, both with respect to process and findings, provide relevant benchmarks for Canadian universities seeking to review their advanced practices training.

Keywords: Programme, maîtrise, travail social, liens théorie-pratique, stratégie pédagogique, formation, pratiques avancées, Master of Social Work, social work, advanced practices, training, theoretical-practical links, pedagogical strategy

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming a mainstream issue for any organization. With the more direct impact of the manager decision in Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), manager's perception of CSR constitutes a privileged field of research to understand the concept. In light of the fact that certification with the international standards could be a potential causal factor of CSR's perception, a multiple case study was conducted on eight Tunisian SMEs either certified with the international standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS…) or without any certification. The analysis of similarities and differences of perceptions shows no significant difference between the groups in appreciation of the term of CSR as well as identification of motivations and barriers to the firm commitment. Our research reveals other causal factors related to manager beliefs and national culture.

Keywords: Perception du dirigeant, RSE, PME, Certification, Étude de cas multiples, Tunisie, Manager's perception, CSR, SME, Certification, Multiple case studies, Tunisia, Percepción del lider, RSC, PyME, Certificación, Estudio de casos múltiples, Túnez

The history of Quebec women and their complex relationships with politics is examined in this article through the prism provided by the analysis of the Yvettes phenomenon, ensuing from the 1980 referendum on sovereingty-association. This event creates the opportunity to rethink the links, formed since the beginning of the century, between the following concepts: feminine, feminism, and nationalism. The author proposes a brief chronology of the main feminist strategies of Quebec women, which enables us to better grasp the political transformations in progress. She integrates the so-called social demands, which are often the official raison d'être of the large women's organizations, like the Fédération nationale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the Cercles de Fermières, the AFÉAS, etc. By considering the strategies employed by these organizations to combat the political exclusion of women (qualified as strategies of liberation according to the situation), she identifies three main points, which also constitute pivotal points in the political history of contemporary Quebec. Beyond this chronology, which situates readers in the historical context, the question of the political reconstruction of this type of identity throughout the XXth century is at the center of this piece. She enables us to understand the way in which the dual demands of recognizing the difference between the sexes (or the complementarity of sexual roles) and of legal equality is expressed during this period.