The local-global firm: Lyonnaise des Eaux, 1980-2004 - 21/03/08
Abstract |
This article describes the policy of internationalization conducted by Lyonnaise des Eaux (renamed Suez) and it focuses on the internal transformations during the period from 1980 to 2004: the stages in these changes, the organizational characteristics and the principles that were applied. The central argument is to consider that this company has, over the period, designed a new type of organization which combines a deep center and the operation of many different operating units based in a large number of countries. It has thus become a “local-global” firm; different from existing types (H, U, M, J) of firms. This new form has four characteristics: the central role played by local units, procedures of reporting towards a compact center, assistance from the center, and direct exchanges between local units following a “principle of connectivity”. This discussion of the specificity of the large firm with institutional properties is related to a general history of large firms and it contributes as well for a theory of change. It leads to revising the well-established dichotomy between Institution and Market as this type of firm borrows from both fields.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Large firm, M firm, Cellular firm, Lyonnaise des Eaux, Suez, Privatization, Public services, Utilities
Plan
Translated by Amy Jacobs. |
Vol 49 - N° S2
P. e90-e109 - janvier 2007 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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