Anthropologie et narratologie croisées : à propos des héros de conte folklorique

International audienceLa diversité des contes folkloriques merveilleux n'est pas un obstacle à une description morphogénétique de leurs héros. Considérés en masse, ces récits offrent en effet le spectacle d'une lente révolution narrative et axiologique des protagonistes. Ceux-ci passent sans solution de continuité du type du héros monstrueux à celui du héros-victime, avec des solutions intermédiaires comme celle d'un protagoniste à monstruosité réversible ou à culpabilité atténuée. En parallèle l'histoire mute progressivement. Les versions les plus archaïques rapportent la coercition victorieuse qu'une communauté exerce sur un être malfaisant, et à l'autre extrémité les plus modernes racontent comment une victime finit par triompher d'un entourage hostile. Ce double bouleversement est la conséquence d'une mutation anthropologique faible mais déterminante : même si le conteur se limite à transférer les qualifications néfastes du héros à un autre acteur, l'innocence et non plus la culpabilité devient le principe qui commande sa conception du monde

Long and short-term effects of customisation on the service operations strategy.

This study has a twofold objectivc. First, we attempt to promote an understanding of the relationship between the design of Service Operations Strategics and their implementation, as they are driven by the customisation efforts. Seeond, we study the extent to which such service orientation may have two different forms, depending upon whether a company focuses on services that may have long-term or short-term effects on the customer nature. Consequently, a company aiming at raising its quality levels, and therefore its performance, should design and implement its Service Operations Strategy, mirroring the scrvicc oricntation of the firm. We suggest four dimensions (Time, Space, Scale and Scope), which contribute towards explaining the two mentioned approaches. This may address the process of implementation of the Serviee Operations Strategy.service operations; operations strategy; new service development process; marketing / operations interface; service-positioning matrix; customisation; service quality;

IT integration, operations flexibility and performance: an empirical study

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between IT implementation and performance with manufacturing flexibility based on a sample drawn from a set of manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach: The relationships were analyzed using structural equations modelling (SEM) using EQS 6.2 software. Previously, an explanatory factor analysis confirmed one-dimensionality of the scales, Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to evaluate its internal consistency and a confirmatory factor analysis was run to observe scales’ validity. Findings: This research proves a significant positive and direct effect of IT implementation on operations performance with 4 out of 6 flexibility dimensions (Machine, Labour, Material handling and Volume). Mix and Routing flexibility dimensions show no significant impact on firm performance. Research limitations/implications: It is necessary to be cautious when generalizing this findings these findings, as service firms were not part of the sample even when statistical results prove robustness suggesting that the findings are quite reliable. Some flexibility dimensions show no significant impact in performance (Routing and Mix flexibility). This is consistent with the fact that these flexibility dimensions act as variability absorbers within the manufacturing process. Future research lines: Future studies can focus on determining further internal and environmental factors that affect operations flexibility according to specific sector characteristics. Originality/value: This research proves a significant positive and direct effect of IT implementation on operations performance. Results show not only the links between IT implementation and operations performance, but also the magnitude of every impact. The model considers IT integration as the degree of alignment that existing technology resources in a firm have with the business strategy, in terms of importance and support for this strategyPeer Reviewe

Internet como fuente de información para la vida cotidiana de los jóvenes españoles

Internet as information source for the everyday life of Spanish young people. This article reports and discusses quantitative data obtained from a survey of the Spanish population ages 12 to 18, as well as qualitative observations obtained from various discussion groups on the use of the internet as a means of obtaining useful information for everyday life, particularly in two spheres: leisure and formal education. The data show that young people use the internet mainly in informal and private spaces and, to a lesser extent, in formal educational environments. For this population group, the internet is used and is worth exploring to the extent that the information found is useful for social and leisure purposes, while educational benefits are taken for granted. Lastly, we point out that the young develop their own skills for evaluating information

Un enfoque emergente en la investigación sobre comunicación : los videojuegos como espacios para lo social

Más allá de su importancia como producto de la industria del entretenimiento, el videojuego se constituye en un producto comunicativo que como cualquier otro incluye una importante dimensión social. Ciertos debates instalados en el imaginario colectivo han configurado una especie de sentido común que pone el énfasis en su naturaleza de simple pasatiempo y en los posibles peligros que encierra su uso, mientras que sus poderosas potencialidades como vector de innovación en ciertas prácticas comunicativas relacionadas con la emergencia de nuevos públicos han sido muy parcialmente estudiadas. El presente artículo establece un marco de discusión para comenzar a comprender dichas prácticas, a partir de temas clave como son las características formales de los juegos, los múltiples placeres que invocan, y las relaciones que se establecen entre juegos y jugadoresBeyond its importance as a product of the entertainment industry, video games have become a communicative product that, like any other, includes an important social dimension. Some debates installed in the collective imagination have created a kind of common sense that emphasizes its nature as mere play and the potential dangers of their use, while its powerful potential as a vector for innovation in certain communication practices related to the emergence of new audiences have only been partially studied. This article provides a framework for discussion to begin to understand these practices, from key issues such as the formal characteristics of the games, the many pleasures that they involve and the relationships established between games and players

Plataformas de dispositivos móviles y servitización: Hacia un modelo integrador

El proceso de servitización unido al desarrollo vertiginoso de las nuevas plataformas de dispositivos móviles está constantemente evolucionando hacia el diseño y desarrollo de productos/servicios que responden prácticamente de manera instantánea a las nuevas necesidades y deseos de los clientes. No obstante, tal proceso ha venido unido en el ámbito de los dispositivos móviles al desarrollo de aplicaciones específicas tanto para plataformas abiertas como cerradas. Sin embargo, la evolución tecnológica permite en la actualidad ofrecer servicios de carácter más amplio a través de las denominadas ROMs en plataformas abiertas. Este trabajo analiza los avances y las perspectivas futuras relativas a la estrategia de servitización así como su evolución, tendencias y vinculación de la misma con el desarrollo de plataformas como vía directa de comunicación y colaboración entre la empresa y el cliente

Servitization and value creation: deploying to mobile device platforms

Servitization is still currently under analysis by the literature regarding the incorporation of services in manufacturing companies in order to create value. Although traditionally companies offered services related to its products, especially guarantees and maintenance, new trends associated to the servitization process has provided these services to a much greater significance as generating added value for the customer

A Vector Based, Content Analytic Methodology for Comparing Negotiated IT Service Level Agreements

Growth in the outsourcing of IT services has led many organizations to enter into negotiated contractual agreements with both internal and external service providers known as information technology service level agreements (IT SLAs). To further empirical research into IT SLAs, we present a methodological approach based on the theory of conceptual spaces that allows the content of these negotiated agreements to be analyzed and compared geometrically using vector representation. The outcome of such an analysis is a set of distance measures by which defensible statements regarding the similarity of IT SLAs can be made. We also discuss how the comparisons provide insights for IT SLA negotiation researchers that go beyond alternate empirical and analytic methods. The implications of these comparisons are discussed with a specific focus on research methods that can foster cumulative empirical investigation of IT SLA negotiation support system requirements