L'entrepreneur comme clef de voûte dans l'internationalisation rapide de son entreprise

International audienceL'étude des entreprises nouvellement internationales (ENI) occupe une place de plus en plus importante dans la littérature en entrepreneuriat. Contrairement aux entreprises traditionnelles, ces ENI, dénommées aussi " born globals " (McKinsey & Co., 1993) ou encore " international new ventures " (Oviatt et McDougall, 1994) se définissent comme des entreprises qui, dès leur création ou peu de temps après, cherchent à dériver un avantage concurrentiel de l'utilisation de ressources et de la vente de produits dans de multiples pays. Notre recherche vise à comprendre comment le réseau et les caractéristiques de l'entrepreneur interviennent dans l'internationalisation de jeunes entreprises. Nous avons étudié six cas d'entreprises qui se sont internationalisées dès la création ou peu de temps après. Les caractéristiques de l'entrepreneur, ses compétences, son expérience ainsi que son réseau personnel sont importants pour la création de son entreprise à l'international et pour nouer les premiers contacts sur les marchés étrangers. La personnalité et le réseau de l'entrepreneur agissent en interaction ; ils orientent tour à tour la création de l'entreprise et ses premiers pas sur les marchés étrangers

Les stratégies internationales et d'innovation comme leviers de développement des entreprises

Ma production scientifique (issue de quinze années de recherche) s’articule autour de deux grands axes, les stratégies d’internationalisation et les stratégies d’innovation. Ma recherche cherche à mieux comprendre chaque stratégie pour appréhender la complexité des mécanismes à l’œuvre et comment ces deux stratégies participent au développement des entreprises. Le premier axe s’intéresse aux stratégies d’internationalisation. Dans la continuité de la thèse, le premier sous-axe porte sur le rôle du transfert de ressources et compétences et la nature des ressources et compétences transférées dans les opérations de croissance externe réussies. Le deuxième sous-axe s’intéresse aux caractéristiques de l’entrepreneur et à son rôle dans le développement international de son entreprise. Le deuxième axe concerne l’innovation. Les recherches menées dans le premier sous-axe cherchent à éclairer la controverse portant sur les différentes alternatives en matière de formes organisationnelles proposées dans la littérature. Le deuxième sous-axe porte sur l’innovation dans les services. Malgré les enjeux liés aux coopérations pour innover dans les services, les recherches en management de l’innovation portent davantage sur les réseaux d’innovations et s’intéressent peu aux constellations d’acteurs permettant l’innovation dans les services. Notre recherche exploratoire a donc tenté de combler ce déficit de la littérature en mettant en lumière les caractéristiques des réseaux construits pour développer des innovations de service.Enfin, une dernière section décrit les axes de recherche futurs, avec notamment le développement de recherches autour du rôle de l’innovation dans l’internationalisation des jeunes entreprises

Inter-organisational network configurations for ski areas innovations

International audienceUnlike industrial innovations, service innovations cannot be protected by patents or designs. Thus, the implementation of innovation networks is often seen as a key to generate a sustainable competitive advantage. In this paper, we are interested in the main forms of inter-organizational networks that led to service innovations. More precisely, this article aims to examine the relationship between the characteristics of inter-organizational networks and the type of service innovation. A typology of service innovations and a network analysis framework allowed us to study the innovations implemented by two major French winter sports resorts: the Portes du Soleil and Paradiski. In total, we studied the structure of 12 innovation networks. Our results show that, depending on the type of innovation implemented, networks are different in terms of partners involved, regulation mode and geographic scope. However, regardless of the innovation developed, it seems necessary to have a central actor to orchestrate the various partners

Biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: role of the C4-HSL cell-to-cell signal and inhibition by azithromycin

Objectives: In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, biofilm formation is controlled by a cell-to-cell signalling circuit relying on the secretion of 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL. Previous studies suggested that C4-HSL plays no significant role in biofilm formation. However the wild-type PAO1 strain PAO-BI, used as a control in these studies is itself impaired in the production of C4-HSL. We wondered therefore whether the role of C4-HSL in biofilm formation might have been underestimated, and whether azithromycin inhibits biofilm formation by interfering with cell-to-cell signalling. Methods: We used isogenic mutants of wild-type PAO1 strains PAO-BI and PT5 in a static biofilm model. Biofilm formation was quantified using Crystal Violet staining and exopolysaccharide measurements. Results: Wild-type strain PAO-BI, as a result of its reduced C4-HSL secretion, produced 40% less biofilm compared with the wild-type PAO1 strain PT5. Using isogenic mutants of strain PT5 we have shown that whereas a lasI mutant (deficient in 3-oxo-C12-HSL) produced similar amounts of biofilm to the wild-type, a rhlI mutant (deficient in C4-HSL) produced 70% less biofilm. In the latter strain, biofilm formation could be restored by addition of exogenous C4-HSL. Azithromycin, known to reduce the production of both 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL, inhibited biofilm formation of wild-type PT5 by 45%. This inhibition could be reversed by the addition of both cell-to-cell signals. Conclusions: Our results indicate that C4-HSL also plays a significant role in biofilm formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of using cell-to-cell signalling blocking agents such as azithromycin to interfere with biofilm formatio

Navigating the internationalization process: Strategic resources for early internationalizing firms

Despite an increasing number of studies identifying factors that influence the internationalization process for early internationalizing firms (EIFs), it remains unclear which of these numerous factors could play a strategic role and, more specifically, when. This paper develops a new conceptual framework anchored in the resource-based view to identify strategic resources that can explain EIFs’ internationalization process accurately over time. Building on a systematic literature review based on 102 papers covering a period of 29 years, we methodically present a phase-by-phase observation of EIFs’ internationalization process to identify the strategic relevance of different influential resources. The results highlight the importance of the shift from individual to organizational resources, which occurs at a critical phase of transition from the entry to the post-entry phase. Studying the evolution of strategic resources along four phases allows us to determine that the progress of EIFs through the phases of their internationalization process is closely linked to their resources’ development process. This study suggests some promising research avenues, at theoretical and methodological levels, and results in a series of concrete recommendations intended for entrepreneurs and/or managers of EIFs

Autoinducer production and quorum-sensing dependent phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa vary according to isolation site during colonization of intubated patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>frequently colonizes and is responsible for severe ventilator-associated pneumonia in intubated patients. A quorum-sensing (QS) circuit, depending on the production of the two QS-signaling molecules (autoinducers, AIs) 3-oxo-C₁₂-HSL and C₄-HSL, regulates the production by <it>P. aeruginosa </it>of several virulence factors and is required for biofilm formation. Therefore QS-inhibition has been suggested as a new target for preventive and/or therapeutic strategies. However the precise role of QS during colonization and subsequent infections of intubated patients remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We wondered whether QS is active during colonization of intubated patients, and whether <it>P. aeruginosa </it>isolates growing inside the biofilm covering the intubation devices and those resident in the lungs of colonized patients differ in their QS-dependent phenotypes. We collected the intubation devices of eight patients colonized by <it>P. aeruginosa</it>. We detected 3-oxo-C₁₂-HSL on eight, and C₄-HSL on six of these devices. In three of these patients we also obtained <it>P. aeruginosa </it>isolates from tracheal aspirates at the time of extubation (n = 18), as well as isolates from the intubation devices (n = 25). We genotyped these isolates, quantified their AIs production, and determined three QS-dependent phenotypes (adherence capacity, biofilm and elastase production). The production of 3-oxo-C₁₂-HSL was consistently increased for isolates from the intubation devices, whereas the production of C₄-HSL was significantly higher for isolates from tracheal aspirates. Isolates from tracheal aspirates produced significantly higher amounts of elastase but less biofilm, and had a marginally reduced adhesion capacity than isolates from the intubation devices. Levels of 3-oxo-C₁₂-HSL and elastase production correlated statistically for tracheal intubation isolates, whereas levels of 3-oxo-C₁₂-HSL production and adhesion ability, as well as biofilm production, correlated weakly amongst intubation device isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings demonstrate that autoinducers are produced during the colonization of intubated patients by <it>P. aeruginosa</it>. The microenvironment, in which <it>P. aeruginosa </it>grows, may select for bacteria with different capacities to produce autoinducers and certain QS-dependent phenotypes. QS-inhibition might therefore affect differently isolates growing inside the biofilm covering intubation devices and those resident in the lungs.</p

Draft Genome Sequences of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Strains Sm32COP, Sm41DVV, Sm46PAILV, SmF3, SmF22, SmSOFb1, and SmCVFa1, Isolated from Different Manures in France: TABLE 1

International audienceStenotrophomonas maltophilia is a major opportunistic human pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of Sm32COP, Sm41DVV, Sm46PAILV, SmF3, SmF22, SmSOFb1, and SmCVFa1, isolated from different manures in France, which provide insights into the genetic determinism of intrinsic or acquired antibiotic resistance in this species. Citation Bodilis J, Youenou B, Briolay J, Brothier E, Favre-Bonté S, Nazaret S. 2016. Draft genome sequences of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains Sm32COP, Sm41DVV, Sm46PAILV, SmF3, SmF22, SmSOFb1, and SmCVFa1, isolated from different manures in France

Brilliant glyconanocapsules for trapping of bacteria

Nanoprecipitation of miglyol into droplets surrounded by a functional glycopolymer generates nanocapsules of biointerest. Fluorophores are trapped in situ or post-grafted onto the crosslinked polymer shell for efficient imaging. The resulting colloids induce aggregation of bacteria through strong specific interactions and promote their facile removal

Development of an ex vivo porcine lung model for studying growth, virulence, and signaling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Research into chronic infection by bacterial pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, uses various in vitro and live host models. While these have increased our understanding of pathogen growth, virulence, and evolution, each model has certain limitations. In vitro models cannot recapitulate the complex spatial structure of host organs, while experiments on live hosts are limited in terms of sample size and infection duration for ethical reasons; live mammal models also require specialized facilities which are costly to run. To address this, we have developed an ex vivo pig lung (EVPL) model for quantifying Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth, quorum sensing (QS), virulence factor production, and tissue damage in an environment that mimics a chronically infected cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. In a first test of our model, we show that lasR mutants, which do not respond to 3-oxo-C12-homoserine lactone (HSL)-mediated QS, exhibit reduced virulence factor production in EVPL. We also show that lasR mutants grow as well as or better than a corresponding wild-type strain in EVPL. lasR mutants frequently and repeatedly arise during chronic CF lung infection, but the evolutionary forces governing their appearance and spread are not clear. Our data are not consistent with the hypothesis that lasR mutants act as social “cheats” in the lung; rather, our results support the hypothesis that lasR mutants are more adapted to the lung environment. More generally, this model will facilitate improved studies of mi- crobial disease, especially studies of how cells of the same and different species interact in polymicrobial infections in a spatially structured environment

MexEF-OprN Efflux Pump Exports the Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS) Precursor HHQ (4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline)

Bacterial cells have evolved the capacity to communicate between each other via small diffusible chemical signals termed autoinducers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen involved, among others, in cystic fibrosis complications. Virulence of P. aeruginosa relies on its ability to produce a number of autoinducers, including 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQ). In a cell density-dependent manner, accumulated signals induce the expression of multiple targets, especially virulence factors. This phenomenon, called quorum sensing, promotes bacterial capacity to cause disease. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa possesses many multidrug efflux pumps conferring adaptive resistance to antibiotics. Activity of some of these efflux pumps also influences quorum sensing. The present study demonstrates that the MexEF-OprN efflux pump modulates quorum sensing through secretion of a signalling molecule belonging to the HAQ family. Moreover, activation of MexEF-OprN reduces virulence factor expression and swarming motility. Since MexEF-OprN can be activated in infected hosts even in the absence of antibiotic selective pressure, it could promote establishment of chronic infections in the lungs of people suffering from cystic fibrosis, thus diminishing the immune response to virulence factors. Therapeutic drugs that affect multidrug efflux pumps and HAQ-mediated quorum sensing would be valuable tools to shut down bacterial virulence