SIB dISCOVERY Seminar Series with Bernard Forgues

Paper title : The dynamics of place and technology in an emerging industry.

Abstract

Organizations orchestrate recursive relationships between the technologies they mobilize and the places they inhabit. Drawing on a historical case study of commercial aviation's evolution from its inception to mass transportation by 1960, we reveal mechanisms driving recursive relationships between places and technologies. Initially, places shaped the emergence of the industry and influenced technological choices. Subsequently, technologies were refined to align with placespecific needs, and ultimately, places were adapted to standardize both infrastructure and technologies.

With

Bernard Forgues is a Professor of Organization Theory at emlyon business school, where he also serves as the Head of STORM, the research centre focused on Strategy and Organization. His academic work is deeply rooted in the sociology of organizations, with particular emphasis on:

Technology and innovation
Materiality and institutions
Social evaluation processes
Organizational responses to change and complexity

His research has been published in leading journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Organization Studies, and Strategic Organization

Professor Forgues is also the Chair of EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies), where he oversees professional development workshops (PDWs), pre-Colloquium events, EGOS journals, and several key awards and initiatives

In addition to his leadership roles, he has held visiting positions at institutions like HEC Montréal, Copenhagen Business School, and The Wharton School, and he serves as a Senior Editor for Organization Studies and is on the Editorial Board of Strategic Organization