Entre service public et entreprise commerciale, la stratégie d'Électricité de France dans le développement local
Institution:
Université de Marne-la-ValléeDisciplines:
Directors:
Abstract EN:
Electricite de france (edf) has been, for decades, the symbol of a mighty public-owned company, serving the nation. Since the 1980's, edf has had a strong productivity policy and now is about to enter a freed european energy sector. In france, the context of high unemployment has focused on the concept of local development. Through this concept, the local population attempts to develop its identity by building and sharing projects. The french government has asked edf to contribute to local economic development and to also show social care in areas of bad economic structure. Beyond its public-owned status, edf also wants to act as a commercial company, saying that growing local economies could enhance its own business. However, edf involvement was very selective and frequently revealed commercial goals. Facing some difficult local situations, edf has sometimes used its economic development policy to get an simpler development at local level. Instead of benefiting from the communities projects, edf focused on its own development. Finally edf talked as a public-owned company and frequently acted as a private-owned company. Thus, edf regularly surprised and sometimes irritated the local political environment. The us energy utilities have officially combined their local development policy with their own development and have had a very commercial attitude. Gaz de france, the french public-owned gas utility, also considers that its role in this economic development is part of its core business. At last the vivendi group asked its own foundation for support in some local job creation. These examples have used both their industrial and cultural identity in building a suitable policy concerning local involvement. Finally, edf should officially connect its local economic development policy to its core business. Through a more receptive local organization, edf could develop its important human resources and then would consider that its employees are the best contact between company and local environment
Abstract FR:
Edf a symbolise pendant des decennies la grande entreprise publique au service de la collectivite nationale. Depuis les annees 1980, edf doit neanmoins s'adapter a une phase delicate. Par ailleurs, le chomage persistant de la societe francaise a confere au concept de developpement local un interet grandissant. Depassant le caractere ineluctable des mecanismes economiques, ce concept montre que les habitants veulent valoriser les specificites de leur territoire au sein d'une dynamique de projets. Dans les annees 1980, edf a du contribuer au developpement local et etre solidaire des territoires. Outre sa logique de service public, edf affirmait aussi que le dynamisme de l'economie locale ne pouvait qu'etre profitable a ses propres resultats. Cependant, ses actions ont ete tres clairsemees et ont principalement releve d'enjeux d'entreprise. Confrontee a des situations locales souvent delicates, edf a ete tentee de mettre en avant le developpement economique local afin d'evoluer aisement sur les territoires. Finalement, edf a tenu un langage de service public mais a realise des actions d'entreprise, ce qui a suscite incomprehension et interrogations. En comparaison, les entreprises electriques americaines contribuent au developpement local dans une approche tres commerciale. Gaz de france considere que cette activite fait partie du metier de base et illustre le statut public de l'entreprise. Enfin, vivendi prefere confier cette activite a sa fondation. Ces exemples combinent chacun a leur facon competitivite et solidarite et montrent qu'une politique doit etre legitime pour etre efficace. Finalement, edf devrait probablement partir de son domaine de competences qu'est le secteur electrique et rapprocher ainsi le concept de developpement economique local du metier de base de l'entreprise. Portee par une organisation interne plus sensible au dynamisme local, edf pourra alors valoriser son important gisement social et considerer l'employe comme un facteur de convergence pertinent entre l'entreprise et le territoire