Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Computer Information Systems Dissertations Department of Computer Information Systems Fall 12-18-2012 The Management of Distance in Distributed-work Chauvet Mathieu Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cis_diss Recommended Citation Mathieu, Chauvet, "The Management of Distance in Distributed-work." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2012. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cis_diss/50 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Computer Information Systems at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Computer Information Systems Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITE PARIS-DAUPHINE ECOLE DOCTORALE DE DAUPHINE & GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY J.MACK ROBINSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS THESE Pour l’obtention du titre de DOCTEUR EN SCIENCES DE GESTION (Arrêté du 07 Août 2006) CHAUVET Mathieu The Management of Distance in Distributed- work: A Deleuzian Approach to Control Co-directeurs de thèse : Pr. Stéphanie DAMERON/Pr. Michael GALLIVAN Thèse présentée et soutenue publiquement le 13 Novembre 2012 Rapporteurs : Pr. Jean-Pierre DUPUIS Pr. Jacques THEVENOT Suffragants : Pr. Jean-François CHANLAT Pr. Sébastien DAMART Pr. Lars MATHIASSEN Pr. Duane TRUEX 1 L’université n’entend donner aucune approbation ni improbation aux opinions émises dans les thèses : ces opinions doivent être considérées comme propres à leurs auteurs. 2 PERMISSION TO BORROW In presenting this dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the Library of the University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote from, to copy from, or publish this dissertation may be granted by the author or, in his/her absence, the professor under whose direction it was written or, in his absence, by the Dean of the Robinson College of Business. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for the scholarly purposes and does not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this dissertation which involves potential gain will not be allowed without written permission of the author. Mathieu Julien CHAUVET 3 NOTICE TO BORROWERS All dissertations deposited in the Georgia State University Library must be used only in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement. The author of this dissertation is: CHAUVET MATHIEU 46 Rue Manessier 94130 Nogent sur Marne France The directors of this dissertation are: Pr. Michael GALLIVAN CIS Department – Georgia State University 9th Floor, RCB Building, 35 Broad Street, Atlanta, 30302, Georgia, USA Pr. Stéphanie DAMERON GFR Management & Organisation - Université Paris Dauphine Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 75116 Paris Cedex, FRANCE 4 THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTANCE IN DISTRIBUTED-WORK: A DELEUZIAN APPROACH TO CONTROL BY Mathieu Julien CHAUVET A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Of Doctor of Philosophy In the Robinson College of Business Of Georgia State University GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY ROBINSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 2012 5 Copyright by Mathieu Julien CHAUVET 2012 6 ACCEPTANCE This dissertation was prepared under the direction of the Mathieu CHAUVET Dissertation Committee. It has been approved and accepted by all members of that committee, and it has been accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctoral of Philosophy in Business Administration in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business of Georgia State University. H. Fenwick Huss, Dean DISSERTATION COMMITTEE Pr. Michael GALLIVAN Pr. Stéphanie DAMERON Pr. Jean-Pierre DUPUIS Pr. Jacques THEVENOT Pr. Sébastien DAMART Pr. Jean-François CHANLAT Pr. Lars MATHIASSEN Pr. Duane TRUEX 7 ABSTRACT THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTANCE IN DISTRIBUTED-WORK: A DELEUZIAN APPROACH TO CONTROL BY Mathieu Julien CHAUVET 13th of November 2012 Committee Co-Chair: Pr. Michael GALLIVAN and Pr. Stéphanie DAMERON Major Academic Unit: Computer and Information Systems Distributed-work has introduced challenges for both employees and managers alike. Maintaining a form of supervision and discipline remains then necessary as control is the ultimate means for the hierarchy to bridge the issue of distance. With regard to the unprecedented changes generated by the significant development of ICTs in organizations, we expressed the necessity to analyze how control is reconsidered within the managerial challenges introduced by distributed-work. Our theoretical reasoning finally led us to use the works of French philosopher Gilles Deleuze as a basis for a more relevant conceptual framework. Data coming from 49 interviews and 7 days as non-participant observer enabled us to provide evidences for the disruption of management practices due to the reconsideration of control in distributed-work. Both for managers, evolving from a supervisory to a facilitator status, and distributed-workers themselves, whose activities will mainly be directed by the management of their visibility, responsiveness and modulation. Ultimately, this PhD dissertation provides concrete managerial manifestations for Deleuzian societies of control. 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS At the end of this long research-work taking the form of this final document, and by looking into the last few years, I can only consider how this dissertation process has been one of the most significant challenges of my life. Sometimes painful, but always very rewarding, the heavy work of reflection, analysis and synthesis remains an intense learning experience that it will be hard to forget. In terms of cultural experience in particular, thanks to the many people who have accompanied me throughout this journey. My first thanks go to my French co-advisor, Professor Stephanie DAMERON, with whom I will never be indebted enough for all her efforts developed in our research collaboration. It's not lying to say that without her support and trust, I would never have conceived and - a fortiori, reached the conclusion of such research-work based on managerial issues that really mean to me. I can only thank her for her high availability, for the mentoring she proposed to me throughout these many months of work, despite her own and multiple responsibilities. For all her experience and knowledge she has shared with me, for the focus on reflection and synthesis she always wanted me to develop during our exchanges, for her involvement in activities that enabled me to conduct my PhD at best (field-research through the Chaire “Management & Diversité”, various applications, renewing my ATER status), I want to sincerely thank her. While this document is about to be evaluated in its entirety over the next few weeks, my greatest pride would be that this research-work is recognized and valued up to the consideration I have for my French co-advisor. Then I want to express my deep gratitude to my other co-advisor, Professor Michael GALLIVAN. Throughout this dual PhD, I have appreciated his great qualities of empathy, listening and openness. Especially during the two semesters at Georgia State University where he received and welcomed me very naturally, allowing me to live these semesters at best. By collaborating with him, I had the tremendous opportunity to discover another aspect of the academic world, which is the Anglo-Saxon one, and I am extremely grateful for the chance I had to evolve under the responsibility of such a reputed person. I then expressed my sincere thanks to all the members of my thesis committee. Professor Jean-François CHANLAT first, both for his role as “Chairman” of the committee, his 9 knowledge, his generosity and his contagious enthusiasm, and for his unfailing support in recent years as Head of our dear CREPA laboratory. Professor Jean-Pierre DUPUIS and Professor Jacques THEVENOT then, who kindly agreed to be my dissertation reviewers (“rapporteurs”) and who devote their valuable time for analyzing my research. Professor Lars MATHIASSEN and Professor Duane TRUEX, for their advice and the various exchanges we had during my stays at GSU or my pre-defense. Pr.DAMART finally, for his extreme availability and his responsiveness, as well as for his numerous comments and remarks n particular during the very interesting CDEG seminar. I certainly do not consider enough how fortunate I am to have all these different members participating in my dissertation committee, but I really feel honored for their commitment I would also like to thank Mr. Jacques MASSOT, with whom I have always enjoyed exchanging, for his knowledge, his experience and his considerable contribution to the development of my field-study through the company EADS. These acknowledgments have to be sent to participants from the EADS group who helped me through their assistance in making this research-work as well. In the same vein, I would like to emphasize the role of Mr. Eric DEL'COTTO in the achievement of my research collaboration with the company he manages, KCI MEDICAL. This is also for me the opportunity to thank all the members of this organization for their availabilities and interests. Among the many people who offered me their support during the realization of this dissertation, I