In 2024, the Foundation launched its strategic analysis on the “New safety champions”, coordinated by Jean Pariès and Eric Marsden (Foncsi), with scientific support from Jean Christophe Le Coze (Ineris) and Mathilde Bourrier (University of Geneva). Representatives of the sponsors – Airbus, Air France, EDF, EPSF, ASN, SNCF, TotalEnergies, UIC – were invited to take part in this strategic analysis.

 

Why this topic?

Some companies that use the concept of operational excellence and develop new business models – such as low cost models in the aviation sector – achieve results that appear excellent, both economically and in terms of safety.

These performances are achieved even though some of these companies adopt management and organizational approaches very far removed from the recommendations long put forward by experts in human and organizational factors.

What explains this apparent paradox? And what lessons can be drawn for other industrial sectors?

 

The academic seminar, the highlight of the analysis

To answer these questions, the strategic analysis group met regularly, reviewed existing academic literature, interviewed experts familiar with how these organizations operate, and finally… organized an international academic seminar by inviting specialists in the subject to share their knowledge and exchange views.

During this seminar, seven experts presented their work:

  • Isabelle Feng (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)
  • Jean-Christophe Le Coze (Ineris, France)
  • Yves Jorens (Université de Gand, Belgique), who also presented the work of Lien Valcke (Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad – VLIR, Belgium)
  • Peter Turnbull (Bristol Business School, United Kingdom)
  • Juan Wu (ZHAW School of Management and Law, Switzerland)
  • As well as Eric Marsden and Jean Pariès from Foncsi

They were able to discuss and be challenged by members of the strategic analysis scientific group in attendance: Fabien Lebas (TotalEnergies), Olivier Chanton (ASNR), Mathilde Bourrier (University of Geneva), and Olivier Omnes (EPSF). 

 

Next steps

In the coming months, members of the strategic analysis group will continue discussions and refine their thinking in order to transfer the results to industry, in particular during a dedicated seminar to be held in 2026.

The international experts, for their part, will write the scientific chapters that will make up the book to be published in English by Springer in the Foncsi collection, “SpringerBriefs in Safety Management”.

 

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