This is a study of French management structures and practices which draws on research and first-hand interviews with French managers to provide an analysis of the nature of management in France, placing it in the social and cultural context of the country. The authors examine the position of the French cadre and his typical education and career development. The formal nature of work relations and the rituals obtaining in French business life are analyzed and set against the role of senior executives, their routes to top management positions and their influence on the company ethos. The book goes on to look at the corporate culture of four leading, but very different, French companies: Michelin, L'Air Liquide, L'Oreal and Carrefour. General management attitudes to labour relations are also covered. Finally, the authors provide an overview of the distinctive features of French management, future trends and perceptions of the changes that the single European market will bring.
