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Generative AI lacks the human creativity to achieve scientific discovery from scratch
No full textInternational audienceScientists are interested in whether generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can make scientific discoveries similar to those of humans. However, the results are mixed. Here, we examine whether, how and what scientific discovery GenAI can make in terms of the origin of hypotheses and experimental design through the interpretation of results. With the help of a computer-supported molecular genetic laboratory, GenAI assumes the role of a scientist tasked with investigating a Nobel-worthy scientific discovery in the molecular genetics field. We find that current GenAI can make only incremental discoveries but cannot achieve fundamental discoveries from scratch as humans can. Regarding the origin of the hypothesis, it is unable to generate truly original hypotheses and is incapable of having an epiphany to detect anomalies in experimental results. Therefore, current GenAI is good only at discovery tasks involving either a known representation of the domain knowledge or access to the human scientists’ knowledge space. Furthermore, it has the illusion of making a completely successful discovery with overconfidence. We discuss approaches to address the limitations of current GenAI and its ethical concerns and biases in scientific discovery. This research provides insight into the role of GenAI in scientific discovery and general scientific innovation.<br/
Displacing uncomfortable carbon accounting knowledge : how avoided emission models justify the status quo
No full textInternational audiencePurpose - This paper answers calls for an in-depth, critical evaluation of carbon accounting practices by examining the missing link between knowing about and acting on carbon emissions. It explores how managers may decide to ignore uncomfortable absolute carbon emission calculations and instead develop home-made carbon accounting models of avoided emissions in order to support the status quo.Design/methodology/approach - This in-depth single case study based on 23 interviews and substantial non-participant observation (28 days) builds on the notion of displacement as a discursive mode of ignorance to better understand why knowledge generated by Carbon Accounting Tools (CAT) can be considered uncomfortable and may in fact encourage the status quo.Findings - The case study shows that the voluntary production of carbon accounting calculations is not always synonymous with improved carbon emission performance. Focusing on home-made carbon accounting models, instead of on uncomfortable absolute carbon accounting calculations, can have a negative, rather than a positive, effect on environment-friendly decisions. Furthermore, in the case examined, this decision was not viewed favorably throughout the company, with some employees expressing their unease that the company had merely replaced an uncomfortable metric with a more favorable one.Originality/value - The study builds on the concepts of displacement and uncomfortable knowledge to argue that CAT that avoid creating tensions with a company’s economic growth objectives have little impact on promoting sustainable practices. By using carbon accounting models to focus on avoided emissions, managers can deliberately move attention away from uncomfortable absolute carbon accounting calculations, thereby legitimating the status quo.<br /
Impact des certifications énergétiques sur les décisions d'investissement durable : Légitimité ou levier d’image ?
No full textThis research report was written as part of the RECAPSS 2025 program at emlyon business school, and written by a group of students of the 1st MiM year/This study aims to explore the ambivalent role that energy certifications may play in investment decisions. Numerous academic works highlight that, for financial institutions, these labels are acknowledged but remain secondary to profitability criteria. In contrast, independent investors tend to adopt them based more on personal motivations and market trends, partly due to a lack of knowledge regarding these certifications. The literature also emphasizes that the perceived reliability of such certifications varies depending on economic and regulatory contexts, raising the question of their actual impact: are they merely tools for image enhancement, or do they serve as genuine drivers of sustainable investment? Based on these insights, our research seeks to deepen this understanding by combining a qualitative analysis of financial institutions and building professionals with a quantitative study of independent investor trends. This dual approach enabled us to assess the real influence of energy certifications on financial decision-making and to determine whether they represent a credible lever for the energy transition.Cette étude vise à déterminer le rôle ambivalent que les certifications énergétiques peuvent jouer dans les décisions d’investissement. Les nombreux travaux analysés montrent que, du côté des institutions financières, ces labels sont pris en compte mais restent secondaires face aux critères de rentabilité. En revanche, pour les investisseurs indépendants, leur adoption repose davantage sur des motivations personnelles et des tendances de marché, du fait également d’un manque de connaissances vis-à-vis de ces labels et certifications. La littérature souligne également que la perception de la fiabilité des certifications varie selon les contextes économiques et réglementaires, soulevant la question de leur véritable impact : levier d’image ou moteur réel d’investissement durable ? À partir de ces constats, notre recherche vise à approfondir ces enjeux en combinant une analyse qualitative auprès d’institutions financières et de professionnels du bâtiment ; et une étude quantitative sur les tendances des investisseurs indépendants. Cette approche nous a permis d’évaluer dans quelle mesure ces certifications influencent réellement les choix financiers et si elles constituent un levier crédible pour la transition énergétique
Empowering salespeople in complex negotiations : autonomy and leeway in preparation and concession-making
No full textInternational audienceThis research investigates how salesperson autonomy in negotiation decision-making influences their anticipated preparation effort and the setting of initial positions in multi-issue negotiations. While extensive literature examines price negotiations within sales organizations, the factors shaping salespeople’s preparation for multi-issue negotiations remains underexplored. This research focuses on two types of negotiation autonomy, engagement autonomy related to the decision to negotiate and, issue autonomy related to setting specific terms. Three between-subjects scenario-based experimental studies involving 139, 103, and 132 salespeople/customer service employees, respectively, are conducted. The results show that, when granted higher engagement autonomy, salespeople anticipate investing more preparation effort into multi-issue negotiations. We also observed greater anticipated preparation effort when both engagement and issue autonomy related to price were constrained. Yet, this increased anticipated effort was accompanied by more customer-favorable initial positions, suggesting that higher anticipated preparation effort does not necessarily lead to stronger initial positions.<br/
Falling and failing (to learn) : Evidence from a nation-wide cybersecurity field experiment with SMEs
No full textInternational audiencePrior experiences are crucial in shaping risk prevention behavior. Previous studies have shown that experiencing a simulated phishing attack (a “phishing drill”) reduces the likelihood of clicking on unsafe links and disclosing one’s password. In a large field experiment involving 670 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their 33,000 employees, we examined the impact of experience on individuals’ ability to detect cyber-security threats, and whether this effect persisted over several months. We collected data at both the company and individual levels, including risk preference, time preference, and trust. Our findings indicate only a non-systematic, short-term effect of previous phishing emails on clicking behavior. A cluster of individuals with greater patience, trust, and risk seeking was more likely to click on phishing links in the first place but then also more likely to benefit from phishing drills.<br/
Territoriality and the Emergence of Norms During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textInternational audienceAlthough social norms are critical for regulating behavior, the emergence of new norms is rarely studied in consequential real-world settings. Thus, the conditions under which norms arise in certain communities but not in others are not well understood. In this article, we propose territoriality as a factor that helps to explain the unequal emergence of norms. When individuals experience a strong sense of territoriality over the physical spaces they inhabit, they feel empowered and justified in regulating others’ behavior within those spaces. To the extent that demand for particular norms is widespread, territoriality can facilitate norm emergence. Using daily, geolocated data from the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, we find support for this theory; neighborhoods with higher levels of territoriality were more likely to adopt new health-protecting norms. Our territoriality account sheds light on the relationship between norm emergence, physical space, and neighborhood resilience.<br /
Monetizing Positive Externalities to Mitigate the Infrastructure Underinvestment Problem
No full textInternational audienceMany cities face challenges in financing their infrastructure. If a decision maker cannot capture all the benefits of its investment, there is a risk of underinvestment. Hong Kong’s transit operator designed a scheme in which it not only receives fare revenues, but also participates in a property management business, exploiting the positive externalities of public transport on nearby property prices. We develop a stochastic Stackelberg game of timing to explore the rationale of this scheme. The underlying problem is nontrivial because the operator faces a two-dimensional optimal stopping problem that cannot be reduced by a change of numéraire. We determine the operator’s optimal investment policy via the intermediation of a “penalized problem” and derive comparative statics. We determine the circumstances under which monetizing positive externalities effectively favors infrastructure investment. Other management problems have similar structures.<br /
Assigning parcel destinations to drop-off points in a congested robotic sorting system
No full textInternational audienceAutonomous mobile robots are increasingly used for order picking, order delivery, and parcel sorting. This article studies a robotic sorting system that uses robots to transport parcels from loading stations to drop-off points. While this system provides more flexible throughput capacity than conventional sorting systems, its performance is significantly affected by the robot travel distance and robot congestion. We study the problem of assigning parcel destinations to drop-off points to minimize the throughput time, trading off travel distance and congestion. First, an open queuing network (OQN) with finite capacity queues is constructed to estimate the congested throughput time. A decomposition method based on the analysis of the tandem queuing network of each aisle is developed to solve the OQN. Second, using the obtained throughput time as an objective and the destination assignments as decisions, we formulate an optimization model and solve the problem using an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm. We validate the accuracy of the OQN by simulation and verify the efficiency of the ALNS algorithm by comparing it with Gurobi, a tabu search algorithm, several heuristic assignment rules, and the rule used by our case company, that assigns high demands close to loading stations. The results show that the ALNS solution provides a relatively low throughput time by dispersing destinations with high demands over drop-off points. In addition, we investigate the effects of different system layouts and travel path topologies. We also show that the ALNS assignment rule produces substantially lower operational costs than the heuristic assignment rules for a given required throughput capacity.<br /
Are we on the same page? Leader-follower value congruence as a boundary condition in the emergence of charismatic effects
No full textInternational audienceIn the emergence of the charismatic effect, the leader–follower value congruence assumption posits that the charisma signal creates a charismatic effect for followers who have congruent values with the leader but may repel followers with incongruent values. Whereas this assumption is a central pillar of charisma signaling, it has not been causally tested. We theorize the charisma signal, leader–follower value congruence, and their interaction as predictors of the charismatic effect (i.e., perceived leader charisma, prototypicality, and effectiveness). In three preregistered experiments, we manipulate the charisma signal and communicated leader values by relying on video-recorded speeches and measure follower values beforehand. We operationalize leader–follower value congruence as the degree to which communicated leader values and measured follower values match. Study 1 showed mixed results for the leader–follower value congruence assumption, whereas Studies 2 and 3 – using polarized rhetoric – fully support it. We found some evidence that value congruence moderates the charisma signal–charismatic effect relationship, such that the relationship becomes stronger (weaker) with more value congruence (incongruence) in Studies 1 and 3 (but not in Study 2). Theoretical and practical implications as well as limitations are discussed.<br /