After a few hours in the coach, when friendships started to build up, we arrived in an amazing world. Fresh air and beautiful mountains all around us… nothing could stress us at all!

In the hotel, students, alumni and staff from different continents and different backgrounds, simply shared this moment by talking, smiling, laughing, and sometimes singing or dancing. On an intensity scale from 1 to 5, we rated this intercultural seminar at 5.

No time out should be the credo… after a nice breakfast nothing is better than a marketing class and group work! But to share ideas with the others, you have to know yourself first! Did you know that your personality can be classified in 16 different categories? That was Raymond Ouellet (Canadian prodessor)’s demonstration. His explanation was based on the famous MBTI test, world widely used in human resources management to define the people’s main trait (introvert, extravert…).

As our grey cells must be preserved for the rest of the semester, rafting, trekking, partying made up the other part of this intensive program. These sports easily and quickly created cohesion, team spirit and simply fun and friendship.

It is already time to go back to Reims. Good bye Morzines… it will stay for ever in our memory.

[Testimony from 2004/2005 MBA Students]

The module “ restructuring and flexibility” was launched in May 2003. The second edition of this elective course has been completed. “Restructuring organisations is no more by accident but a continuous process. Whatever mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, social plans are at stake, not only the HR manager but every manager will have to face it . You’d better be prepared. “ says Rachel Beaujolin, professor in Human Resources Management.

The course includes three sections : the various forms of restructuring and the legal context , the individual’s decision-making process and the organisational point of view and then, the implementation of change.

The teaching emphasizes the provision of both a sound theoretical background and real-word perspectives. This is done thanks to the contribution of professional guest-speakers from major multinational companies HR managers, plant managers, consultants, psychologists or even “transition managers” ie experts of change implementation.

Last May, a field study was organised in conjunction with Smart, a highly flexible and socially advanced firm. “ I have learnt that first of all, you should anticipate and design your restructuring plan and give priority to develop people’s employability. Then comes the legal framework and ethical issues“ says Benjamin Charpentier, enthusiastic about the experience.

Rachel Beaujolin is Professor and Director of Research at Reims Management School. She is the author of “Vertigo of the Job”, Grasset 1999, and has actively contributed to various papers on restructuring. Se has been rapporteur of the October 2002 commission document on “ Industrial Transformations” to France Prime Minister.