Management of Extreme Situations

Introduction

The purpose of this book, edited by Pascal Lièvre (CRCGM, UCA), Monique Aubry (ESG-UQAM) and Gilles Garel (CNAM), is to report on the Cerisy symposium held from June 14 to June 21, 2016, entitled “Management des situations extrêmes : des expéditions polaires aux organisations orientées exploration”¹. This symposium was supported by Lirsa, CRCGM and Open Lab Exploration Innovation and took place in the always magical setting of the Château de Cerisy La Salle, in a rainy, studious, dense, continuous and friendly atmosphere. Calva and champagne punctuated our academic debates but also our evenings, which were based in a more sensitive register around testimonies/experiences concerning, for instance, the emergence of a new technology in the Himalayas or an identity itinerary of a sea kayaker in the Arctic. It brought together 52 participants. We would like to thank Edith Heurgon for her warm and firm welcome in this collective adventure and to the entire team for their logistical assistance at all times. A very special thought is expressed for Catherine de Condillac who has since moved to other heavens.

In this introduction, we propose first to recall the intention of the symposium and to report on the debates that took place, then to come back to some theoretical definitions and frameworks of the management of extreme situations program, and finally to present the outline of the book, which is an ex post rationalization of our work.

I.1. Intent and status of the ...