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Les études sur l'intelligence animale risquent une contradiction : c'est la performance humaine qui reste l'étalon de comparaison, et par conséquent la définition humaine de l'intelligence. Mais si l'on observe la multiplicité des études disponibles, on voit des résultats convergents permettant d'échapper à ce bouclage circulaire (l'homme observe ce qu'il a défini être observable) et de considérer l'intelligence humaine comme une forme parmi d'autres d'intelligence, dont la théorie de l'évolution peut rendre compte.

This volume was prepared by a select group of international experts in response to a need expressed by the Canadian government to identify and analyze some of the major challenges facing governments in conducting business in the knowledge-based economy. Special emphasis is placed on identifying the policy issues which governments will need to address in the upcoming years. This volume presents essays in three primary categories: Trends and Forces Shaping the New Reality Restructuring and Reorganizing in a Knowledge-Based Economy Key Governance Issues in the Knowledge-Based Economy £/LIST£ Part one describes the salient features of the knowledge-based economy. What are its economic underpinnings? What are its technological characteristics? Whereas, in the past, growth was determined primarily by the availability of land, natural resources, labor, and capital, at the end of the twentieth century knowledge has become the major factor of economic growth. Part two examines management issues and economic phenomena typical of a knowledge-based economy. What makes new technology adoption and implementation successful? What can government do to make it more successful? Part three is directly focused toward questions of political economy and economic policy considerations, including technical, economic, and societal solutions. The volume concludes with a summary of the new ways in which firms and governments should manage business in a knowledge-based economy

In common with most service companies, banks today are faced with a myriad demands on their delivery processes made by an increasingly fragmented market. Management theorists and consultants prescribe up‐to‐date technology and service personnel generalists as progenitors of the flexibility required by companies seeking to deliver quality of service. However companies gear up their systems to deal with variable market demands and expectations, penalties of time, finance and quality are inevitable. So, how flexible need a service company be, and what degree of variability need it countenance as acceptable from its customers in today's marketplace? Can service companies approach such questions in ways similar to those taken in the past by manufacturing companies? Indeed, does "flexibility" mean the same in services as it does in manufacturing? Does it involve the same challenges and, if not, is a radically different model required in order to delineate the concept and challenges of flexibility in services? Attempts to answer such questions conceptually and in terms of information technology's role in enhancing flexibility of service delivery. Proposes a model by which to integrate the most relevant elements in the service and manufacturing literature, and applies this model to explore four service‐specific dimensions of flexible delivery.

AbstractThis paper attempts to investigate the relationship between three variable sets namely process innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The study is carried out on a sample of 388 small and medium sized manufacturing firms operating in Quebec. Study results indicate that advanced process innovator firms are more productive and competitive than the less advanced process innovator firms on a number of key dimensions.RésuméCet article tente d'explorer les liens entre trois ensembles de variables, soit l'innovation dans les procédés de production, la productivité et la compétitivité. L'étude a été menée sur un échantillonnage de 388 petites et moyennes entreprises manufacturières en activité au Queébec. Les résultats démontrent que les entreprises qui innovent dans les technologies avancées de production sont, au regard de certains critères d'évaluation, plus productives et compétitives que les entreprises moins innovatrices.