Francis Pavé

Initially, he conducted research on the computerization of organizations. He showed that actors had an impressive ability to change, as they saw fit, the tools that were imposed on them, frequently without consulting or informing the people involved.

He was appointed rapporteur for the Declosets commission on State modernization (under the government of Michel Rocard, 1989). In this context, he became aware of the formal and superficial nature of bureaucratic projects which emphasized the appearance of modernity through technology, rather than a rethinking of processes and their interactions in order to better meet the needs of their “users.”

This commission began the work of modernizing the State, which has yet to be completed. Faced with the difficulty of getting his project off the ground, he posed the question of the timeframe necessary for this project. He compared the current situation with the history of the modernization of French firms since World War II. He noticed that they needed 40 years to finally bring about convincing results (which are, however, constantly evolving, as modernization is a process of permanent obsolescence). One would be led to think, then, that the modernization of the State could only take place in a similar timeframe.

Francis Pavé also works on the French healthcare system, having participated in evaluating the carte vitale (French national health insurance card) project and having studied the regulation system of private practice doctors.

Lastly, he conducts research on complex social systems.

Teaching Activities

After a post as associate professor at the Ecole Polytechnique, he obtained a post as full professor at the Ecole Nationale des Ponts & Chaussées, in the Sociologie et Décision publique (Sociology and Public Decision-making) department.

Elected Member of the Conseil d’Enseignement et de la Recherche (Teaching and Research Council of ENPC).

Other Activities

Member of the editorial board of Les Annales des Mines – Gérer & Comprendre .

Member of the Ecole de Paris du management, leads a seminar called “Entrepreneur : Ville & Territoire” (Entrepreneur : City and Territory), created in 2001 (10 meetings/year).

Appointed researcher for the Comité d’enquête sur le coût et le rendement des services publics (Research committee on the costs and benefits of public services) of the French Court of Auditors (several missions concerning the modernization of the State).

Several missions of evaluation of public action : modernization of the directions départementales de l’équipement (DDE); government computer systems ; user satisfaction ; post-crisis management of government external services, etc.

Education

Philosophy and mathematical logic – an epistomological history of the sciences and techniques at the Sorbonne, followed by a doctorate in Sociology at Sciences Po Paris.