Networks are recognized as a central component of the entrepreneurial process, in particular with regard to opportunity identification and exploitation. In this study, we more specifically analyze the role of mentors who are in business as opportunity brokers and enablers among university students with entrepreneurial intentions. Our investigation with 1022 students from 13 French-language universities in Canada, France, Belgium and Algeria indicates that mentors in business, contrary to other mentors, support opportunity identification and exploitation among university students. Although student gender, entrepreneurial experience and education have a more pronounced effect, mentoring is the only element that can be controlled through the creation of formal support programs. These results call on public authorities, and universities in particular, to implement formal mentoring programs to support students who are interested in starting their own business, and who would not otherwise have access to business mentors in their environment.

The purpose of this study is to compare the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in North Africa (Algeria) with those of students in Canada and Europe (France and Belgium), and to examine differences with regard to psychological, sociocultural and economic factors influencing these intentions. Analyses on the sample as a whole confirm the relevancy of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) proposed by Ajzen (1991). When we differentiate among cultural groups, results were fairly similar for Canadian and European students. However, no TPB elements were significant for the Algerian students, or more significant than the control variables. We discuss the need to consider cultural factors to explain entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, given the socioeconomic climate in Algeria, we hypothesize that among Algerian university students, entrepreneurship is motivated by necessity rather than opportunity.

The problem of organizing the diaspora within and between networks has led to great interest among the scientific community. The literature has shown the existence of a real body and cohesion amongst the members of diasporas in the same country either at a regional or at a global scale, which organize, cooperate and act with the country of origin. This has led to some considerable material and immaterial advantages for the countries of origin. This state of affairs illustrates an inter-connection of the networks among the members, scattered over the four corners of the planet, but does not shed any light on the arrangement and functioning of the same networks within the country of origin. This research highlights the establishment of the Algerian business diaspora for the development of the entrepreneurship in Algeria. Beyond the business opportunity and the development of investment, there is also evidence of a clear involvement in extra-professional associative activities aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in Algeria and more particularly the innovative entrepreneurship. This qualitative research is based on the interviews of 36 entrepreneurs. The analysis of the interviews shows the existence of an innovative organization of networks and a hard core that is active in several forms of associations (Diaspora associations, Think-Tank, Business Angel, etc). This innovative organization of networks plays a significant role in the development of entrepreneurship in Algeria, in particular, the innovative entrepreneurship.

Les Partenariats Public-Privé (PPP) offrent une importante opportunité aux pouvoirs publics de transférer les risques des grands projets publics au secteur privé et aux usagers des services publics. Cependant, la réussite du partenariat est compromise par l’optimisation de la répartition des risques entre les parties contractantes. Considérant ce postulat, la présente recherche se propose d’explorer les pratiques de répartition des risques mises en place dans un échantillon de PPP en Algérie. En adoptant une approche qualitative, l’étude a porté sur les PPP contractés dans le secteur des transports, des ressources en eau et de l’énergie, en l’occurrence le port de Bejaia, les stations de dessalement de l’eau de mer, la gestion de l’eau potable (SEAAL) et le métro d’Alger. Les résultats de cette recherche nous ont permis de mettre en évidence la performance quantitative comme élément fédérateur pour l’ensemble des partenariats et ce, dans l’objectif de combler le déficit enregistré dans le service public visé par le contrat. En outre, la répartition des risques n’a pas fait l’objet de négociation ou de cadrage contractuel clair, à l’exception du projet des stations de dessalement de l’eau de mer où une matrice détaillée d’allocation des risques, présents et futurs inhérents aux projets, a été élaborée et adoptée par les partenaires.

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