NEWS - Altran

n o 13
AltrAn’s
science And
technology
MAgAzine
www.altran.com
april 2008
altitude
PlAnt
sUstAinABle
HARVEST
DEVELOPMENT
NEWS p.9 Hardware and software for monitoring alternative energy sources / Foundation : Partnership with EcoAct/
green-shopping : Eco-friendly bamboo socks HIGH-TECH p.17 sustainable development: When businesses get
involved PEOPLE p.27 electronic content Management : A portal for project and business management/ campus :
The “Sustainable Development and Global Corporate Responsibility” platform at Bordeaux Management School.

Edito/
Responsible Business
Industries were among the first to be concerned about their impact
on the environment, before focusing their plans and actions on
economy and society. Then the service and consulting sectors jumped
aboard. As the principle of corporate social responsibility takes on greater
prominence, it has become as important to take care of our planet and its
inhabitants as it is to run our businesses.
The men and women of Altran, with their experience and ability, are ready
to tackle this challenge. A global partner in innovation with an international
scope, the Group’s consultants are at the top of their creative game. Let
us adopt a sustainable approach together—although the results won’t be
immediate and the first steps seem insignificant, we must progress towards a
new vision of a society in which each company and each citizen take up their
responsibilities.
Pascal Brier
Deputy General Manager
in this issue dedicated to responsible
development, Laurence Harribey reminds
us that “Businesses can’t afford to stand
on the sidelines of what goes on around
them, because they are an integral
part of the societies and communities
in which they operate. their successes
cannot be sustained if the societies
around them falter.” Businesses in every
sector bear responsibility not only towards
their shareholders and employees, but also
towards all citizens.
2, rue Paul Vaillant-Couturier
92532 Levallois-Perret Cedex
www.altran.com
altitude@altran.com
Altitude n°13
April 2008
Publishing Director :
Pascal Brier
Editor in Chief :
Benoît Repoux
Editorial content :
Benoît Repoux, Citizen Press
Design and page layout :
01 53 00 10 00
Publishing Manager :
Aurélien Coustillac
Art Director :
David Corvaisier
Page layout :
Fabienne Laurent, Franck Widling,
Nathalie Wegener
Editorial Secretary :
Elisabeth Castaing, Sophie
Loubeyre, Anne Placier
Cover credit :
GettyImages/Stockbyte
Translation :
Corporate Editions
Production :
Sylvie Esquer
Print by :
/sUMMARY/
NEWS 04
04
> 09 MONITORING ENERGY
Askon (Altran Group) is
developping hardware and
software to monitor alternative
energy sources.
HIGH-TECH 17
> 14 ALTRAN FOUNDATION
A committed partnership with
EcoAct for ecologically friendly
and socially responsible
programs.
> 16 GREEN-SHOPPING
Eco-friendly bamboo
socks—soft and
sustainable!
> 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: WHEN BUSINESSES GET INVOLVED
Increasing numbers of large companies and SMEs are reconciling corporate responsibility
and economic efficiency. Yes, many businesses still see sustainable development as a
financial constraint rather than a cash source, but those who’ve embraced it show that
spending wisely makes for greater returns….
PEOPLE 27
> 28 A PORTAL FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT > 30 LAURENCE HARRIBEY
With help from Consignit (which represents the Altran CIS Professor and EU expert Laurence
brand in Sweden), SWECO Management has been able to Harribey explains the finer points of
further develop its Project Structure offer, an internet portal the Sustainable Development and
for project and business management. Now, it is available not Global Corporate Responsibility
only to construction and real estate businesses, but also to any platform at BEM (Bordeaux
company managing complex projects.
Management School).
Imprimerie Vincent
Copyright :
To subscribe to Altitude,
April 2008
please visit altran.com
02 Altitude n°13 / april 2008
ISSN : 1767-9974
Altitude (Paris 2003)
Altitude n°13 / april 2008 03

news
altran CommuniCAtion
Altitude ’s
wearing green
Altran’s science and technology magazine has
existed in its current form for almost five years,
and its first 12 issues were printed on
environmentally friendly offset paper.
Altitude is refreshing its feel for this 13th
publication in honour of its theme.
Our paper and printing will now be PEFC
certified. This is an eco-label dedicated to
sustainable forest management.
The logo, affixed on a wood or wood-based
product, guarantees that the product is made of
wood from sustainably managed forests that are
PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification schemes) certified for the entire
printing process—from the forest to the printer.
More information at www.pefc.org
GreenHouse eFFeCt
australia ratifies
the Kyoto protocol
The Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd’s
first act of office was to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol
on December 3, 2007. Up
until then, Australia and
the United States were
the only two industrialised
countries that hadn’t yet
ratified the protocol. In
signing the agreement,
Australia commits, during
the phase running from
2008 to 2012, to reducing
DR
greenhouse gas emissions
by 5.2% in comparison to
levels recorded in 1990.
According to data submitted
to the secretariat of the
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) by the
signatories, the 40 most
industrialised countries
once again increased their
greenhouse gas emissions
(GGE) in 2005. On the
decline from 1990 to 2000,
altran trAnsportAtion
an electricity miracle in Jerusalem
Cities increasingly
constitute the front line
of defence in protecting
the environment, but
not merely through
mitigating measures
taken only when
pollution reaches
alarming levels. In
an effort to decrease the environmental impact of public
transportation and to encourage residents to leave their cars at
home, the municipality of Jerusalem has invested in a tramway
network, a means of electric transport that reduces CO 2
emissions.
To reduce its traffic congestion, the Sacred City has turned to
Alstom, for whom Altran implements traffic and security systems.
This solution has allowed the city to reduce atmospheric and
sound pollution, and Altran will be doing the same for Algiers’
metro system, in a city famous for its overburdened streets.
the emissions began
rising again between 2000
and 2005. Greenhouse
gas emissions reached
18.2 billion tons in 2005,
compared to 17.7 billion
in 2000. Australia alone
experienced a rise of almost
26% in emissions between
1990 and 2005.
GraphicObsession
altran Anti-wAste
small drops maKe
an ocean
The employees of the EILiS (Energy,
Industry and Life Sciences) perimeter
at Altran’s headquarters are, naturally,
receptive to sustainable development
and have decided to lead the effort
through a campaign of humorous
posters urging everyone to help out
by reducing motor transport, energy
consumption and paper waste, thanks
to a few easy tricks and fun facts and
figures. An initiative to copy… front
and back!
number
3,500
trees planted
part of altran’s 2008
resolutions is to actively
support the flagship initiative
of united nations
environment programme
(unep): plant for the planet.
in teaming up with the green
Belt movement, altran has
planted 3,500 trees so far.
For more information:
www.greenbeltmovement.org
In Nature magazine, Valier Galy and Christian
France-Lanord from the Petrographic and
Geographic Research Centre in Nancy (CNRS-
INSU) explain that the Himalayas contribute to
reducing the amount of carbon in the earth’s
atmosphere over a very long period of time
(millions of years). The erosion of mountains
such as the Himalayas causes huge quantities of
organic matter to be transported to the ocean.
During photosynthesis, atmospheric CO 2 helps
produce organic molecules, which mostly take
plant form. This organic matter oxidises in the
soil, returning to the atmosphere in the form of
CO 2 . However, some of it is swept to the ocean,
and then buried in sediment at the bottom. Over
time, this process of burying organic carbon
captures CO 2 from the atmosphere. The study
shows that in the Himalayas, three-fourths of
new organic material is transported and buried
in sediments deposited in the Bay of Bengal.
Since CO 2 is a greenhouse gas,
this CO 2 “capture” in the Himalayas can
contribute to climate cooling.
04 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 05
© Clément Perrotte
DR
CLimAte
are the himalayas
cooling the climate?

news
environnement
the arctic and the northwest passage
During summer, the melting ice sheet opens up an Arctic
passage. For the first time, the European Space Agency
(ESA) was able to show that the Northwest Passage, a
shipping channel in the middle of the Arctic Ocean between
altran europe
at the heart of nuclear fusion
In December 2007, the Group’s
European Affairs Office arranged
for Altran’s participation in the
ITER Business Forum. This was an
opportunity for the companies most
active in nuclear fusion (Altran ElLiS
Mediterranean, Altran ElLiS Paris
and Altran Technologies Spain) to
come together for the first time ever
over a project on massive, safe,
and sustainable energy production
that will be one of the greatest
technological challenges of the next
50 years.
This event allowed the Group
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is navigable. The reduction
in the thickness and surface of the ice sheet, which creates a
more comfortable passage for ships, may become perennial
or last for a good part of the year.
to establish contact with major
players in the ITER project and
gather available information on the
project’s progress and on upcoming
requests for proposal. The event
marks a point of departure for
Altran’s activity structure for this
project, and facilitated the launch
of the ITER community through
the development of international
partnerships and a coordinated
response to ITER requests for
proposal, and the implementation
of communication tools for the
Group’s skills and standards. ITER,
which stands for International
Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor, should not be confused
with nuclear fission. The objective
of this type of reactor is to provide
the means for massive energy
production, which, if carried out on
an industrial scale, will provide an
almost inexhaustible, low pollution
energy source.
Graphic Obsession
Valasseris / Andia
FAir trADe
maX havelaar,
a laBel on the rise
altran trAnsport
Business travel
without the pollution
Started in 2005 within Altran Europe
as a mandatory program, the travel
plan has now been extended on
a voluntary basis to other Group
companies in Belgium (Altran
Belgium, Altran CIS and De Valck
Consultants). Several incentives
have boosted the plan, including
full reimbursement of public
transportation costs. In 2008, the
plan will aim even higher. Maria
Grazia Ferri, recently appointed
Sustainability Officer (see p. 27),
says enthusiastically, “All new
vehicles will be equipped with
particle filters. While this is costly
for the company, it’s a step forward
towards cleaner air. And although
we’ve decided to allow the staff
freedom of choice, we are also
making it easier to go along with
less polluting choices. We want
to make people feel responsible,
not pressured. For example, our
altran mAnAGement
ecodynamism as
a driving force
Conceived in July 2004 in Belgium,
Ecodyn is an intra-Altran project
whose goal is to implement an
environmentally-friendly management
system, with the wider outlook of
pushing Altran towards sustainable
development. Each company in the
project has appointed a consultant
to join the internal Ecodyn group
and participate in various awareness
projects and training sessions. An
energy audit is underway in the central
headquarters building and a number
of measures have been undertaken to
encourage company management to
subscribe to sustainable development
and waste reduction. Indeed, even
Santa’s presents can’t escape the
approach’s wide embrace. 2008’s
major environmental project is the
company’s travel plan (see below), and
the approach, which includes a local
Sustainability Officer and an exchange
of good practises, will include Sweden
and the Netherlands as well.
fleet features both large cars and
more environmentally-friendly cars,
and we’ve made a hybrid model
available to everyone. Incidentally,
model behaviour has already
been set from the top—Dominique
d’Andrimont, Executive Director
of Altran Belgium, was the first to
order a hybrid!” The goal of this
program for 2009 is to reduce CO 2
emissions by 10 % per kilometre
travelled!
06 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 07
DR
This international fair trade
label, under the name of
Max Havelaar in France
and the Netherlands, is
familiar to half of French
consumers and almost
80% of Dutch consumers.
The label, which has been
awarded to almost
600 producers across
60 countries, is available in
21 consumer countries and
appears under one of three
names: Max Havelaar,
Fairtrade or Transfair.
The label is coordinated at
the international level by the FLO federation (Fairtrade Labeling
Organisations), based in Bonn, Germany. The first of these labels
was created as Max Havelaar by the priest-labourer Francisco
Van der Hoff in the Netherlands in 1989.

Graphic Obsession
news
altran pACkAGinG
ecological footprint:
Beware of preJudice!
For a recent project involving the design of food and
beverage containment in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer
Goods) sector, Cambridge Consultants (an Altran
subsidiary) was asked to replace a robust, re-usable
product container with a single-use, disposable version.
This was thought necessary to accelerate the penetration of
the product into new markets, where infrastructure for the
collection, cleaning and re-filling of the containers was not
yet available.
By considering the lifecycle of the existing product,
including the non-reusable elements such as the label
and closure, the additional transportation by road
and the requirement for steam cleaning of the
container, Cambridge Consultants were able to
propose a minimalist packaging solution that could
be used once and recycled with a lower overall
environmental impact than the original design. This
proved a surprise to the client, whose original
development of the re-usable system had been
based on the premise that re-using was inevitably
preferable.
Contact :
nathan.wrench@CambridgeConsultants.com
AGriCuLture
volcanoes:
fertiliser for growers!
The Australian company Alroc sells volcanic powder (basalt flour)
and other mineral-based “fertilisers”. Although such products
have been around for awhile (for example, lime and gypsum are
already commonly used), mixing different rocks, especially those
of volcanic origin, is a new trend. Australia aside, these products
are increasingly available in Europe (especially in the Netherlands)
and North America. Ground volcanic rock is brimming with riches:
it has high concentrations of silicon, calcium, magnesium and
oligo-elements. Silicon improves plants’ natural resistance against
parasites, and basalt powder encourages proper aeration of clay
soil. No question that such qualities will “fertilise” the basalt flour
market!
© Clément Perrotte
altran ControL
monitoring energy
For an internationally renowned German renewable energy provider,
Olaf Mieling and four other consultants from Askon, a German
subsidiary of the Group, developed a new version of the control
station (hardware and software) that allows for a comprehensive
control of and permanent technical support for alternative energy
sources (solar, wind, photovoltaic, etc.) provided to clients. Altran
experts contributed their know-how in project management,
information systems and embedded systems, and their
accomplishment was overwhelmingly acclaimed when presented at
HusumWind, the world’s leading wind industry fair.
german energy
providers taKe a dip into
renewaBle energy
German energy providers
have just announced their
investments in renewable
energy. RWE announced the
creation of RWE Innogy, a
new company that began
operations on February 1,
2008 and intends to invest
at least one billion euros
per year going forward.
RWE would like renewable
energy, notably wind
energy, to make up 20% of
its total energy production
capacity beginning in
2020. Its competitor, E.ON,
has vowed to double its
investment in “green”
energy by 2010, for a total of
6 billion euros.
Better supply for
Better production
08 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 09
© Conergy
DR
altran suppLy CHAin
The solar power industry has grown
rapidly in Germany, with some players
doubling or tripling their production
capacity in a matter of months.
In August 2007, Askon was asked to
optimise the circulation of equipment on
the supply chain of a leader in the solar
energy sector. Government reduction of
aid incentives for equipment has
increased pressure on the market.
Within two months, Altran consultants
identified ways to potentially save
3.6 million euros. The suggestions
proposed by Askon to make these
savings included optimised equipment
sourcing, a switch to Kanban,
and using an external logistics partner.
Furthermore, plans are being made to
divide up operational goals by
department and by individual employee
in order to boost incentives to achieve
goals.

news
altran eneRGY cOnsumptiOn
RENOVATING BUILDINGS,
REDUCING ENERGY NEEDS
Altran Europe’s RESTART business unit in Belgium has
embraced a global approach to tackling renewable energy
concerns such as cost reduction, increased comfort, and
alternative energies. The consultants have created a three-fold
approach to deal with these issues:
• reduction in need: initial audit followed by a more in-depth
audit that will lead to a 10-30% reduction in energy bills
• self-generated energy: wind, photovoltaic, geothermal, etc.
• implementation of a continually improving process
The consultants also worked on developing a calculator that
allows each person to estimate his/her annual carbon output.
Once the person has calculated his/her expenditure, he/she is
invited to sponsor a tree in the village of Ibi-Batéké in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, home to a carbon sink. The
Ibi-Batéké Carbon Sink Project (PCI-B) is a major component
of an integrated rural development forest program that has
been around since 1998. Its goal is to link primary production
to agri-industrial production in order to provide supplemental
ARchitectuRe
MY MINI ME HOUSE
Small, high-tech houses that consume less
energy are all the rage in the US, a trend
known as “mini me”. A great example of this is
Turbulence House in New Mexico, which has
been copied by a second version in Italy.
Covered in aluminium panels, it incorporates
ground-source heating and a rainwater cistern.
So-called “biotic” houses (see photo), made
from wood and equipped with solar panels,
exist in France.
Castro M./Urba Images Server
revenue to the people involved in the process, and to retain a
major and stable CO 2 reserve in the forest.
More information at http://www.ibi-village.cd
38 YeARs AGO
ALREADY TALK
OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
In 1970, scientists, economists, businessmen
and public representative members of the Club
of Rome NGO published a report called “Limits
to Growth”, which drew attention to the havoc
wreaked on our natural resource supply by
unchecked growth. This was a turning point
in the awareness of the need to protect the
environment and emphasise socio-economic
action. From the idea of quantitative growth
sprang a gradual progression from awareness
of social and cultural factors to awareness of
environmental factors, resulting in the sustainable
development that we know today.
Graphic Obsession
AltRAn pR[Í]me
altran pR[Í]me
ECO-DESIGN, NATURALLY
At Altran, Pr[í]me is part of the international IMD (Innovation Management & Development) practise.
In order to help its clients (the Executive Board, and the Marketing and R&D Management Boards) bring
their ideas to the market, Pr[í]me systematically applies an environmental approach. Eco-design should follow
naturally. At Pr[í]me, sustainable development isn’t a market, it’s a paradigm.
mODulAR cOnstRuctiOn
E-SPACE+, AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT IN MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
How do you release onto
the market a new range of so-called
“modular” construction units
in less than a year? These spaces
must be at once unique, personalised,
scalable, and energy conserving,
while also meeting the needs
of diverse sectors such as industry,
services, local governments
and construction.
Modular construction units launched
in the market in under a year is the
challenge set by Touax. The third
largest European leader in the rental of
modular constructions market, Touax
was able to answer this challenge with
the help of Altran Pr[í]me.
They received the 2007 Janus Industry
Prize for their E-space+ product,
which also received the 2008
Observeur du Design Seal of Approval.
This concept will revolutionise the
modular construction market in seven
ways: price, installation rapidity,
respect for standards, turnkey
solutions, flexibility, personalisation
and design.
Altran Pr[í]me’s role was to inject a
design into the heart of the project that
blends function, attractiveness and
ergonomics, all while adhering to
expectations set by Touax and its
clients. Sustainable development has
been inextricably woven into the
process, via the aim to improve energy
performance by mastering the global
energy situation and managing
operating costs.
A group of over thirty different
consultants brought together by Altran
Pr[í]me introduced new technologies
while mastering existing ones: design,
eco-design, structural calculations,
equipment, buying, industrial
processes, standards and regulations,
etc. Despite a tight time table, this
synergy of skills enabled Altran Pr[í]me
to fulfil all of Touax Solutions
Modulaires’ demands, proving itself a
Price, rapid
installation, respect
for standards,
turnkey solutions,
flexibility,
personalisation, etc.
key partner in the co-creation and
development of innovative solutions.
Contact : olivier.picard@altran.com
E-space+ received
the 2007 Janus
Industry Prize and
the 2008 Observeur
du Design Seal of
Approval
10 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 11
E-space+
revolutionises
the design
of modular
construction.

news
ecOlOGicAl FOOtpRint
THE ADVENT OF ECO-DESIGN
We’ve gone from raising
awareness about eco-design to
taking concrete steps to
implementing it. Soon, we’ll be
embracing eco-design for all
products, as the concept
of sustainable development quickly
diffuses into our code of conduct.
Pr[í]me is a key player in the
campaign to eliminate the
ecological footprint of future
products.
IIt will only take a single generation
for every citizen of a country in
the Western hemisphere to become
his or her own ecologist.
Without a doubt, it will no longer be
merely be a stance for lip service, as
are freedom of speech and gender
equality. Although we must pointedly
seek out eco-designed products
today, we can look forward to
tomorrow, when all products will be
SOCIAL
Fair trade
Sustainable
development
Livable Sustainable
EnvIrOnmEnt
eco-designed. (Who today
thinks twice about
preserving the ozone layer
when buying deodorant?).
So if today is ripe for spreading
awareness, then tomorrow, the ball
will be in the court of designers,
engineers and architects.
However, the current trend in ecodesign
aims at reducing the worst:
reduction of waste, energy used,
toxic products, etc. This philosophy
sees human production as
irrevocably harmful, and we must limit
its maximum impact.
Yet, why not view human products as
a part of nature—who has ever
complained of having too many trees,
earthworms or too much water?
Conceiving a project from design
to end-of-life
The Cradle-to-Cradle theory
(proposed by McDonough and
ECOnOmy
Eco-design =
How?
Braungart in their eponymous book)
suggests treating products
as if they were a temporary stage
in the life cycle of their material
components. Based on this,
they came up with two cycles
applicable to each material
component:
• the biological cycle, whereby
the materials, which are
biodegradable, return to the earth
• the technological cycle, whereby
the materials return to the beginning
of the production chain for reuse
All products belonging to the two
cycles are “hybrids”, cannot truly be
recycled, and end up being
“downcycled”. This is where
the product loses added value in its
following cycle of use, and
eventually ends up in the dump.
So eco-design is supposed to
invent the processing, use and endof-life
of products—it aims at not
just reducing the ecological
footprint, but at eliminating the
concept entirely. Taken with this
approach, eco-design becomes a
never before seen source of
performance and added value.
AltRAn pR[Í]me
AN EVEN GREENER
TRAIN?
ALTRAN PR[í]ME IS WORKING
WITH COMPIN GROUP—
A SPECIALIST IN DESIGN, AMBIANCE
AND COMFORT OF RAILWAY
EqUIPMENT—ON A REVOLUTIONARY
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TRAIN
OF THE FUTURE. MORE DETAILS
IN THE NExT ISSUE.
sQuARe cOmpOst’
WHO KNEW SORTING
WASTE COULD BE SO
BEAUTIFUL!
eXAmples
SOME PR[í]ME ECO-PRODUCTS
Square Compost’ is a public garden design concept centred
on a new generation composting bin. Each person in a city like
Paris produces 47 kilos of organic waste per year. A green
space of 4,000 m2 surrounding a Square Compost’
mound three metres high and 12 metres in diameter
processes the annual organic waste of 1,600
people. The result of an eco-design approach,
Square Compost’ respects and improves its
environment using innovative technological
solutions. Rainwater is collected and stored,
all components are easy to care for and
easily recyclable, and the entire set-up
is supplied with electricity from Maxxun
solar panels. Underneath the mound is an
ingenious device that decomposes organic
waste in two steps (aerobic, then anaerobic)
in complete safety, with the end result
(solid compost and compost liquid) readily
available to landscapers and individuals to
beautify their gardens.
• Pr[í]me designed Square Compost’ (see above), a neighbourhood waste
composter that provides fertiliser for the garden in which it is placed.
The sorting of community waste makes the children’s playground possible.
• The SplitPack packaging for chilled liquids (see the previous issue)
designed by Pr[í]me separates the carton and the PET so that each
material can undergo its own recycling procedure. The product recycles
ink, glue, varnish and cap.
• The Lufo3W lamp, developed by Pr[í]me for Serras Technologies, uses
the flame’s heat to power a satellite radio, allowing it to spread information
and culture… battery-free!
Contact : serge.roux@altran.com
12 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 Altitude n°13 / april 2008 13

news
EcoAct is a socially responsible
carbon offsetting company that
develops and offers turnkey
solutions for sustainable
development programs on
behalf of partner companies.
These ecological and socially
responsible programs are
tailored to the needs to the client
company.
• In carbon strategy,
greenhouse gas emissions are
evaluated following Ademe’s
(France’s Environment and
Energy management Agency),
methodology, after which a
strategic and financial analysis
is undertaken to implement the
recommendations for reducing
emissions. Finally, a carbon
offsetting program is set up with a
This Dutch start-up developed an
innovative system of solar collections
based on luminescent solar
concentrator (LSC) technology. Its
outstanding characteristic is reducing
the energy input of current solar
energy systems by more than half,
thus also reducing electricity
production costs.
Altran Group’s Dutch consultants have
collaborated for a year with the awardwinning
team to achieve the following:
• increased surface area from 2.5 cm 2
to 10 cm 2
• application of an absorbing
and dispersing layer on this extra
AnD the AltRAn FOunDAtiOn:
A COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP
2006 aWarD
AN UPDATE ON MAxxUN
human touch, contributing
to local economic development.
• EcoSolidarity is comprised
of one or more days of the
EcoSolidaire seminar for
employees: training and spreading
awareness of ecological and
social issues, followed by socially
responsible action.
Thierry Fornas, President of
EcoAct, discusses the origins
of this partnership: “This year,
the Altran Foundation has
the same goals as EcoAct: to
reduce CO 2 concentration in the
atmosphere. This partnership is
highly meaningful and concerns
all involved. The importance of
our awareness efforts that we
implement for our stakeholders
(partners, public authorities,
surface area
• optimisation of light power under
different conditions
• application of small silicone
organisations, businesses,
potential candidates) has only
strengthened since our meeting.”
Many young and innovative
companies working with EcoAct
harbour attractive solutions for
social development and the
fight against global warming.
Because most of them need both
material and financial support
during their start-up period,
EcoAct is linking them up with the
Altran Foundation’s international
competition. By facilitating the
project start-up, the Foundation
ushers the company into a
development phase with EcoAct.
More information
at www.eco-act.com
“Altran consultants supported our team in a
wide range of areas including technology,
financing, application development and
marketing. this support included advice and
actual participation in projects which we highly
appreciated. maxxun Bv is progressing rapidly
towards a commercial solar system which is
partly based on the support from Altran.”
Dr. Kees Bastiaansen, Chief Technology Officer at Maxxun
cells – adhesion
• building of a demonstration model
complete with mills and counters
• identification of potential partners
“This meeting of the
scientific and industrial
worlds is an extraordinary
opportunity to use my
skills and experience.
I am deeply attached to
the Altran Foundation,
because it is a concrete
manifestation of the sort
of socially responsible
company that I believe
in. I’ve been lucky to help
out with two of the former
winning projects; now I am
leading the project!”
Stéphane David
2007 aWarD
ARTIFICIAL RETINA
AIMED FOR 2013
Today, more than 1.5 million people across
the world suffer from degenerative retinal
diseases, and this number is climbing
as life expectation is increasing. In the face
of this development, Professor Sahel and
his entire team at the Vision Institute
of the Quinze-Vingts National
Ophthalmology Hospital in Paris has
created an artificial retina that will
eventually allow the blind or people with
poor vision to read large print and to
move around in a restricted space. The
prosthesis is placed into the sub-retinal
space and stimulates the remaining retinal
cells to produce visual images. The first
artificial retina could be available on the
market as soon as 2013. As winner of the
Altran Foundation’s 2007 Award on the
theme “Mending the human body through
2008 aWarD
REDUCING CO 2 LEVELS
IN THE ATMOSPHERE: OUR
TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE
Global warming is a concern
for all in the international
community, and it is also the
Altran Foundation’s challenge
for 2008.
Currently, experts deem that
climate risks are for the most
part linked to the increase in
atmospheric CO 2 , which in turn
is mostly the consequence of
human actions. In just a century,
greenhouse gas emissions have
increased by 50%* and their
current concentration in our
atmosphere has reached levels
never before seen.
If we don’t act today, increases
in the greenhouse effect and
therefore global warming will
deeply affect not only balances
in climate and ecology, but also
development conditions across
all societies. the reduction in
atmospheric CO 2 should be the
shared and major goal of all:
businesses and individuals,
industrial companies and
research institutes, etc. Faced
with this alarming situation,
Altran and its Foundation have
chosen to once again raise a
sizable challenge.
Interested candidates can now
download the application online
and receive free guidance from
an Altran consultant/coach.
www.fondation-altran.org
* source : www.co2solidaire.org
Altran Foundation
technological
innovation”,
Professor Sahel
will work with Altran
consultants for a year. This
team, under the management
of Altran IMD consultant Stéphane David
(opposite), will work on a wide variety of
issues:
• analysis of the international market for
artificial retinas
• creation of a modelling tool for an
electrode-neuron biophysical interface
• creation of a new product
The ultimate goal of this year of support
is to establish a solid basis for a viable
industrial project and to accelerate the
initial schedule planned by the winning
team.
cAlenDAR
timeline FOR the
2008 AwARD!
• April 7, 2008 is the deadline
for accepting applications. All
candidates must send in their
application by midnight.
• The first phase of the 2008 Award
selection process, the pre-selection
weekend, will take place in June,
2008. Around 40 of the Altran
Group’s international consultants
will gather together to choose the
top 40 projects.
• The jury will meet in September
2008 to choose the six finalists.
• In October 2008, the jury will
hear the six finalists at an oral
examination, after which it will
choose the winner of the 2008
Award.
• The award ceremony will be held
in November 2008, where the
name of the winner will be revealed,
and the Foundation will announce
the theme for the 2009 Award.
14 Altitude n°13 / april 2008
Altitude n°13 / april 2008 15

Graphic Obsession
GReen shOppinG
16
A NEW TWIST ON HAND DRYERS
Traditional hand dryers emit hot air to dry hands via evaporation.
This is a long and inconvenient process. Paper towels are no better
because you have to replace, collect and toss them away. Enter the
Dyson Airblade TM . It blows room temperature air through a small,
0.3 mm hole at a pulse of 600 km/h, drying your hands in merely
12 seconds. Because it doesn’t require heat, it consumes less energy
than conventional hand dryers, up to 80% less than its competitors!
All this at only 1,600 watts, as opposed to the usual 2,400 watts…
On top of this, a single Airblade TM hand dryer, used at a rate of 200
times per day over five years, will save the production, transportation
and disposal of 730,000 paper towels (based on two towels per use).
Price: from €999
For more information: http://www.dysonairblade.com
LONG LIVE
SUSTAINABLY
FRIENDLY CATERERS
Numerous food caterers, mostly high-end,
are riding on the organic and sustainable wave by
using fair trade or organic ingredients,
and sometimes even donating part of their sales to
sustainable development organisations.
Some tantalising links to start with:
www.thesustainablekitchen.com
www.org-organics.org.uk
www.ethique-et-toques.com
Altitude n°13 / april 2008
DR
BAMBOO SOCKS!
They look like your average socks, they’re as soft as cotton and brushed with the
faint shine of mercerised thread… but they’re not what you think they are, because
they’re made from bamboo! Designed to protect nature and the well-being of its
wearers, Naturaia socks are made from bamboo fibres (bamboo-derived viscose)
and armed with natural antibiotic power. These renewable fibres required a new
knitting process, which was developed in collaboration with the French clothing and
textile institute (Institut français du textile et de l’habillement, IFTH). The project was
partly financed by Ademe, France’s Environment and Energy Management Agency
(Agence de l’environnement et de la maîtrise de l’énergie), which launched a call for
eco-designed projects in 2004. A new call is slated to be launched in 2008. Now,
we’ll just have to refine and industrialise plant-based dying techniques, which are
still artisanal and therefore, expensive.
Price: €13
A SOLAR POWERED
CHARGER
Here come the solar panels! Easily slipped into a shirt or a
bag, they can recharge your GPS or laptop anywhere.
The 6.5 W Solariflex panel, at only 200 grams, is one
of the lightest of its kind. It can recharge pocket-sized
electronics, such as PDAs, mobiles, iPods, etc.
A 12 W version can recharge regular or camera
batteries, and a 25 W version (with a battery
booster) is powerful enough to recharge
laptop computers.
Price for the 6.5 W version: €129
Price for the 12 W version: €229
Price for the 25 W version
with battery booster: €579
http://www.solariflex.com
Dyson
Solariflex
Getty Images / Stockbyte
hiGh-tech Dossier
> sustAinABle DeVelOpment
When BUsinesses Get inVolVeD
18 / WHEN BUSINESSES GET INVOLVED /
20 / SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL LEVELS /
26 / REDUCING ENERGY BILLS /

high-tech
Using organic products
in mass catering
and dispensing fair
trade coffee in cafeterias
are increasingly
common initiatives
used by companies
practising sustainable
development.
18
WheN BUSiNeSSeS
GET INVOLVED
Are entrepreneurs and bosses only interested in making money? No, because
increasing numbers of large companies and SMEs are reconciling corporate social
responsibility with economic efficiency. Yes, many businesses still see sustainable
development as a financial constraint rather than a cash source, but those
who’ve embraced it show that spending wisely makes for greater returns…
R
econciling growth and environmental protection
and ensuring the well-being of our
generation without endangering our children’s
future is a delicate but balanceable
equation. Proof of this is the increasingly commanding
presence of sustainable development in our
conscience and in our actions—and businesses
are at the vanguard. Today, they should no longer
Altitude n°13 /april 2008
merely content themselves with
profitability, but must also take
into consideration the environmental
and social impacts of
their activities. An ethical impe-
« Although consciousness
has been raised, the concrete
application of this principle
hasn’t yet taken off. »
rative has developed under the aegis of CSR: corporate
social responsibility (towards employees)
and corporate societal responsibility (towards
society). Although consciousness has been raised,
the concrete application of this principle hasn’t yet
taken off. “Entrepreneurs have no legal obligation to
implement a CSR approach—it’s all about voluntary
initiative,” explains Anne-Catherine Husson-Traore,
CEO of Novethic, a centre of
research and expertise on corporate
social responsibility,
“Of course, there is the New
Economic Regulations (NER)
continued on page 22 • • •
Graphic Obsession
iNteRvieW
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
AS A PERFORMANCE INDEX
Interview with François Fatoux, Executive Director of the Study Centre
for Corporate Social Responsibility (Observatoire de la responsabilité sociale
de l’entreprise, ORSE)
Altitude : Is CSR
a recent concern
for businesses?
François Fatoux :
This awareness began
back around 2000. CSR
has been formalised and
structured in these last
few years, thanks
to two tools: corporate
responsibility ratings
and reporting. First off,
independent agencies
give ratings by evaluating
a company’s
performances
the eUROPeAN
UNiON
iS StiLL
UNDeciDeD
In July 2001, the European
Commission announced in the Lisbon
Strategy its desire to promote
“sustainable economic development
along with a quantitative and
qualitative improvement in
employment and social cohesion.”
In short, a request to businesses
to adopt CSR. Since then,
the question oft debated within
the Union has been:
should we encourage
or constrain economic players?
in the environmental
and social domains at
the behest of the
company or its investors.
Listed companies know
that the sustainable
development index
reflects considerably on
their image. Second,
reporting is a company’s
publication of information
on their CSR policy
in response to requests
from stakeholders (NGO,
labour unions,
the media).
Which sectors
have been
the most
enthusiastic?
These would be the
sectors that have
direct impact on the
environment (pollution)
or society (child labour),
e.g. retail and industry.
Large companies are
the most involved,
because SMEs receive
less pressure from
their stakeholders.
However, they may
be prodded by their
banker or insurer,
or constrained
by their contractors.
Which sectors
are at the forefront
of CSR?
International social
dialogue and strategic
partnerships with NGOs
are at the forefront,
especially in France,
thanks to the NER
(New Economic
Regulations) Act,
the creation of the ORSE
and the development
of socially responsible
investment. Some
sectors, like media,
advertising or consulting
still have progress
to make. They’ve only
recently become aware
of this topic, because
they bear no direct
responsibility.
Altitude n°13 /april 2008
19

high-tech Focus
SOcietAL ReSPONSiBiLitY
At ALL LeveLS
COMPANIES ARE LOOkINg TO gROw AND DEVELOP wITh
SUSTAINABILITy IN MIND. They strive towards this goal by ensuring proper
management of corporate accounting, fostering positive relationships with their employees,
maintaining a strong rapport with civil society, and encouraging respect for the environment.
Maintaining fair
governance
A charter of good conduct
for suppliers
The company must guarantee
that its suppliers comply with
specifications, i.e., forbidding child
labour, limiting environmental damage,
and respecting quality standards.
This is especially necessary when
dealing with foreign subcontractors.
In accordance with regulatory demands
for corporate reporting, top management
unites directors, shareholders,
and employees to manage the company
together. This transparency is essential
to developing corporate strategies.
Sustainable facilities
There are numerous ways to reduce
energy consumption at any given facility,
including: proper insulation for the
building, using renewable energy (solar
panels, heating systems fuelled by waste
or wood), rainwater harvesting, insulation
provided by warm air ventilation in winter
and cold air ventilation in summer, and
waste separation for recycling purposes.
ethical management
of human resources
To guarantee employee productivity,
the director of human resources
must work to prevent discrimination
in the recruitment process, adhere to a
policy of equitable salaries, and involve
the staff in the company’s CSR strategy.
A fleet of “green” vehicles
Companies employing salesmen
or technicians who travel to various
sites are impacted by the rising cost
of fuel. Purchasing hybrid vehicles
is advantageous from both an economic
and an environmental standpoint.
Hybrids cut down on consumption
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Altitude n°13 /april 2008
Pierre Mosnier
21

high-tech
Google tries its hand
at renewable energy
The internet giant is embracing
a spectacular diversification
of activity by throwing itself
into a line of work completely
unrelated to computers: energy
production. At the end
of November 2007, it announced
that it was planning to invest
“hundreds of millions of dollars”
to develop technologies aimed
at reducing the cost
of renewable energy. Its avowed
goal is to produce a megawatt
at a cost price lower than that
of pollution-heavy coal-powered
energy plants common in the
United States, in order to reduce
atmospheric carbon waste.
While solar and wind energy are
of major concern to the energy-
consuming company, they are
also a promising source of profit.
Google has plans to license
its own technologies or to sell
energy to other companies.
• • • continued from page 18
Act that requires all listed companies to implement
reporting, i.e., to publish corporate responsibility
ratings. But there is no legal action directed at those
who don’t comply… [so] few companies actually
have a real CSR strategy. The people in charge of
sustainable development have few means and very
little decision-making power…”
Lobbying NGOs…
In reaction to the lack of involvement, stakeholders
(customers, NGOs and shareholders) have stepped
up the pressure to change these practices.
For example, non-governmental
organisations lead information
campaigns to catch the public’s
attention or even hold brand
boycotts. Each year at the end
« N o n- g ov e r n m e n t a l
organisations lead information
campaigns to catch
the public’s attention. »
of January, during the Davos Forum, Pro Natura (the
Swiss branch of Friends of the Earth) and The Berne
Declaration bestow a “Public Eye Award”. This award
identifies those multinational companies deemed the
most irresponsible in their actions. This year, the two
NGOs are also giving the first “Public Eye Positive
Award” to Coop, a supermarket chain, for its contributions
towards environmental protection, especially
in its marketing of organic products. In the opinion of
Anne-Catherine Husson-Traore, media awareness of
non-CSR practices can inflict commercial damage
on a brand’s image.
…and the role of
shareholders?
Pressure on entrepreneurs can
also come from within the company.
The CEO of Novethic states,
continued on page 24 • • •
Médiathèque EDF
ThREE QUESTIONS FOR FRANCO DONATI,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DONATI gROUP
Donati Group manufactures and installs insulating material. Since 1996, it has also produced
and sold panels and accessories for the naval sector, railway transportation sector,
and for use on furniture and building facades. Altran is involved in the Xeliox project,
which aims at erecting the first Class A industrial building. Altran contributes its expertise
to Donati Group in the creation of a building with maximum energy efficiency that fulfils
certification protocols by choosing innovative designs.
Why invest in energy
certification for
your building?
Italian SMEs often lack
resources for investing
in R&D, because they don’t
have enough commercial
surface area. For this reason,
this building will be both
our headquarters
and a prototype for our
prospective clients.
Xeliox uses the latest
advances in fuel economy
and abides by the most
stringent energy norms.
It’s solid proof that it’s
possible to conduct applied
research and to develop
a corporate offer from it.
What are some
of Xeliox’s distinctive
energy features?
The building uses six times
less energy for heating
and air-conditioning than
its traditional counterpart.
On top of that, we used
materials of local origin
at an excellent price/quality
ratio. Photovoltaic cell panels
produce electricity that lights
up the offices from inside out.
Two thermal solar captors
(low and high temperature)
supply the air-conditioning
system. Right now, it’s the
only industrial building
of its size (5,000 m 2 over
two floors) in Italy
and even in Europe
to be so certified.
This type of building
would be perfectly suited
as a supermarket,
because its space can be
heated using the heat
emitted by refrigeration
devices—a supermarket
that runs without heating,
except in emergencies.
What is Altran’s role
in the Xeliox project?
Altran is helping us
in three ways : obtaining
the necessary financing;
building certification,
and conversion of energy
savings into “black
certificates”, which reward
buildings that reduce
their CO 2 emissions.
22 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 23
DR
ALtRAN PROject

high-tech
Steve Forrest / Panos - REA
Canary Wharf’s business district in London, tube station.
• • • continued from page 22
“CSR is often borne aloft by the shareholders
and pension funds, but also small investors. A
company’s assets lie in the intangible, and the
value of employees, which is not featured on
a financial statement, is essential for productivity.”
Companies indulge their human resources
departments by mobilising staff around shared
values and by improving working conditions.
The result is a reduction in internal conflicts and
the cultivation of a socially responsible image,
making companies more attractive to bright
young minds. Differentiating oneself from the
competition and developing
a virtuous reputation turns
out to be an excellent way to
acquire market share. All this
opens up doors to accessing
« CSR opens up doors
to accessing credit and
public contracts »
credit and public contracts. And that’s not all—
economic actors consider CSR a key component
of competitiveness. According to Novethic’s
CEO, Toyota, now the world’s top automobile
maker after having produced 9.5 million vehicles
in 2007, directly owes its triumph to the
success of its CSR approach. She explains that
“The Japanese maker predicted a demand for
clean vehicles, and as a result, created certain
models compatible with the stringent environmental
standards in certain countries.” The latter
include Japan and Europe. Now witness the
astounding success of hybrid
cars, which helped Toyota
rake in a 10 billion dollar profit
in 2007, a rise in 20% from the
previous year.
continued on page 26 • • •
SRi: iNveStiNg BecOMeS
SOciALLY ReSPONSiBLe
Asset management and investing are increasingly
adopting socially responsible criteria. The French
SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) market,
including socially responsible funds, community
investing and shared return funds, reached 16.6
billion euros outstanding at the end of 2006,
compared with 8.8 billion at the end of 2005.
While this 88% increase is quite spectacular, France
still trails far behind the United States. 12% of assets
in the US are managed in a socially responsible
fashion, compared to only 1% in France.
evALUAtiNg
cOMPANY
BehAviOUR
How do you objectively evaluate
a business’s performance
in sustainable development?
Although it is difficult to analyse,
independent agencies have
established extremely rigorous
criteria for auditing social
responsibility. For example,
Vigeo, a European leader
in the field, has listed 40 objectives
divided across six areas:
human resources, business
behaviour, corporate governance,
community involvement, human
rights and environment.
The audited business has major
interests at stake, because
a negative rating will cause
ire among shareholders while
a positive rating could bring
in new investors.
65 %
of worldwide
consumers avoided
purchasing a product
or service from
a business in the
automotive industry
that does not respect
CSR principles,
according
to the results of a
TNS-Sofres study*.
The idea of corporate
social responsibility
is rapidly gaining
credence among
the public.
*The study was carried out in 2006
among 18,000 people from
the 18 countries making up 80%
of the automotive market.
24 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 Altitude n°13 /april 2008 25
DR

DR
high-tech
26
ALtRAN
ReDUciNg eNeRgY BiLLS
Is it possible to reduce energy bills
for a building that won the award
for best renovation in 2004?
The answer is yes. The purchasing
managers of the Altran Group
identified a potential 60,000 euros
in savings on the energy bill for
the building that houses its corporate
headquarters in Levallois-Perret, north
west of Paris. Nicolas Rousseau,
purchasing manager for Europe,
reports, “We have been trying
• • • continued from page 24
Altitude n°13 /april 2008
Protecting the environment
Some SMEs may not have focused their entire
strategy on sustainable development, but they
have, nevertheless, implemented simple environmentally-friendly
initiatives such as reducing paper
waste or energy consumption. Larger companies
with greater financial means have invested heavily
to reduce the pollution they generate. While this
might cause a rise in production
costs in the short term, it
will more than repay itself in
the middle or long term. Take
as an example the Franco-
to optimise our real estate expenses
for several years now,
and the optimisation of energy costs
constitutes a part of these efforts.”
To help turn these potential savings
into a reality, the purchasing managers
called upon Altran EILiS
(Energy, Industry, and Life Sciences).
Rousseau explains, “We decided,
beyond the rationalisation
of our contracts, to change certain
parameters within the facility.
« SMEs have implemented
simple environmentally-friendly
initiatives such as energy
consumption reduction »
In the end, we didn’t see
a tremendous increase in savings
when we examined each individual
modification, but the savings were
quite apparent from a more global
standpoint.” The building is definitely
not lacking in ways for reducing
energy consumption. The heating
system turns on gradually,
starting at 4 am, and all lights
on the premises turn off
automatically at 8 pm.
Italian semiconductor maker STMicroelectronics,
which adopted an “environmental Decalogue”
13 years ago, a program aimed at increasing
energy economy and reducing gas emissions.
One of the goals, reduction of 5% per year in
water extraction, was achieved via recycling. “In
only a few years, STMicroelectonics has recorded
a significant reduction in its production costs,”
confirmed Anne-Catherine
Husson-Traore. Let’s hope
that this exemplary case will
catch on with other industrial
companies…
PeOPLe
working for innovation within the scope
of their profession, Altran consultants
are highly involved in finding ways
to protect the environment.
In Italy, Massimiliano has focused
on promoting renewable energy.
In Belgium, Maria grazia has introduced
her colleagues to the concept
of environmental management.
Clément Perrotte
DR
LiviNg hER CONVICTIONS
Trajectories
A SOURce
OF INEXhAUSTIBLE ENERgy
> During her childhood in the Italian countryside, Maria Grazia Ferri developed
a keen interest in science. Since then, she has come to believe that the balance
between humans and nature may soon be destroyed. Nevertheless, she remains
optimistic about remedying the problem.
> Even as a teenager, Massimiliano Pili showed great
concern for environmental issues. He spent his vacation
time at a camping area run by the WWF (World Wildlife
Fund) and participated in park and beach cleanup projects.
“The current environmental crisis represents an opportunity to profoundly
transform existing methods and systems and to create a new type
of society based on respect for others and for the planet,” explains Maria
Grazia. Trained as a chemical engineer, Grazia joined Altran Europe,
a Belgian subsidiary of the Altran Group, as an IT consultant in 2000.
Increasingly passionate about the environment, she earned a master’s
degree in environmental science at the Catholic University of Louvain,
which allowed her to change her career path. In 2004, she became
involved in the Ecodyn project (see page 7) and since then, she has
focused her energy on environmental management systems. Recently
appointed Sustainability Officer, Grazia applies her principles to the heart
of her endeavour (see page 7), as explained in a letter addressed to all her colleagues,
with Altran’s attentive and strong support.
DR
BiO
> graduate of La
Sapienza University
(Rome)
> Joined Altran in 2001
> Business Manager for
EILiS (Energy, Industry,
and Life Sciences)
Pili’s fervent interest in the environment
evolved during his aeronautical engineering
studies. He realised that sustainable
development is no longer a choice,
but a necessity. He spends much
of his time examining questions related
to energy sources and gets involved in
a project which aims to encourage the
development of photovoltaic electricity
production. At Altran, he collaborates with
GSE, an organisation which promotes
renewable energy. Within this partnership
he implements the best practices concept
developed by the Dutch branch of Altran.
“Italy has no major sources of fossil fuels.
The country must therefore begin relying on
renewable energy sources, particularly solar
energy, which is obviously more abundant
in Italy than in the northern European
countries. Fortunately, I have noticed
that more and more Italian companies are becoming interested
in sustainable development.” Like all advocates for the cause,
Massimiliano has his own sustainable development project in mind.
“I’m thinking of transportation that integrates environmentallyfriendly
waste management systems, with each mode of
transportation setting and adapting its own objectives.”
No doubt he’ll succeed!
BiO
graduate of the
University of Pisa
(Italy) with a degree in
engineering
> Joined the Altran
group in 2000
> Earned a master’s
degree in environmental
science at the University
of Louvain (Belgium)
in 2003
> Appointed
Sustainability Officer
for Altran’s Belgian
subsidiaries in 2008
Altitude n°13 / april 2008 27

people
Together with Consignit (which represents the Altran CIS
brand in Sweden), SWECO Management has further
developed its Project Structure system - an Internet-based
system for project and enterprise management, aimed at
players in the construction and real estate sector, but also
other companies having to manage complex projects.
Bengt Boissier
(Consignit, Consultant
and teChniCal ProjeCt Manager)
“Today, it’s often the case that services are bought from
one place and used at another. No time can be lost and
there’s no room for mistakes, neither in large nine figure
infrastructure projects nor in projects with a smaller
scope.”
SWECO’s answer to this challenge, the Project Structure
system, is now based on Microsoft SharePoint, a collaborative
document management platform which can be
configured to accommodate any new customer’s specific
work process around a standard core. “SharePoint
2007 was a new product from Microsoft when we star-
DaviD Jönell
(Consignit, Consultant and it-arChiteCt)
“The system can manage multi billion euro projects
involving a large number of consultants and suppliers
all over the world. Projects of this magnitude require
a modern platform that facilitates collaboration and
is controlled by well-defined processes.”
The entire process is covered by Project Structure,
from project coordination, control and communication
to document and drawing management, finance,
control, agreements, purchasing and administration.
ted up the assignment a year ago. An exciting challenge
of course! Because of the project size, we were quickly
able to build up a broad and extensive competence within
Consignit. We now have a strong base and can take on
even more complex projects in this area” says Bengt
Boissier. “We’ve also created an efficient development
process involving many consultants, and we have an iterative
way of working, meaning that we make frequent
checks, deliver often and review constantly. For me it’s
great fun working on such a large project with so many
colleagues involved. It creates a great team spirit and everything
depends on us, on what we achieve together.”
“Therefore, it is very important that we work in a similar
way” explains David Jönell. “My role is to make sure we
have a uniform and sustainable architecture, fulfilling all
the functional requirements that come up as we move
along. Now, we have a technical platform and a development
process that we can reuse for new functions and
coming projects. And I agree with Bengt about the team
spirit. It is inspiring to work with skilled colleagues, all
committed 150% to deliver with accuracy and to keep
deadlines.”
28 altitude n°13 / april 2008 altitude n°13 / april 2008 29
Graphic Obsession
SWECO has chosen
Consignit to develop its
Enterprise Content
Management collaborative
solution.
PETEr
MAgnuSSOn
Business area
Manager, proJect
structure, sWeco
intervieW
Expertise
Altitude : Why did you choose to cooperate with Consignit?
Peter Magnusson : We opted for Consignit because of their vast experience
in Enterprise Content Management solutions and SharePoint. Also, we knew
they had many years of experience in creating complex collaboration solutions
for large, global clients. We made the right decision, as new customers are flocking
to SWECO’s project portal, and we currently employ more than 30 consultants
from Consignit who develop and adapt the system to meet specific requirements.
Alt. : What were your main criteria when choosing
this platform?
PM : We chose to develop the system on SharePoint for several reasons. Above all,
we wanted a standard platform that is easy to maintain effectively and in a reliable way.
We also particularly wanted something we could grow into. And that is exactly what
we are able to do now. But there are other advantages to mention, like document
management and integration with the Office package, for example, with Outlook
and the calendar. The system is now very user-friendly and easy for everyone to find
their way about in the Windows environment. It makes getting started seamless.
Alt. : What is the added value with Project Structure?
PM : Consignit has encapsulated additional products in SharePoint, such as drawing
and subcontractor management, purchasing and agreement modules from SWECO.
There are lots of project portals on the market, but I’m confident enough to claim that
together we’ve built something very unique to suit many clients. SWECO and Consignit
turned out to be a perfect match. Combining the ECM expertise with the knowledge
of managing complex projects, the best parts from different fields are found
in one single portal.
• Project Structure is based on PMI’s (the Project Management Institute) methodology
and focuses on projects and the interests of the project owner. However, all projects have their own
specific objectives and priorities. Not all assignments can be executed using the same template.
The system is therefore structured around different activities and modules are adapted
to the specific project’s criteria. Thanks to the dynamic administration tools, the right person
always has access to the right information.
• SWECO Management is a business unit within SWECO, the Nordic region’s leading provider
of consulting services in the fields of engineering, environmental technology and architecture.
With a staff of 4,900, the company carries out projects in more than 75 countries every year.

people
30
in
figures
12 training
programs
2,100 management
students
16,000 graduates
throughout
the world
20% international
students
87 partnerships
with foreign
universities
in 36+ countries
74 tenured,
associate or
affiliated professors
5 platforms on
research and
instruction
20,000 visitors
to campus per year
DR
altitude n°13 / april 2008
creating a sense oF resPonsiBilitY
Expert with the European Commission and professor of economics
and European politics, Laurence Harribey heads the Bordeaux
Management School’s (BEM) platform on Sustainable Development
and global Corporate responsibility.
Altitude : How did the
Sustainable Development and
Global Corporate Responsibility
Platform at BEM get started?
Has the content of the platform
evolved since its creation?
Laurence Harribey : The platform
was created in 2003 with the sponsorship
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We based it
on a powerful theme: “The role of entrepreneurship in
sustainable development and North-South cooperation.”
This platform adheres perfectly to BEM’s mission,
which, in part, is to cultivate a new generation of top
managers. Since 2005, the platform has widened its
scope of involvement, and is currently examining this
broader issue of the relationship between sustainable
development and global corporate responsibility.
Alt. : What does this large platform actually
entail?
L. H. : The World Business Council on Sustainable
Development, which currently includes hundreds of
international corporations, emphasises, “Businesses
can’t afford to stand on the sidelines of what goes on
around them, because they are an integral part of the
societies and communities in which they operate—their
successes cannot be sustained if the societies around
them falter.” Historically, the system has been rather simple:
it has been the corporation’s responsibility to create
added value and the state’s job to guarantee social
balance and coherence. Due in part to globalisation
(which has reduced governments’ regulatory capacities)
and to environmental demands (which oblige us to take
the fate of future generations into account), this system is
no longer viable. Today, companies are still responsible
to their stockholders and lenders, but the societal and/or
environmental impact of their activities forces them to
think beyond their position as economic agents to their
role as corporate citizens. In the interest of both efficiency
and fairness, entrepreneurs take more than just financial
and accounting factors into account when making
important decisions.
Alt. : How do corporations perceive graduates
of this program?
L. H. : Over the last four years we have seen that
companies are not necessarily seeking sustainable
development specialists, but they increasingly need
managers who possess a real sense of responsibility.
More than 15 corporations are now collaborating on
the platform. They welcome our students for a wide
variety of missions, anything from developing an
Agenda 21 within a production unit to participating
in communications projects on sustainable development.
Our graduates may also be responsible
for establishing awareness programs for buyers,
drawing up specifications for suppliers, or creating
a plan for identifying risks.
Alt. : Are similar programs at a Europe-wide
level?
L. H. : Our European partners are also developing
increasingly specialised training programs in
these areas. For the last four years, the Bordeaux
Management School has been participating in a program
founded by the EFMD (European Foundation
for Management Development) and Global Compact
(UN). This program now includes nearly 40 schoolcorporation
partnerships that create specific
European and international projects. This year, our
school began an exchange with a Spanish partner
organisation.
Alt. : Where do you see this platform going in
the future?
L. H. : Four years ago, about 30 students signed up
to participate in the platform. Today, about 90 are
involved. More companies are joining the platform
each year. We will soon be offering specialised programs
in professional training. In addition, we are in
the midst of developing contracts in applied research
for corporations, with conferences and publications
to follow. Thus, the platform will fulfil its instructional
role and assume its identity as a widely-recognised
source of expertise.
Candidates storm Altran again
at the European Career fair 2008
For the third year running, the Altran Group was present
at the European Career Fair held at the MIT in Boston
in February 2008. This recruitment event, for companies
and institutions headquartered in Europe, targets European
students studying in Boston. Over 100 exhibitors attended
the event. The fair attracts candidates every year from
a large number of the Boston academic institutions including
Harvard University and the MIT, as well as from institutions
further afield such as Stanford. The quality of the candidates
at the fair was, as ever, excellent. Altran’s aim was to send
a number of HR Managers from different regions within
Europe, in order to give candidates a single-point-of-contact
for their application. The majority of the candidates were
interested in working in consulting and had specifically
chosen Altran as a potential employer using the fair booklet.
Applications were accepted for all three business lines
and for all 20 countries in which Altran is represented.
3,000 KM
WITH THE SUN
FOR FUEL
The Panasonic World Solar Challenge emphasizes innovation in
solar vehicles to open the way towards the industrial production.
Helios, a French team from HEI (High Engineering Studies), raced
in the October 2007 edition. The ten students were helped by
alumni, including Alexandre Poirier, an Axiem consultant (Altran
Group). The challenge was to conceive and build a «sunracer»
capable of crossing the vast areas of Australia on the Stuart
Highway. Their creation, the Helios IV prototype is 4 meters long
and 1.5 meters wide. The use of composite materials (carbon,
kevlar, nomex) for the frame and the body explains its reduced
weight: only 165 kg (driver not included)! This human adventure
got a well-deserved happy ending, since they drove all the way to
the finish line, highlighting the know-how and team spirit
necessary in order to pull this off.
Plus d’infos : www.helioscar.com
DR
the stuDent
BecoMing An ECO-EnTrEPrEnEur
Frédéric Gojart’s involvement
in sustainable development
is motivated by personal
dedication and interest.
“Things need to change, and
companies are making room
for efficient global change.
This inevitably creates exciting
market opportunities.”
The term “sustainable
development” often evokes
the image of a militant
environmentalist, but Frédéric
believes that anyone can be
passionate about the idea.
“I would like to make a positive
contribution to my field, with
the goal of finding alternative
solutions in a concrete,
pragmatic way.”
His educational background
fits perfectly with his interests :
HEC prépa (preparatory school
for business school) at the
Lycée Montaigne in Paris,
followed by studies at
Bordeaux Management
School. There, Gojart
specialises in purchasing
management, logistics, and
quality. He also participates in
the Sustainable Development
and Global Corporate
Responsibility Platform.
“In addition to my courses,
I was president of France’s
Best Junior Enterprise in 2007.”
Campus
Frédéric discovered Altran
at the conference for Junior
Enterprises. Then, during a
forum, he met Damien Juan,
director of Acsience (Altran
Innovation Management &
Development, IMD), who
proposed a custom internship
for Gojart. “I had
no second thoughts for going
along with this rather
unexpected suggestion,
so I signed on for a one-year
internship. Today Acsience
offers consulting services
that integrate sustainable
development into purchasing
strategies, and I am a proud
contributor.” Indeed, Frédéric
feels a sense of urgency to turn
sustainable development into
something real. “I have one
more semester of coursework
before graduation. I hope
to spend this last semester at
a university on the west coast
of the US. My plan is to visit the
new Silicon Valley, now called
Green Valley. Eventually, I hope
to be seen as what we now call
an ‘eco-entrepreneur,’ as
I work to create an exemplary
business—successful not only
from an economic standpoint
but also successful in terms
of its respect for people and
for the environment.”
altitude n°13 / april 2008
31

AL gore March 31, 1948 : Albert Arnold Gore is born in Washington, D.C. 1969 : Works for the Army Press
Service in Vietnam. 1976 : Enters politics after completing studies at Harvard.
1984 : Elected a senator of Tennessee. 1988 : Enters the race for president but bows out
during the primaries. 1992 : Begins serving as vice-president under Bill Clinton.
2007 : Named as joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize with the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change.
sustainaBle DevelopMent
aWaKening Our COnSCIEnCES
Despite a failed venture to secure the presidency, the
former candidate has everything to be happy about
after being awarded the prize, which symbolises his
commitment to improving the environment. It is a
well-deserved reward for this fighter, who has been agitating
for respect of the planet since the publication of his
book, An Inconvenient Truth. David Guggenheim’s documentary
film version of the book received two Oscars in
2007, making it known throughout the world. “We may
be able to stop this crisis, or at least avoid its most devastating
consequences, if we act quickly, with boldness
and determination,” explained Gore in his Nobel Prize
acceptance speech. In the film, the former Democratic
presidential candidate describes the causes and consequences
of climatic imbalance. He bases all his obser-
vations on the most recent reports from
the IPCC. The goal of this “comeback kid”
is to awaken our consciences and alert
his contemporaries to the environmen-
tal disaster that will ensue if nothing is done to prevent it.
Gore emphatically insists, “The climate crisis is not a political
issue—it is a moral and spiritual challenge facing all
of humanity.” After a thirty-year congressional career, first
as a member of the House of Representatives, then following
in his father’s footsteps as a senator representing
Tennessee, and finally as Vice President in the Clinton
administration, Gore keeps pushing forward. For the last
five years, he has journeyed endlessly throughout the
United States and abroad, reiterating his plea to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. “Al Gore is the individual who
has done the most to inform both the general population
and the public authorities of the political measures needed
to combat climate change,” maintains Ole Danbolt
Mjø, president of the Norwegian Nobel Prize Commit-
« Al gore is the individual who
has done the most to inform
both the general population
and the public authorities. »
portrait
Last year, Al gore became the roving ambassador for ecology and sustainable development.
He has taken major steps in waging the worldwide battle against global warming. Honoured
for his efforts with the nobel Peace Prize, he continues to tour the planet to encourage change.
tee. Although there’s a long road
ahead, Gore’s being awarded
the prize is proof that his message
has been heard.
TGL/Emmevi/ROPI-REA