STAGIAIRE RECHERCHE ANGLAIS CESI

Title: Effects of an Attentional Modulation Device on the Stages of Collective Decision-Making

Scientific Fields: Strategic Management & Innovation

Keywords: Innovation Management - Collective Decision-Making - Emotional Regulation - Cooperation

Supervision

Supervisor:

Jean-Marc VASNIER - Associate professor - Saint Nazaire Campus, France

Elodie PILLON - Associate professor - Rouen Campus, France

Research work

Internship Summary

This internship is part of the energy-saving program "Mon Trajet Vert" ("My Green Commute"), which aims to promote sustainable and equitable mobility within higher education and research institutions.

The objective of the internship is to analyse the effects of an attentional modulation device on the stages of collective decision-making. The device is used as a cognitive and emotional facilitation tool, likely to influence dynamics of cooperation, communication, and trust during collective decision-making tasks.

Using a simulated experimental approach, the intern will participate in the design, implementation, and analysis of collective decision-making workshops integrated into an educational innovation project. The internship adopts a management sciences perspective, combining insights from innovation management, organizational behaviour, and strategic decision-making.

Internship project

Scientific context

Organizations today operate in environments characterized by high uncertainty, increased complexity, and strong time pressure. In such contexts, collective decision-making processes are particularly exposed to cognitive biases, stress, emotional tensions, and coordination difficulties among stakeholders.

Management science literature has widely demonstrated that decision-making is not a strictly rational process, but is influenced by cognitive, emotional, and social factors. In situations of uncertain innovation, these factors may limit collective creativity, encourage homogeneous solutions, and reduce the quality of strategic trade-offs.

Attentional modulation devices, used as cognitive and emotional preparation tools, remain an underexplored avenue in the field of management. By fostering a state of relaxed concentration, cognitive availability, and emotional regulation, such devices could help improve collective creativity (diversity, originality, and feasibility of ideas), perceived decision quality (coherence, robustness, collective satisfaction), as well as cooperation and communication dynamics within teams.

Internship topic

This internship is part of the "Mon Trajet Vert" energy-saving program, which aims to improve student mobility by implementing environmentally friendly initiatives while reducing social inequalities. The ultimate objective of the program is to promote sustainable student mobility.

The internship aims to empirically study the impact of attentional modulation devices on collective decision-making processes in an innovation context applied to sustainable mobility. The goal is to test, under real conditions, whether focusing and relaxation techniques improve collective decision-making.

Prior research on the topic in the laboratory

A previous study has already been conducted to understand how an attentional modulation device can impact team creativity in terms of novelty, feasibility, and value, compared to personality traits.

Workplan :

• Literature review:

  • Analysis of management science research on collective decision-making and collective innovation, cognitive biases, emotional regulation, and stress in teams.

  • Study of cognitive and attentional facilitation devices used in organizations (mental preparation, attentional states, facilitation tools).

• Conceptual framework development:

  • Selection and adaptation of measurement tools (questionnaires, decision analysis grids, behavioural indicators).

• Data collection:

  • Participation in the design of simulated collective decision-making workshops integrated into the "Mon Trajet Vert" project.

• Data analysis :

  • Statistical analysis of results (group comparisons, hypothesis testing).

  • Qualitative analysis of decision-making processes, interactions, and collective outputs.

  • Interpretation of results in light of management theory frameworks.

• Final Report Writing:

  • Include the literature review, evaluation framework, comparative analysis results, and strategic recommendations.

Expected Scientific/Technical Outputs

• Summary Report Including:

  • A problematized literature review

  • The conceptual and methodological framework of the study

  • Analysis of empirical results

  • A managerial and scientific discussion

Context

Laboratory presentation

CESI LINEACT (UR 7527), the Laboratory for Digital Innovation for Businesses and Apprenticeships for Territorial Competitiveness, anticipates and supports technological changes in industries and construction sectors. CESI's historical proximity to businesses is a key aspect of its applied research activities, fostering partnerships with enterprises.

Research is structured into two interdisciplinary teams:

• Learning and Innovating: Focused on cognitive, social, management, and innovation sciences, this team investigates the impact of technical environments on learning, creativity, and innovation processes.

• Engineering and Digital Tools: Focused on digital and engineering sciences, it addresses the modelling, simulation, optimization, and management of complex systems and human-system interactions.

Research applies to domains such as Industry of the Future and Smart Cities, supported by platforms in Rouen and Nanterre.

Internship organization

Funding: "Mon Trajet Vert" program funded by the Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) scheme

Workplace: Campus CESI Saint-Nazaire

24, Le Paquebot - CS 60133

44600 Saint-Nazaire

Start date: March 2026

Duration: 6 months

Application process

Selection process: Application review and interview.

Submit your application to Jean-Marc Vasnier (jmvasnier@cesi.fr ) with the subject line:

'[Application] Mon Trajet Vert innovation internship'

Application Requirements:

• A detailed CV (explain any breaks in academic progression).

• A motivation letter explaining your interest in the internship.

• Master's 1 and 2 results and corresponding transcripts.

• Any other relevant documents.

All documents must be submitted in a zip file titled LASTNAME firstname.zip.

Required skills:

Scientific and Technical:

• Knowledge of innovation management and strategic management.

• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research.

• Ability to analyse and synthesize complex information.

• Strong communication and writing skills.

Interpersonal:

• Autonomy, initiative, and curiosity.

• Teamwork and strong interpersonal skills.

• Rigorous work ethic.

CESI est une école d'ingénieurs qui fait de la promotion sociale par l'excellence un modèle de réussite. Rejoignez un environnement stimulant où l'esprit d'équipe, la diversité des projets et l'autonomie ne font qu'un. Découvrez une école qui a su développer un modèle unique et se donne les moyens au quotidien de relever les grands défis de l'époque. Nos 25 campus, 28 000 étudiants, 8000 entreprises partenaires et 106 000 alumni témoignent de l'impact de CESI au niveau national.

CESI accompagne ses étudiants en utilisant des méthodes innovantes de pédagogie active. L'établissement forme avec rigueur les futurs ingénieurs, techniciens et managers, dans les secteurs suivants : l'Industrie & l'Innovation, le BTP, l'Informatique et le Numérique et le Développement Durable. Parallèlement, CESI concrétise son engagement dans la Recherche à travers des activités menées au sein de son Laboratoire d'Innovation Numérique, CESI LINEACT.

Les partenariats établis avec 130 universités à travers le globe, attestent de l'engagement international de CESI. Ces liens privilégiés offrent aux élèves ingénieurs une mobilité sortante et entrante à l'échelle internationale, façonnée notamment par des stages obligatoires faisant partie intégrante de leur cursus.