RESEARCH AT ICD

OUR STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROJECT

Research plays a key role in fostering academic excellence at ICD Business School. By driving intellectual inquiry, enriching our programs, ensuring academic rigor, and contributing to the evolution of business practices, research enhances our teaching to meet both academic and professional expectations in an ever-changing world.

Applied Research at the Core of ICD Business School’s Development

The fields of commerce and retail are undergoing a paradigm shift driven by three major transformations: digital, environmental, and managerial. In response to these changes, applied research is a cornerstone of ICD Business School’s development strategy, ensuring our alignment with emerging trends and fostering innovation.

The research strategy aims to integrate academic inquiry with the school’s positioning, fostering high-value technological innovations while addressing key societal challenges. This research framework is deeply interconnected with our academic programs, focusing on the evolving roles within commerce and retail.

ICD Business School continuously strengthens its team of faculty-researchers to deepen expertise in essential thematic areas addressing contemporary challenges in business sciences. These research specializations include the impact of digitalization, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ethics, and citizenship; as well as the emergence of new forms of work, management, entrepreneurship, and intrapreneurship.

The LaRA (Applied Research Laboratory) consolidates its applied research model by collaborating closely with industry professionals and academic partners, both nationally and internationally, to foster synergies and drive impactful research.

The Institute for the Future of Commerce Professions

ICD Business School has established the Institute for the Future of Commerce Professions to monitor and anticipate the evolution of careers in commerce and retail. As society undergoes a major paradigm shift, the commercial sector faces unprecedented transformations influenced by four key dimensions:

1. Ecological Transition and Citizen Awareness – Economic and environmental factors are reshaping consumption habits, promoting circular economy principles, local sourcing, and ethical considerations. Organic products, collaborative shopping, resale platforms, and sustainable commerce models are gaining traction.
2. Digital Transformation – E-commerce and omnichannel strategies are redefining traditional retail, creating new roles and skill requirements. Adapting to these shifts requires a deep understanding of new digital business models and competitive dynamics.
3. Service-Oriented Business Models – Evolving consumer expectations demand new service innovations, including ultra-fast delivery, personalized offerings, on-site product repairs, sustainable goods, tailored coaching for fashion or home decor, and interactive workshops.

4. New Organizational Work Models – Emerging work structures emphasize autonomy, trust, and decentralized decision-making over traditional command-and-control hierarchies. These shifts necessitate new leadership and governance models, fostering collaborative and adaptable business environments.

    

The Institute’s Collaborative Approach

The Institute for the Future of Commerce Professions operates through a highly collaborative approach involving four key stakeholder groups:

• Industry professionals (often ICD alumni)
• Academic experts engaged in applied research
• Students
• ICD faculty

This collective methodology is built on three core principles:

• Structured Framework – Encouraging active engagement and equitable knowledge-sharing within dedicated workshops and discussion groups.
• Interpersonal Learning – Emphasizing empathy and perspective-taking to integrate rational, emotional, intuitive, and symbolic dimensions in professional interactions.
• Ethical Commitment – Upholding authenticity, trust, and respect in collaborative work, ensuring alignment between words and actions.
   

Strategic Objectives of the Institute

The Institute’s approach serves three major objectives:

• Identifying the most relevant academic programs to equip students and apprentices with future-proof skills for 2030-2040.
• Establishing a strong network of experts and leading institutions to enhance legitimacy and visibility.
• Positioning ICD Business School as the premier institution for commerce and e-commerce in France, with international recognition.
   

Our Research Pillars

ICD Business School’s research policy is structured around four interdisciplinary pillars, aligning with our strategic academic focus on key societal and business challenges:

1. Marketing, Innovation & Commerce
2. CSR, Ethics & the Anthropocene
3. Pedagogical Innovation
4. Center for Data & AI Expertise

These pillars are deeply embedded within the school’s academic ecosystem, ensuring that research insights continuously inform and enhance teaching excellence at ICD Business School.