Étienne Gaudin
director of e-lab, the IT research team of the Bouygues group
We took on two students for their graduate project at e-lab, which works for all the Bouygues companies. Starting with a specific problem, each of them had to propose a solution that was also a generic software product. Jean-Sébastien Brunner worked on a search engine to explore a database on Bouygues Construction experts. Guillaume Lutton designed and evaluated algorithms for scheduling subcontractors (plumbers, electricians, painters) at construction sites.
The solution was never really defined at the start. They had to explore different avenues, implement them, compare the results, refine, correct, optimize performance, and finally package the entire solution to create reusable products. They were both real IT engineers who were able to develop and propose solutions, and implement and use test protocols. They were able to work independently and make valuable proposals. But above all, beyond their project management skills, which all schools rightly emphasize, they were extremely good at their core technical competencies, which are often neglected.”
