Aux origines des logiques de carrière. Nature et fonctions des carrières internes à Saint-Gobain (fin XIXè - début XXè)

This paper uses personal records at Saint-Gobain to understand origins of internal careers of accountants at Saint-Gobain. It is shown emergence of this practices by presence of hierarchy between positions and internal promotion. The logic of career is explained both by the classical reasons proposed by economic literature (decrease of turnover and opportunism cost) and managerial decisions. Finally, it is argued that internal career is justified by individual management of employees’ needs.