Since the 1980s, Dutch agricultural policy focuses on changing the agricultural sector into a more sustainable sector. In this article we explore an Agropark visioning initiative and four Agropark innovation projects to provide further understanding in how visions on the future influence innovation projects. In addition we question which innovation strategies actors adopt to ensure both high levels of ambition and high degrees of commitment towards the innovation Agropark. Our study shows that future visions can lead to high expectation within the policy and public domain which creates both opportunities and tensions for innovation projects. Furthermore, the analysis shows that each Agropark innovation project applied specific innovation strategies that suited their distinct context and network of actors. Furthermore, actors within the innovation projects contextualise and thereby re-design future visions into local visions. They thus create a more viable design but at the same time dilute initial ambitio...
{"title":"Innovation projects and visions on the future : Ambition and commitment in the Agropark case","authors":"A. Hoes, B. Regeer, M. Zweekhorst","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X007","url":null,"abstract":"Since the 1980s, Dutch agricultural policy focuses on changing the agricultural sector into a more sustainable sector. In this article we explore an Agropark visioning initiative and four Agropark innovation projects to provide further understanding in how visions on the future influence innovation projects. In addition we question which innovation strategies actors adopt to ensure both high levels of ambition and high degrees of commitment towards the innovation Agropark. Our study shows that future visions can lead to high expectation within the policy and public domain which creates both opportunities and tensions for innovation projects. Furthermore, the analysis shows that each Agropark innovation project applied specific innovation strategies that suited their distinct context and network of actors. Furthermore, actors within the innovation projects contextualise and thereby re-design future visions into local visions. They thus create a more viable design but at the same time dilute initial ambitio...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"10 1","pages":"111-124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88849711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Visions are considered to be of vital importance for programmes aimed at sustainable systems change. Vision development is a programme management instrument, a programme output, and at the heart of programme learning processes. This article addresses the question what constitutes an appropriate monitoring strategy for vision development activities within system change programmes. Based on action research and literature review on monitoring, evaluation and vision development a monitoring framework is proposed. It is suggested to monitor the programme vision against project visions, societal visions and a set of basic criteria. The monitoring activities themselves are context-sensitive and frequently renegotiated between monitors, programme managers and other stakeholders. The framework is illustrated with a national systems change programme on sustainable agriculture in the Netherlands.
{"title":"Monitoring on-going vision development in system change programmes","authors":"M. Taanman, Julia M. Wittmayer, H. Diepenmaat","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X008","url":null,"abstract":"Visions are considered to be of vital importance for programmes aimed at sustainable systems change. Vision development is a programme management instrument, a programme output, and at the heart of programme learning processes. This article addresses the question what constitutes an appropriate monitoring strategy for vision development activities within system change programmes. Based on action research and literature review on monitoring, evaluation and vision development a monitoring framework is proposed. It is suggested to monitor the programme vision against project visions, societal visions and a set of basic criteria. The monitoring activities themselves are context-sensitive and frequently renegotiated between monitors, programme managers and other stakeholders. The framework is illustrated with a national systems change programme on sustainable agriculture in the Netherlands.","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"37 1","pages":"125-136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88895712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Farmers and horticultural growers are expected by society to increase production to meet the demand for food and other agricultural produce, and, simultaneously, reduce negative effects on the physical and social environment. Whether farmers and horticultural growers choose to develop their businesses this way, is not clear. A market orientation (MO) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of farmers and horticultural growers is propagated to increase farm profitability and stimulate the economic vigour of rural areas. An MO is a firm owners’ belief that the best way to achieve the firm's objectives is to satisfy customers more effective and efficient than competitors do. An EO is a firm owners’ willingness to innovate to rejuvenate market offerings, take risks to try out new and uncertain products, services and markets, and be more proactive than competitors towards new marketplace opportunities. However, it is not clear how MO and EO influence farmers’ and horticultural growers’ choices about how to develo...
{"title":"The influence of market and entrepreneurial orientation on strategic marketing choices: the cases of Dutch farmers and horticultural growers","authors":"F. Verhees, T. Lans, J. Verstegen","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X011","url":null,"abstract":"Farmers and horticultural growers are expected by society to increase production to meet the demand for food and other agricultural produce, and, simultaneously, reduce negative effects on the physical and social environment. Whether farmers and horticultural growers choose to develop their businesses this way, is not clear. A market orientation (MO) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of farmers and horticultural growers is propagated to increase farm profitability and stimulate the economic vigour of rural areas. An MO is a firm owners’ belief that the best way to achieve the firm's objectives is to satisfy customers more effective and efficient than competitors do. An EO is a firm owners’ willingness to innovate to rejuvenate market offerings, take risks to try out new and uncertain products, services and markets, and be more proactive than competitors towards new marketplace opportunities. However, it is not clear how MO and EO influence farmers’ and horticultural growers’ choices about how to develo...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"29 1","pages":"167-179"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85350427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this paper socio-demographic characteristics of sustainable food consumers are studied by using actual purchasing data of 4,412 households in a wide range of food products over a twenty week period in the months November 2008 till March 2009. Our results indicate that purchasing sustainable food products is still the exception rather than the rule. Socio-demographic characteristics are (weakly) related to the purchasing sustainable food items. Specifically, people with a higher education and those living in a more urban area are more likely to purchase sustainable products. Psychographic data on a subsample (n=1,112) show a weak relation between sustainability concerns and sustainable behaviour. Scales measuring people's sustainability concerns specific to purchasing products (e.g. Ethical orientation scale) are better predictors of people's sustainable consumption than scales measuring people's general sustainability concerns (e.g. Connectedness to Nature scale). Since consumer characteristics seem to be of little predictive value of sustainable consumption it may be wise to shift the focus from investigating who the sustainable consumer is to how to make sustainable products successful. In the discussion we offer some initial guiding principles.
{"title":"Sustainable food purchases in the Netherlands: the influence of consumer characteristics","authors":"M. Meijers","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X012","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper socio-demographic characteristics of sustainable food consumers are studied by using actual purchasing data of 4,412 households in a wide range of food products over a twenty week period in the months November 2008 till March 2009. Our results indicate that purchasing sustainable food products is still the exception rather than the rule. Socio-demographic characteristics are (weakly) related to the purchasing sustainable food items. Specifically, people with a higher education and those living in a more urban area are more likely to purchase sustainable products. Psychographic data on a subsample (n=1,112) show a weak relation between sustainability concerns and sustainable behaviour. Scales measuring people's sustainability concerns specific to purchasing products (e.g. Ethical orientation scale) are better predictors of people's sustainable consumption than scales measuring people's general sustainability concerns (e.g. Connectedness to Nature scale). Since consumer characteristics seem to be of little predictive value of sustainable consumption it may be wise to shift the focus from investigating who the sustainable consumer is to how to make sustainable products successful. In the discussion we offer some initial guiding principles.","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"181-198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80925354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Over the past 20 years the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained momentum in business practices and strategies. In the agribusiness sector, the need for CSR integration has recently triggered a number of private sector led initiatives that should contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Consequently we emphasize that for managing innovation processes for sustainability and their institutional context, the food sustainability discourse also needs to investigate the state of the art of CSR in agribusiness. Based on a model to compare and contrast accountability standards we analyse the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) platform and its principles. We conclude that over the past 5 years agribusiness corporations have become more pro-active in addressing sustainability concerns, and mainstream initiatives start to compete with the traditional niche markets. The SAI was founded by three big players in the food industry, and represents a global initiative among a number of ...
{"title":"Emerging strategic corporate social responsibility partnership initiatives in agribusiness: the case of the sustainable agriculture initiative","authors":"Katharina Poetz, R. Haas, Michaela A. Balzarova","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X010","url":null,"abstract":"Over the past 20 years the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained momentum in business practices and strategies. In the agribusiness sector, the need for CSR integration has recently triggered a number of private sector led initiatives that should contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Consequently we emphasize that for managing innovation processes for sustainability and their institutional context, the food sustainability discourse also needs to investigate the state of the art of CSR in agribusiness. Based on a model to compare and contrast accountability standards we analyse the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) platform and its principles. We conclude that over the past 5 years agribusiness corporations have become more pro-active in addressing sustainability concerns, and mainstream initiatives start to compete with the traditional niche markets. The SAI was founded by three big players in the food industry, and represents a global initiative among a number of ...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"2 1","pages":"151-165"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74354821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The agri-food sector is under pressure to move towards sustainability and broad socio-technical changes are needed. In such encompassing innovation processes that concern the whole agri-food chain, actors with different institutional backgrounds are confronted with each others interests, ideas and perspectives. Framing, then, may both support and hinder the alignment of actors and interests. In this paper we investigate how framing occurs in multi-actor innovation projects and how it facilitates or hinders the continuity of these projects. We first review the broad literature on framing, which leads to a typology of three levels of framing: face-to-face interaction (between individuals), global discourse (within society) and localised collective (in projects). In addition, we add a third category to the traditional distinction between ‘cognitive’ and ‘interactional’ framing. We argue that in socio-technical innovations also ‘material’ framing occurs. In an empirical case study, based on in-depth interview...
{"title":"Agri-food in search of sustainability: cognitive, interactional and material framing","authors":"J. Zwartkruis, E. Moors, J. Farla, H. Lente","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X006","url":null,"abstract":"The agri-food sector is under pressure to move towards sustainability and broad socio-technical changes are needed. In such encompassing innovation processes that concern the whole agri-food chain, actors with different institutional backgrounds are confronted with each others interests, ideas and perspectives. Framing, then, may both support and hinder the alignment of actors and interests. In this paper we investigate how framing occurs in multi-actor innovation projects and how it facilitates or hinders the continuity of these projects. We first review the broad literature on framing, which leads to a typology of three levels of framing: face-to-face interaction (between individuals), global discourse (within society) and localised collective (in projects). In addition, we add a third category to the traditional distinction between ‘cognitive’ and ‘interactional’ framing. We argue that in socio-technical innovations also ‘material’ framing occurs. In an empirical case study, based on in-depth interview...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"17 1","pages":"99-110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82286947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sourcing grapes from independent growers for use in top quality wines sold on the international market is a major organisational challenge for corporate wineries. Our paper adds to the small collection of existing literature addressing these coordination issues in the New World wine sector, by going deeper into the specifics of the contracts. Based on a case-study carried out in the Argentine province of Mendoza, this article presents an in-depth analysis of the technical process, in order to identify the contractual hazards posed by asset specificity, measurement costs, and non-contractible actions. Expanding Transaction Cost Economics to include contract completion and plural governance literature, this paper analyses the contractual and non-contractual mechanisms (price incentives, grower monitoring, allocation of decision rights to the winery, role of backward integration) used to govern such grape transactions. Through our analysis, we were able to arrive at four main conclusions. Firstly, most agree...
{"title":"Quality management and contractual incompleteness: grape procurement for high-end wines in Argentina","authors":"J. Codron, É. Montaigne, S. Rousset","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2013.x218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2013.x218","url":null,"abstract":"Sourcing grapes from independent growers for use in top quality wines sold on the international market is a major organisational challenge for corporate wineries. Our paper adds to the small collection of existing literature addressing these coordination issues in the New World wine sector, by going deeper into the specifics of the contracts. Based on a case-study carried out in the Argentine province of Mendoza, this article presents an in-depth analysis of the technical process, in order to identify the contractual hazards posed by asset specificity, measurement costs, and non-contractible actions. Expanding Transaction Cost Economics to include contract completion and plural governance literature, this paper analyses the contractual and non-contractual mechanisms (price incentives, grower monitoring, allocation of decision rights to the winery, role of backward integration) used to govern such grape transactions. Through our analysis, we were able to arrive at four main conclusions. Firstly, most agree...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"36 1","pages":"11-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77779403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Increasingly globalized value chains and growing consumer awareness towards foodborne diseases have reinforced the importance of adequate food quality and safety management systems. A widely applied food safety management system is the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, which has become mandatory in many countries and is therefore of major relevance for food producers, processors and traders worldwide. However, mandatory HACCP implementation may act as a trade barrier for many developing and transition countries and pose particular difficulties for small food producers and processors. In this paper, we evaluate the current state of knowledge and implementation of HACCP-based management systems among small-scale honey producers in Brazil. The empirical analysis is based on original survey data collected from a random sample of 115 households involved in apiculture in the northeast of Brazil. In the interviews, beekeepers were asked about their knowledge of HACCP requirements and th...
{"title":"Knowledge and implementation of HACCP-based management systems among small-scale honey producers in Brazil","authors":"Christina Handschuch, M. Wollni, A. Neto","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X003","url":null,"abstract":"Increasingly globalized value chains and growing consumer awareness towards foodborne diseases have reinforced the importance of adequate food quality and safety management systems. A widely applied food safety management system is the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, which has become mandatory in many countries and is therefore of major relevance for food producers, processors and traders worldwide. However, mandatory HACCP implementation may act as a trade barrier for many developing and transition countries and pose particular difficulties for small food producers and processors. In this paper, we evaluate the current state of knowledge and implementation of HACCP-based management systems among small-scale honey producers in Brazil. The empirical analysis is based on original survey data collected from a random sample of 115 households involved in apiculture in the northeast of Brazil. In the interviews, beekeepers were asked about their knowledge of HACCP requirements and th...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"3 1","pages":"55-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88924848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Network literature suggests that individual embeddedness leads to performance. The authors argue that resources from intra-firm social networks are critical for gaining advantages. The contribution of the paper lies at the performance impact of the network position. Previous studies have considered two alternative views, degree and closeness, of network centrality that have been shown to impact job promotion, innovation diffusion, and wage increase. To our knowledge no work has been done to identify the specific impact of the network on sales performance. Moreover, two different types of network relations were focused on in order to analyze the multiplexity of ties: friendship and advice. Conceptual work has suggested the impact of overlapping ties on performance, however elaborated empirical evidence is lacking. Estimates from a sample of salespeople in a focal firm of input supplies reveal that having many direct ties (degree centrality) and multi-dimensional relations (advice and friendship) positively...
{"title":"Network centrality and multiplexity: a study of sales performance","authors":"D. Claro, G. Gonzalez, P. Claro","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X208","url":null,"abstract":"Network literature suggests that individual embeddedness leads to performance. The authors argue that resources from intra-firm social networks are critical for gaining advantages. The contribution of the paper lies at the performance impact of the network position. Previous studies have considered two alternative views, degree and closeness, of network centrality that have been shown to impact job promotion, innovation diffusion, and wage increase. To our knowledge no work has been done to identify the specific impact of the network on sales performance. Moreover, two different types of network relations were focused on in order to analyze the multiplexity of ties: friendship and advice. Conceptual work has suggested the impact of overlapping ties on performance, however elaborated empirical evidence is lacking. Estimates from a sample of salespeople in a focal firm of input supplies reveal that having many direct ties (degree centrality) and multi-dimensional relations (advice and friendship) positively...","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"2 1","pages":"85-94"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82518598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stakeholders are individuals who can substantially affect the decision-making and sharing part of the value created by firms. This paper explains how parties that have not exercised cooperative production efforts, hold decision-making rights and share rights to the value created. The objective of this paper is to present a theoretical explanation for the existence of stakeholder activity, based on the property rights theory. In addition, the paper explores examples of development banks and a system of certification of sustainable forest production, exploring strategic implications. The paper is organized into four parts. Following the introduction, part two presents a selective literature review, part three presents a property rights allocation model and part four presents cases and conclusions.
{"title":"Reallocation of property rights in agro-food systems: addressing diffuse stakeholders' rights","authors":"D. Zylbersztajn","doi":"10.3920/JCNS2012.X211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3920/JCNS2012.X211","url":null,"abstract":"Stakeholders are individuals who can substantially affect the decision-making and sharing part of the value created by firms. This paper explains how parties that have not exercised cooperative production efforts, hold decision-making rights and share rights to the value created. The objective of this paper is to present a theoretical explanation for the existence of stakeholder activity, based on the property rights theory. In addition, the paper explores examples of development banks and a system of certification of sustainable forest production, exploring strategic implications. The paper is organized into four parts. Following the introduction, part two presents a selective literature review, part three presents a property rights allocation model and part four presents cases and conclusions.","PeriodicalId":17677,"journal":{"name":"Journal on Chain and Network Science","volume":"21 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90069753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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