Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains

This paper outlines methodological frameworks for conducting research and development with agribusiness supply chains in transitional economies where the objective is to improve the competitiveness of the supply chains in a global environment. The key difficulty when operating with supply chains is...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Murray-Prior, Roy
Format: Conference Paper
Published: International Farm Management Association 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07MurrayPrior.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13892
_version_ 1848748470042624000
author Murray-Prior, Roy
author_facet Murray-Prior, Roy
author_sort Murray-Prior, Roy
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper outlines methodological frameworks for conducting research and development with agribusiness supply chains in transitional economies where the objective is to improve the competitiveness of the supply chains in a global environment. The key difficulty when operating with supply chains is the complexity of the issues involved because constraints can occur from production by small farmers through to the relationship between retailers and consumers. Failure to address key constraints can lead to failure to have any impact. This creates problems for integrating research, because researchers are generally trained in disciplines that cover only a small proportion of the issues and operate from differing epistemologies. The other difficulty is to incorporate a framework for change management, since good research is not much use unless it leads to positive outcomes. A framework for managing these problems is outlined, which has been developed and trialled in work with vegetable supply chains in the Philippines and coffee supply chains in PNG. The framework incorporates a dualistic agribusiness systems model for mapping the chain issues and combines this with a pluralistic framework derived from Checkland's soft systems methodology for research analysing the system. This is integrated with a participatory action research methodology for change management.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T07:05:33Z
format Conference Paper
id curtin-20.500.11937-13892
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T07:05:33Z
publishDate 2007
publisher International Farm Management Association
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-138922017-01-30T11:40:05Z Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains Murray-Prior, Roy rural development pluralistic research dualistic agribusiness systems participatory action learning This paper outlines methodological frameworks for conducting research and development with agribusiness supply chains in transitional economies where the objective is to improve the competitiveness of the supply chains in a global environment. The key difficulty when operating with supply chains is the complexity of the issues involved because constraints can occur from production by small farmers through to the relationship between retailers and consumers. Failure to address key constraints can lead to failure to have any impact. This creates problems for integrating research, because researchers are generally trained in disciplines that cover only a small proportion of the issues and operate from differing epistemologies. The other difficulty is to incorporate a framework for change management, since good research is not much use unless it leads to positive outcomes. A framework for managing these problems is outlined, which has been developed and trialled in work with vegetable supply chains in the Philippines and coffee supply chains in PNG. The framework incorporates a dualistic agribusiness systems model for mapping the chain issues and combines this with a pluralistic framework derived from Checkland's soft systems methodology for research analysing the system. This is integrated with a participatory action research methodology for change management. 2007 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13892 http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07MurrayPrior.pdf http://www.ifmaonline.org/pages/con_articles.php?article=5 International Farm Management Association fulltext
spellingShingle rural development
pluralistic research
dualistic agribusiness systems
participatory action learning
Murray-Prior, Roy
Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title_full Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title_fullStr Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title_full_unstemmed Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title_short Methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
title_sort methodological frameworks for research and development on improving linkages and the competitiveness of supply chains
topic rural development
pluralistic research
dualistic agribusiness systems
participatory action learning
url http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07MurrayPrior.pdf
http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07MurrayPrior.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13892