The Role of Strategic and Tactical Flexibility in Managing Input Variability on Farms

Cowan, Lisa; Kaine, Geoff; Wright, Vic

doi:10.1002/sres.2137

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The ability to include interannual variability for profit maximization and risk minimization is a permanent challenge for pastoral farmers (Vogeler et al, 2016) that require maintaining high flexibility of the systems (Cowan, Kaine, & Wright, 2013). Previous studies in the same region have shown the benefits of technological systems on average rainfall conditions (Fernández Rosso et al, 2018;Lauric et al, 2016).…”

Section: A Potential Path For Farm Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An innovation path in Argentinean cow–calf operations: Insights from participatory farm system modelling

Rosso

Bilotto

Lauric³

et al. 2020

Syst Res Behav Sci

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The information of how the high climatic variability in the south-west Buenos Aires Province (SWBS) region, Argentina, impacts on existing cow-calf operations is needed. This research uses a combination of quantitative (modelling) and qualitative (workshops) methodologies. The objective was to assess, under interannual climate variability, the productive and economic performance and greenhouse gas emissions and the marginal value of additional feed of four cow-calf systems arranged as a potential farm innovation path in the SWBS, Argentina. Modelling results showed that along this technological path where forage crops are decreased, perennial pastures are increased and anticipated weaning is included, productive and economic outcomes increased and the emission intensity decreased. How extra feeds may be used to cope with seasonal and interannual feeding was also identified. Moreover, barriers to adopt the suggested farm innovation path were identified by farmers, consultants and extensionists and strategies and their implication discussed.

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Section: A Potential Path For Farm Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An innovation path in Argentinean cow–calf operations: Insights from participatory farm system modelling

Rosso

Bilotto

Lauric³

et al. 2020

Syst Res Behav Sci

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“…The 'fuzziness' of resilience can encompass a number of other related topics including adaptability, flexibility, coping capacity, sustainability, and transformation (Rodriguez and Sadras 2011;Berman et al 2012;Cowan et al 2013;Marshall et al 2013a). Furthermore, some scholars may be disinclined to use the term (Olsson et al 2015), for example due to conceptual, theoretical, or ontological differences between disciplines (McEvoy et al 2013;Nelson 2011).…”

Section: Conclusion and Suggestions For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising rural resilience in Aotearoa-New Zealand: a systematic review

et al. 2018

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The concept of 'resilience' has recently gained traction in a range of contexts. Its various interpretations and framings are now used to examine a variety of issues, particularly relating to the human dimensions of global change. This can pose challenges to scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers seeking to develop focused research programmes, design targeted interventions, and communicate across disciplinary boundaries. The concept of resilience is widely used in Aotearoa-New Zealand, where it informs both government policy and research programmes. Resilience is particularly relevant in this small developed nation, which is heavily reliant on primary production in rural areas and affected by a range of geological and climatic hazards. To understand the range and extent of application of resilience in the rural context, we use systematic review methods to identify, characterise, and synthesise this knowledge base. Currently, research applying the concept of resilience in the rural context is limited in areal extent, largely quantitative in nature, and led by a small number of researchers. There is limited evidence of collaboration. Research has focused on a small number of hazards, failing to capture the diversity of risks and hazards in addition to their impacts. The results of our analysis and methodology offer important insights for meta-analyses of risk and hazard scholarship. The findings provide a baseline to track the future progress and effectiveness of resilience interventions and help inform current and future research priorities targeting persistent vulnerabilities in rural New Zealand and elsewhere.

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“…Understanding how farmers manage variability in farm inputs has been the focus of an area of applied research, grounded in general systems theory [40] and cybernetics [37], which is described here as production control theory [41,42] (described in Cowan [8] as farm control theory). While the focus here is on farms, production control theory has relevance to system regulation processes in business production systems more generally.…”

Section: Farm-environment Interaction: Production Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, it has been applied to farming experiences in the Sunraysia region of northern Victoria to analyse the impacts of climatic variability on grape producers [27]. Here, elements from production control theory from Cowan, Kaine and Wright [42] and Kaine and Cowan [41] are summarized with a focus on concepts that are central to considering how managing variability in inputs constrains decision-making.…”

Section: Farm-environment Interaction: Production Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, a manager of an irrigated farm regularly uses an irrigation allocation, scheduling practices and existing infrastructure (channels and gates) to manage access to irrigation water. This is described in relation to tactical and strategic flexibility in Cowan, Kaine and Wright [42]. As well, the differences among the types of tactics (called system regulators) are described in Kaine and Cowan [41] where aggregation, error control and anticipation regulators are distinguished.…”

Section: Farm-environment Interaction: Production Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Approach for Analyzing the Vulnerability of Small Family Businesses

Cowan¹,

Wright

2016

Systems

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Abstract:In a given operating environment, small family businesses typically have fewer resources to minimize vulnerability. Identifying this exposure is basic to strategic analysis and, potentially, public policy analysis. This can become even more important when structural change in the environment is expected while its exact character is not known. The implications of climate change for Australian family farms are an example. This paper reports a study designed to analyse the vulnerability of dairy farms in Victoria, Australia. The study draws on production control (applied general systems) theory, value chains and image theory to capture comprehensively the lock-in arising from salient past decisions and impact on the current business structure and strategy. This is the path dependence that defines the constraints and associated options available to small family businesses. The authors identify benefits associated with the use of dynamic analysis of vulnerability over static analysis. Generalizable implications regarding analysis of vulnerability in small family businesses are offered.

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The Role of Strategic and Tactical Flexibility in Managing Input Variability on Farms

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

An innovation path in Argentinean cow–calf operations: Insights from participatory farm system modelling

An innovation path in Argentinean cow–calf operations: Insights from participatory farm system modelling

Characterising rural resilience in Aotearoa-New Zealand: a systematic review

An Approach for Analyzing the Vulnerability of Small Family Businesses

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