Using Theme and Domain Networking Approaches to Understand Complex Agri-Industrial Systems

Abstract

Complex systems involve a number of interconnected entities, which collectively exhibit emergence and behaviour that cannot be explained by merely studying the individual entities. Agri-industrial systems, such as sugarcane production, are generally complex due to the presence of many autonomous stakeholders operating under diverse conditions, and may therefore contain varying perspectives and interests. The identification of problems and opportunities in such systems requires an approach that will, as far as possible, consider the entire system and how individual entities interact. Network analyses have the capacity to describe a complex system, depicting these interactions. In addition, graph theory approaches can help to identify key points in the system where there are opportunities for improvement. This paper presents a methodology to assist researchers to make sense of complex matters in an agri-industrial context. In the South African sugar industry, it can be argued that systemic inefficiencies in the supply chain reduce optimum performance. Research conducted in two large milling areas is used to develop and demonstrate the use of network approaches to analyse supply chains and identify opportunities for improvement. The research developed two types of map: system domain networks and theme networks, which are found to be appropriate for drawing a first set of conclusions concerning a relatively unfamiliar complex system. Although the paper focuses on sugarcane, there is significant scope to apply these techniques across a broader spectrum of agri-industrial sectors.

Using network analysis to analyse the complex interaction of factors causing the failure of small-scale water infrastructure (SWI) in the rural areas of South Africa

“…This is because water-related issues are complex in nature (Harvey and Reed, 2004), therefore exhibiting a complex system. Bezuidenhout et al (2013) state that factors occurring in a complex system are interconnected and interact, resulting in failures in the system. Given the complex nature of water-related issues, factors that affect SWI failure are interconnected and interact, causing failure of SWI.…”

Modelling sugarcane supply consistency at a sugar mill

“…The area produces an average cane yield of 80 t/ha. The mill crushes an average of $1.2 million t of sugarcane annually (see Table 1), which results in approximately 130,000 t of sugar and 50,000 t of molasses (Lumsden et al, 1998(Lumsden et al, , 2000Lyne et al, 2005;Kadwa et al, 2012;Bezuidenhout et al, 2013;Kadwa and Bezuidenhout, 2013).…”

Developing a Systematic Diagnostic Model for Integrated Agricultural Supply and Processing Systems

“…The study conceptualised IASPS as a sum of the biophysical domain, collaboration, culture, economics, environment, future strategy, information sharing, political forces and supply chain structure [5]. Structure describes the tasks, authority and coordination mechanisms across the distinct parts that form a supply system.…”

“…Regardless of the overwhelming benefits of innovation, the adoption of technology in supply chains remains a major concern [3]. The adoption of technologies in integrated agricultural supply and processing systems (IASPS) is no exception as nonadoption is widely reported in research [4][5][6]. According to McCown, the adoption of technologies in IASPS and, in particular, integrated sugarcane supply and processing systems (ISSPS), has been relatively slow especially when compared to other industries such as electronics and automotive [7].…”

“…Seymour et al [24] considered factors that affected adoption in a container supply chain. Schut et al [25] and Bezuidenhout et al [5] conceptualised factors from an integrated agricultural systems' view. Also, as is clear from Table 1, numerous factors have been studied more often than others and amongst the most researched are the physical factors, collaboration, culture, economics, strategy, information sharing, power, structure and the environment.…”