Kim P. Bryceson and Geoff Slaughter
The purpose of this paper is to examine the disconnect that can develop between corporate goals and those of individual intra‐organisational business units arranged as an internal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the disconnect that can develop between corporate goals and those of individual intra‐organisational business units arranged as an internal supply chain within a large vertically integrated agribusiness. It also aims to explore and discuss the development of a holistic performance metrics system that facilitates internal supply chain coordination and cohesion, while allowing synergies to develop across the company.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach involving a participative action research component was used to examine the disconnect between internal business unit (operational) goals and overall corporate (strategic) goals and to develop a conceptual performance assessment model addressing both operational and strategic contexts.
Findings
The findings show that appropriate performance indicators and measures can be created that relate directly to logical operational outcomes, thus encouraging a more tightly integrated internal supply chain, a stronger coherence among the components and a better aligned set of operational and corporate goals.
Research limitations/implications
Only financial information and data obtained from a participative managerial decision‐making simulation were used to explore performance goal incongruence between operational and corporate managers, compared with the need for multiple contextual performance measurement metrics that the literature suggests provides a best practice system.
Originality/value
The rapidly developing corporate agribusiness sector provides a unique operating environment in that these companies deal primarily in self‐regenerating assets such as livestock. Additionally the development of performance metrics for improving the coordinated integration of autonomous business units is explored for the first time and the concept of “Integrated Autonomy” is suggested as a way to describe the resulting situation.
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Contamination of red meat with foodborne pathogens is associated withsymptom‐less carriage of the organisms in the live animal. In the UnitedKingdom, meat is an acknowledged…
Abstract
Contamination of red meat with foodborne pathogens is associated with symptom‐less carriage of the organisms in the live animal. In the United Kingdom, meat is an acknowledged source of human food poisoning from Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens, and other pathogens that are sometimes present may also be important in this respect. Within the EU, much attention has been given to improving the design and structure of abattoirs, although, in themselves, such changes do not ensure low levels of microbial contamination. However, it has been suggested that, with due care in slaughtering and meat handling, microbial counts from carcasses can be reduced from around 103‐104 to 102‐103/cm2 and that contamination with any foodborne pathogens can also be reduced. Discusses those stages in meat handling which have the greatest effect on carcass contamination and the importance of using a system of quality assurance that incorporates the hazard analysis critical control point concept (HACCP). As an adjunct to good abattoir hygiene, possible processes for decontamination of finished carcasses, especially with hot water or lactic acid, are considered.
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Each year there are 75,000 reported cases of food poisoning. As the majority of cases are not reported, the true incidence of food poisoning is undoubtedly much higher. During the…
Abstract
Each year there are 75,000 reported cases of food poisoning. As the majority of cases are not reported, the true incidence of food poisoning is undoubtedly much higher. During the summer months the incidence of particular types of food poisoning increases. Bacteria, the major cause of food poisoning, are widely distributed in nature and primary agricultural products at the time of slaughter (meat and poultry) or harvesting (soil crops) are invariably contaminated with bacteria or more specifically pathogenic bacteria which can give rise to food poisoning.
The Meat Promotion Executive recently organised a most interesting talk and demonstration about factors affecting the
The purpose of this paper is to consider the view that America is “the land of the future”. It argues that, owing to its sponsorship of a model of development that is exploitive…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the view that America is “the land of the future”. It argues that, owing to its sponsorship of a model of development that is exploitive and unsustainable, this is no longer the case and that US futurists, in particular, need to consciously re‐evaluate their roles and work.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper advances a cultural critique of US hegemony. It considers background myths and their role in creating “American exceptionalism” in various fields, including futures studies. It also critiques free market ideology, the role of corporations, market failures and the economics of exploitation. This leads to issues of truth and power and the view that a continuation of an ideology of “free enterprise” leads to the collapse of the global system.
Findings
The paper suggests a number of strategies for futurists to consider as ways of opening out their vision beyond current limitations.
Practical implications
A rationale is outlined that can support shifts in more progressive directions and moves toward more fruitful work.
Originality/value
The American futures enterprise is currently at risk from its uncritical association with dysfunctions in US society, culture and economy. The paper draws attention to some of these and indicates possible ways forward.
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A Crown Court hearing of a charge of applying a false A description under S.2, Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, is given in some detail under Legal Proceedings in this issue of BFJ…
Abstract
A Crown Court hearing of a charge of applying a false A description under S.2, Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, is given in some detail under Legal Proceedings in this issue of BFJ. It concerns using the word “ham”, ie., the natural leg of a single pig, to various pieces from several pigs, deboned, defatted, “tumbled, massaged and cooked” in a mould shaped to a leg of ham, from which the average purchaser would find it impossible to distinguish. As the defence rightly claimed, this process has been used for at least a couple of decades, and the product forms a sizeable section of the bacon trade. Evidence by prosecution witnesses, experienced shop managers, believed the product to be the genuine “ham”. There is nothing detrimental about the meat, save that it tends to contain an excess of added water, but this applies to many meat products today; or that the manufacturers are setting out to cheat the consumer. What offends is the description given to the product. Manufacture was described in detail—a county trading standards officer inspected the process at the defendant company's Wiltshire factory, witness to the extent of their co‐operation—and was questioned at great length by defending counsel. Specimens of the product were exhibited and the jury were treated to a tasting test—presumably designed to refute prosecution's claim that the meat was of “poor value”. The trial judge said the jury had no doubt been enlightened as to the methods of manufacturing ham. The marketing of the product was also a subject of examination.
These are the days of falling standards and sagging morale, nowhere more apparent than in the one‐time efficient public service. The division between management and workers in the…
Abstract
These are the days of falling standards and sagging morale, nowhere more apparent than in the one‐time efficient public service. The division between management and workers in the field in the large public enterprises has grown wider and wider and we tend to blame the lower strata of the structure for most of the ills which beset us, mainly because its failures are more obvious; here, the falling standards of work and care speak for themselves. The massive reorganization of the National Health Service and local authorities has made evident, especially in the first, that the upper strata of the colossi which dominate our everyday lives have their ills too. Local authorities have been told “The party is over!” and the National Health Service has been told of the urgent need for the strictest economy in administration; that the taking over of personal health services from local authorities was wrongly attributed to “managerial growth” instead of a mere “transfer of functions”, but, nonetheless, new authorities were created, each with fast‐growing administrative organs operating services—doctors, nurses and patients—which had remained unchanged. Very large local authorities, with many functions lost to others, one would have expected to have resulted in economy of administration, has all‐too‐often been the opposite. Hardly surprising that those who pay for it all, distinct from those who receive of its largesse, are being stirred to rebellion, when they have been overtaxed, ill‐used and what is more important, ignored for so long.
Adam Loch, Henning Bjornlund and Geoff Kuehne
Prolonged drought and climate change uncertainty have created an urgent need to re‐distribute water away from irrigators and back to environmental flows. Previous approaches to…
Abstract
Purpose
Prolonged drought and climate change uncertainty have created an urgent need to re‐distribute water away from irrigators and back to environmental flows. Previous approaches to achieve this objective have had mixed results. The current approach focuses on purchasing water from irrigators to bolster river flows for ecosystem health. However, governments are purchasing entitlements, not allocations, which do not provide large amounts of water for the money that is spent. This paper aims to review the policies and events that have driven this process.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a the review of the policies and events, the paper identifies how the regulatory/market‐based approaches have resulted in a status quo or path dependent situation, to the detriment of achieving sustainable water use.
Findings
Previous approaches have so far simply maintained path dependency, i.e. the consumptive pool at more or less existing levels. Government intervention to purchase entitlements from irrigators for the environment through water markets is meant to break the status quo, but questions whether this can be achieved from a solitary focus on entitlement recovery.
Practical implications
It is suggested that both historical approaches offer less reform value, and that appropriate market intervention is warranted. However, entitlement water purchasing alone may limit provision of wet water to key environmental sites during critical periods and perpetuate a continuation of the path dependency arrangements.
Originality/value
A suggested expansion of the water‐purchasing programme that utilises allocation based products to meet adaptive environmental flow strategies is provided. Such an approach may offer a more suitable framework for dealing with the uncertain outcomes of climate change and ecosystem needs.
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On Wednesday 13th October, 1982, the Cahners Exposition Group, proprietors of the Internepcon Exhibition, sponsored and organised a special banquet to honour two individuals who…
Abstract
On Wednesday 13th October, 1982, the Cahners Exposition Group, proprietors of the Internepcon Exhibition, sponsored and organised a special banquet to honour two individuals who had made major contributions to their respective Industries.