Diwakar KC, Robin E. Roberts and Sara Quach
Despite the availability of new buyers and the possibility to receive higher prices, still large numbers of smallholder farmers do not participate in the modern supply chains…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the availability of new buyers and the possibility to receive higher prices, still large numbers of smallholder farmers do not participate in the modern supply chains. This study aims to understand the factors that affect smallholder farmers' participation in a newly emerging modern supply chain context.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 6 focus groups of farmers (67 farmers in total) and 14 interviews with market actors and key informants such as government officials and donor organisations.
Findings
Influential factors of farmers' participation in the modern chain include buyer attributes and transaction conditions. High prices and prompt payment are the key motivators, with the main inhibitors being personal relationships with buyers and strict market requirements related to quality and quantity supplied.
Practical implications
In order to encourage smallholder farmer participation in modern chains, an expansion of the marketing of high-quality vegetables by implementing quality control mechanisms and the encouragement to adopt safe marketing practices is needed. These results are particularly relevant for practitioners and policymakers.
Originality/value
Most research to date concentrates on farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and are based in countries with advanced modern chains, and rarely focus on farmer participation in countries where modern chains are relatively new. This study addresses this gap by analysing farmer preferences to engage in the context of a country experiencing the emergence of trade through modern vegetable supply chain system.
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Neoclassic economics is a thing of considerable beauty. It yet finds an increasing tendency on the part of those trained in its discipline to rebel from its neatly fitted…
Abstract
Neoclassic economics is a thing of considerable beauty. It yet finds an increasing tendency on the part of those trained in its discipline to rebel from its neatly fitted abstractions and intriguing diagrams. The rebellion stems from two sources. Veblen's sweeping attacks upon its postulates16 shock its theoretical foundations. The rapid changes in the industrial and business world discredited it on another front by bringing into increasingly sharp relief the divergence between the institutional assumptions of the orthodox theory and the conditions actually obtaining. The giant corporation, overhead costs, and the necessity for maintenance of volume, industrial concentration, the trade association, a widening spread among income classes, advertising, the growing inability of the consumer to gauge quality, the resort to reorganization instead of the “going out of business” of the long-run analyses – what place could the orthodox theory give to these important characteristics of the existing business economy?
The exchange of reciprocal and quantitative consideration between transaction parties rests on the independent intentions and judgments of potential benefit for each. A transaction…
Abstract
The exchange of reciprocal and quantitative consideration between transaction parties rests on the independent intentions and judgments of potential benefit for each. A transaction consummated between independent parties should logically be beyond subsequent unilateral modification. And, because “duality” is inherent in every exchange-priced transaction, the account form follows the lead of transaction substance. Conditions precedent to consummation of a transaction is two affirmative value judgments by the parties as to the benefits expected.
Postulates that advances made in marketing, particularly in the USA, have only served to highlight shortcomings in this discipline particularly the absence of central theories and…
Abstract
Postulates that advances made in marketing, particularly in the USA, have only served to highlight shortcomings in this discipline particularly the absence of central theories and related general principles. Discusses how markets have evolved as socio‐economic processes and means intended to satisfy people's and organisation's needs through trading or exchange transactions – though markets have existed for as long as history is recorded. Contrasts the evolution of market theory and the differences between people of varying areas and cultures and examines theses in depth as: primitive markets (pre‐Columbus period in the USA); traditional markets; merchant trader markets (1500 to 1776); and free competitive markets (late 1700s); mixed markets (middle 1800s). Illustrates, in tabular format, the influence of forces and conditions inhibiting market functions, thereby complementing cases used in earlier discussion. Summarizes that a step has been taken towards progressing a theory of modern markets – particularly regarding the north American area.
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Abdul Haris Muhammadi, Zahir Ahmed and Ahsan Habib
The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges faced by Indonesian tax auditors in auditing multinational transfer prices of intangible assets. This study then explores…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges faced by Indonesian tax auditors in auditing multinational transfer prices of intangible assets. This study then explores the suitability of mechanisms currently used by Indonesian tax auditors to ensure appropriate tax audit adjustments.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a qualitative research method involving semi-structured and open-ended interviews with the tax auditors in Indonesia. The authors also include some Indonesia court decisions pertinent to the research question above.
Findings
Findings indicate that Indonesian tax auditors face a number of difficulties during the audit of transfer pricing cases derived from intangible property, including a lack of transparency in taxpayers’ bookkeeping; limited taxpayer cooperation in providing data and documents; transfer pricing regulations; and problems related to organization and human resources. The study also finds that Indonesian tax auditors and tax officials handle transfer pricing cases by using a legal basis as reference and by performing a number of activities, including among others, comparable analysis.
Originality/value
The findings of this study should assist policy makers to improve the quality of transfer pricing audit. Also, tax auditors and account representatives who do not have enough experience in auditing transfer pricing cases derived from intangible property rights might use the outcomes of this study as a guide for dealing with those cases.
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The purposes of this paper are as follows. First, the paper investigates the causes of risk and methods for managing it based on previous studies of trade risk and trade risk…
Abstract
Purpose
The purposes of this paper are as follows. First, the paper investigates the causes of risk and methods for managing it based on previous studies of trade risk and trade risk management. Second, the paper analyses the types and forms of trade risk for exporting companies and investigate the relationship between actual trade risks and perceptions of trade risk. Third, the paper establishes a measurement device for trade risk management and export performance based on previous studies. Fourth, the paper derives the concepts based on the accumulated details to establish a research model and verifies a cause and effect relationship. Fifth, the paper analyses what kind of effect the perception of trade risk exerts on trade risk management. And sixth, the paper analyses the effect of the method of trade risk management on the export performance of exporting companies to shed light on the utility of trade risk management.
Design/methodology/approach
The purpose in this research is to analyse the effects of trade risk management on the export performance of exporting companies. The authors have conducted a review of previous studies about trade risk, trade risk management, and the outcomes thereof. Based on that review, the authors have established a research model, derived hypotheses, and used statistical methods to verify those hypotheses.
Findings
First, the authors analysed the methods of settling payments, transaction terms, the transportation environment, and experience in trade claims and found that they influenced the perceived level of trade risk. Second, exporting companies’ prior perception of trade risk determines which methods of trade risk management are suitable. Third, the analysis of the methods of trade risk management and export performance found that financial performance was influenced more than non-financial performance by trade risk management.
Originality/value
The authors determined whether trade risk management effectively counters the losses incurred as a result of the trade risks faced by exporting countries. The authors used an empirical statistical analysis to comprehensively analyse appropriate trade risk management and export performance. Prior to implementing the empirical analysis, the authors conducted research on trade risk and its management and established a research model and research hypotheses based on a theoretical background of trade risk methods appropriate to the circumstances faced by exporting companies.
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Mirta Casati, Claudio Soregaroli, Gregorio Linus Frizzi and Stefanella Stranieri
Despite the growing interest in blockchain technology (BCT) applications in the agri-food industry, evidence of their economic and strategic implications remains scarce. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the growing interest in blockchain technology (BCT) applications in the agri-food industry, evidence of their economic and strategic implications remains scarce. This study aims to contribute to filling this gap by jointly investigating how BCT adoption affects transactional relationships, and how it contributes to the firm’s strategic resources.
Design/methodology/approach
An explanatory case study is conducted based on a theoretical framework grounded on transaction cost economics and the resource-based-dynamic capabilities view. Six BCT implementations by agri-food firms are studied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings
Findings reveal that BCT benefits depend on how companies integrate technology across their supply chains. In fact, the results suggest that overall transaction efficiency within the supply chain is enhanced only for those firms prioritising stakeholder engagement during technology implementation and leveraging existing trust relationships with economic agents. Moreover, the results suggest that BCT is not yet perceived as a strategic resource, but rather that it has the potential to enhance firms’ operational-adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities. When all supply chain actors clearly understand blockchain’s functionality and value, the development of these capabilities becomes more pronounced.
Practical implications
The study identifies two BCT adoption configurations. One primarily focuses on enhancing supply chain efficiency and transparency (dynamic BCT), while the other uses BCT mainly for marketing purposes (static BCT). These configurations lead to varied possibilities for leveraging BCT’s potential advantages. Furthermore, they show how a mismatch between a strategic approach and its chosen configuration could work against any positive impact and lead to disillusionment with the BCT. Thus, managers should assess carefully the impact of such different configuration choices on performance.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to attempt to analyse the economic implications of adopting BCT in the food sector from both a firm and supply chain perspective. Additionally, it shows how interpreting these impacts is contingent on the diverse modalities for embedding BCT into existing supply chains.
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Walfried M. Lassar and Krishnan Dandapani
The growth of the Internet has created an explosion of sites that seek to provide information and conduct business transactions. The service industry and especially online banking…
Abstract
The growth of the Internet has created an explosion of sites that seek to provide information and conduct business transactions. The service industry and especially online banking stand to gain from that development. This study, anchored in the marketing, social psychology, media, and information systems literature, investigates how users perceive the Internet’s abilities to conduct banking activities. Results show variation in media perceptions for the same online banking site across various task environments. The results indicate that user perceptions of the Internet medium depend on task complexity and that technology can serve as a mitigating factor to improve media and quality perception.
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Stefanella Stranieri, Alessandro Varacca, Mirta Casati, Ettore Capri and Claudio Soregaroli
Environmentally-friendly certifications have increased over the past decade within food supply chains. Although a large body of literature has explored the drivers leading firms…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmentally-friendly certifications have increased over the past decade within food supply chains. Although a large body of literature has explored the drivers leading firms to adopt such certifications, it has not closely examined the strategic motivations associated with their adoption. This paper aims to investigate an environmentally-friendly certification, VIVA, examining its role as an alternative form of supply chain governance. The aim is to investigate the drivers affecting the adoption of VIVA and to assess managerial perceptions related to transaction-related characteristics and the firm’s internal resources and capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws upon both an extended transaction cost economics perspective, which is based on transaction risks and the resource-based view, which examines a firm’s internal resources. A survey was conducted via a structured questionnaire sent to all of the wine producers in charge of the decision regarding whether to adopt VIVA certification. A Hierarchal Bayesian Model was applied to analyse questionnaire responses. Such a model allows us to specify the probabilistic relationship between questions and latent constructs and to carry over uncertainty across modelling levels.
Findings
The adoption of this environmentally-friendly certification is envisioned as a tool to curb internal risks, and thus to manage behavioural uncertainty within the supply chain. A high level of exposure to exogenous transaction risks discourages firms from adopting VIVA certification. The certification system is not perceived as a promoter of operational capabilities. Managers are more likely to implement the certification when they expect that its adoption will leverage their potential knowledge of the supply chain or prompt new and better collaborations with the suppliers. Therefore, the certification can become a resource that interacts with the capabilities of the firm, expressing complementarities that stimulate the formation of dynamic capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
The identification of drivers from the two theoretical perspectives offers insights into the attributes that are perceived as important by managers and which, therefore, could be leveraged to foster the adoption of the environmental certification. The external validity of the study could be improved by extending the sample to other certifications and supply chains.
Originality/value
The study offers a different perspective on environmental certification. It demonstrates that considering the certification as an alternative form of supply chain governance opens up a set of efficiency and strategic considerations that could be addressed to promote the effectiveness of an environmental strategy within a supply chain