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A transaction cost analysis of the fruit supply chain in South Africa : a case study approach

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The agro-food sector is swiftly moving towards an internationally interconnected
system with a large variety of complex relationships, due to year-round supply,
product differentiation and developments in information technologies, with the aim
of enhancing competitiveness. In this context, vertical linking in the agro-food
business especially, vertical coordination has gained attention.
A case study approach is used to analyse two fruit supply chains -the table grape
and citrus fruit chain. The study uses a transaction cost approach to analyse the
supply chain of the fruit industry in South Africa. Transaction cost analysis (TCA)
represents one possible approach to understanding and evaluating supply chain
management and has the potential to be combined in an interdisciplinary setting
with the insights provided by the marketing, logistics and organisational behaviour
literatures.
By means of literature study, constructs are identified that help explain the choices
made, with regard to governance structures and the sources of competitiveness of
supply chains. The question of governance structures is addressed in transaction
cost economics (TCE) where asset specificity is of major importance. The sources
of competitiveness are addressed both in the literature study and from discussions
undertaken with key industry representatives.
The empirical application of the TCE theory helped demonstrate the extent to
which the exporter has adapted to changes in the global environment. The study
revealed that for both supply chains, the role-players overcompensate to minimise
their risk. Hence vertical integration rather than outsourcing takes precedence.
Bilateral contracting and strategic alliances should be given priority to enhance
effective communication, commitment and collective decision-making. This growing
recognition of the competitive advantage that can be gained through improving
coordination in the supply chain is the starting point for SCM initiatives and, these
are important signals that in the long run will determine the sustainability and
competitiveness of the industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die landbou-voedsel sektor is vinnig besig om na 'n internasionale interafhanklike
stelsel met 'n groat verskeidenheid van ingewikkelde verhoudings te beweeg, as
gevolg van heel-jaar aanbod, produk differensiasie en ontwikkeling in tegnologie,
met die doel om meer mededingend te wees. In hierdie konteks geniet vertikale
skakelinge in die landbou-voedsel bedryf, en veral vertikale koordinasie, baie
aandag.
'n Gevalle studie benadering is gevolg om twee vrugte waardekettings te analiseer
-die tafeldruiwe en sitrus ketting. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n transaksie koste
benadering om die waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugte bedryf te
analiseer. Transaksie koste analiese (TKA) verteenwoordig een moontlike
benadering om waardekettingbestuur te verstaan en te evalueer. Dit het oak die
potensiaal om gekombineer te word in 'n interdissiplinere omgewing met insigte
wat deur bemarking, logistiek en organisatoriese gedrags literatuur verskaf word.
Konstruksies is met behulp van literatuur studies ge"identifiseer wat help om die
keuses wat gemaak is met betrekking tot bestuurstrukture en die bran van
mededingendheid van waardekettings. Die kwessie van bestuurstrukture word
aangespreek deur transaksie koste ekonomie (TKE) waarin bate-spesifiekheid van
groat belang is. Die bran van mededingendheid is aangespreek deur beide
literatuur te bestudeer en deur besprekings met sleutel-figure in die bedryf.
Die empiriese toepassing van die TKE teorie help om die mate waarin die
uitvoerder aangepas het tot veranderinge in die globale omgewing aan te toon. Die
studie bewys dat firmas in beide waardekettings oorkompenseer vir transaksie
koste deur vertikale integrasie in plaas van kontrakte.
Bilaterale kontrakterings en strategiese vennootskappe moet prioriteit geniet om
effektiewe kommunikasie, verpligtinge en kollektiewe besluitneming te verbeter.
Die groeiende erkenning wat gegee word aan mededingende voordeel wat gewen
kan word deur koordinasie in die waardeketting te verbeter is die begin punt vir
ketting initiatiewe en, dit is belangrike seine wat die volhoubaarheid en
mededingendheid van die bedryf in die lang termyn sal bepaal.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49864
Date12 1900
CreatorsFundira, Takudzwa
ContributorsKaraan, A. S. M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgricSciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format83 p. : ill., map
RightsStellenbosch University

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