1 / 12

Diffusion of Innovative Organizational Structures in Saskatchewan's New Agriculture Symposium

This paper explores the diffusion of innovative organizational structures in Saskatchewan's agriculture sector, focusing on manufacturing processes, systems approach, coordination, power dynamics, and the role of information. Case studies on inland grain terminals, hog barns, and co-operatives are examined, with a discussion on influencing factors such as economies of scale, path dependence, and social cohesion. The study highlights the need for concerted development efforts and network of agents to facilitate the adoption of new organizational forms.

buckmaster
Télécharger la présentation

Diffusion of Innovative Organizational Structures in Saskatchewan's New Agriculture Symposium

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Diffusion of Innovative Organizational Structures in Saskatchewan's New Agriculture Symposium 2002 June 5, 2002 University of Alberta Roger Herman

  2. Saskatchewan’s New Agriculture • manufacturing processes; • a systems approach to production and distribution; • separation and realignment of the stages in the food chain; • negotiated coordination among these stages; • concerns about system power and control; • new kinds of risk, and; • a more important role for information (Boehlje 1996)

  3. Diffusion of Innovation

  4. Organizational Form(Case Studies) • Producer-owned inland grain terminals • Community-based hog barns • New Generation Co-operatives

  5. Common Features • Intended to address features of “new” agriculture • Significant producer investment • Opportunity for community investment

  6. Influencing Factors Examined • Economies of Scale • Path Dependence • Social Cohesion

  7. Economies of Scale • Familiarity • Risk Reduction • Professional Infrastructure • Cost reduction • Replication = Efficiency

  8. Path Dependence • Increasing Returns • Knowledge Intensive Industry • Initial Advantage • Not necessarily efficient • Positive Feedback Loop • Results in “Lock-In”

  9. Social Cohesion (dimensions) • Belonging ……… Isolation • Inclusion ……… Exclusion • Participation ……... Non-involvement • Recognition ……… Rejection • Legitimacy ……… Illegitimacy • Equality ……… Inequality • (Jenson, 1998 and Bernard, 1999)

  10. Observations • Choice is influenced by combination of factors • Economies of scale and path dependence most influential during response to crisis • Social cohesion can explain initial “nudge” leading to path dependence • Social cohesion can also provide requisite “jolt” to exit from lock-in

  11. So what? • Introduction of new organizational forms requires: • Concerted and planned development effort • Network of development agents • Some jolt to exit from “lock-in”

  12. Roger Herman • Roger.Herman@usask.ca • http://coop-studies.usask.ca

More Related