Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Producer societies'

This study investigated the impact of government support on growth, survival and performance of agricultural cooperatives in selected areas of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The objectives of this empirical study were to examine (1) the impact of government support on growth of cooperatives, (2) assess the impact of government support on the performance of cooperatives, (3) reviewing the impact of government support on survival of cooperatives. A total sample of 157 agricultural cooperatives which consisted of poultry, maize, goat, nursery, sheep and vegetable coops was used. Stratified random sampling technique was used and a self-administered questionnaire used to gather primary data. The primary data of the study was gathered from the cooperatives managers only as they were the targeted respondents. Gathered data went through factor analysis, anova test and correlation analysis for the statistical analysis purposefully to arrive in study findings and conclusion. The findings of the study drawn from the 66% response rate concluded that government support has a statistical significant impact on growth of cooperatives. The study also indicated that government support has a significant impact on the survival of cooperatives. It is also reported that the performance of cooperatives is significantly impacted positively by government support. The findings of the study also indicated that agricultural cooperatives are not satisfied with the present government support.

Les économies circulaires et de fonctionnalité sont souvent présentées comme des stratégies prometteuses quant à leur capacité à résoudre les problèmes environnementaux associés aux systèmes de production et de consommation actuels. Cependant, malgré les consommations d’énergie et émissions croissantes associées à la mondialisation de nos systèmes modernes, la question de la circulation reste peu abordée. Le présent travail s’attache à combler ce manque en analysant les effets de la représentation des activités humaines et des processus de circulation sous le champ de la durabilité. En s’intéressant ainsi au triptyque durabilité/chaîne d’approvisionnement/ économies circulaires et de fonctionnalités, le présent travail montre notamment la barrière à la durabilité que constitue la représentation standardisée de l’espace et du temps associée à la convention économique actuellement dominante. Ainsi, l’approche en circuit fermé de l’économie circulaire et l’approche servicielle de co-production associée à l’économie de fonctionnalité ne s’avèrent être des stratégies efficacement durables que si une approche spécifique des ressources et de la demande y est associée. Ce point a notamment été développé à travers un modèle logistique qui montre par rapport à un scénario logistique de référence une augmentation de 5% des émissions de CO2 liés au transport de marchandises entre régions françaises pour une approche générique de l’économie de fonctionnalité contre une diminution de 3% des émissions dans le cas d’une approche spécifique
Functional and circular economies are often presented as promising strategies to address the environmental issues associated with our modern production/consumption systems. Within these systems, the circulation processes themselves are usually poorly addressed, in spite of the increasing energy consumption and emissions associated with logistics under the current trends of globalization. The present thesis aims at filling this gap by analyzing the relationship between the representation of human activities and circulation processes and the issue of sustainability. Dealing with the triptych sustainability/supply chain management/circular and functional economies, the thesis shows that the standardized representation of space and time in the current dominant economic conventions acts as a barrier to the development of truly sustainable circulation processes. It finds that the closing loop approach of the circular economy and the product/service approach of the functional economy require specific definitions and policy measures for resources and demand, so that they can be considered as real sustainable strategies. This necessity to develop specific new approaches was further supported with evidence from a new logistics and freight transportation model for France. The model indicates that a generic approach towards a functional economy would lead to 5% increase of CO2 emissions (associated with French interregional traded tons) while a targeted approach would lead to a 3% reduction in comparison to the reference logistics scenario

Les économies circulaires et de fonctionnalité sont souvent présentées comme des stratégies prometteuses quant à leur capacité à résoudre les problèmes environnementaux associés aux systèmes de production et de consommation actuels. Cependant, malgré les consommations d’énergie et émissions croissantes associées à la mondialisation de nos systèmes modernes, la question de la circulation reste peu abordée. Le présent travail s’attache à combler ce manque en analysant les effets de la représentation des activités humaines et des processus de circulation sous le champ de la durabilité. En s’intéressant ainsi au triptyque durabilité/chaîne d’approvisionnement/ économies circulaires et de fonctionnalités, le présent travail montre notamment la barrière à la durabilité que constitue la représentation standardisée de l’espace et du temps associée à la convention économique actuellement dominante. Ainsi, l’approche en circuit fermé de l’économie circulaire et l’approche servicielle de co-production associée à l’économie de fonctionnalité ne s’avèrent être des stratégies efficacement durables que si une approche spécifique des ressources et de la demande y est associée. Ce point a notamment été développé à travers un modèle logistique qui montre par rapport à un scénario logistique de référence une augmentation de 5% des émissions de CO2 liés au transport de marchandises entre régions françaises pour une approche générique de l’économie de fonctionnalité contre une diminution de 3% des émissions dans le cas d’une approche spécifique
Functional and circular economies are often presented as promising strategies to address the environmental issues associated with our modern production/consumption systems. Within these systems, the circulation processes themselves are usually poorly addressed, in spite of the increasing energy consumption and emissions associated with logistics under the current trends of globalization. The present thesis aims at filling this gap by analyzing the relationship between the representation of human activities and circulation processes and the issue of sustainability. Dealing with the triptych sustainability/supply chain management/circular and functional economies, the thesis shows that the standardized representation of space and time in the current dominant economic conventions acts as a barrier to the development of truly sustainable circulation processes. It finds that the closing loop approach of the circular economy and the product/service approach of the functional economy require specific definitions and policy measures for resources and demand, so that they can be considered as real sustainable strategies. This necessity to develop specific new approaches was further supported with evidence from a new logistics and freight transportation model for France. The model indicates that a generic approach towards a functional economy would lead to 5% increase of CO2 emissions (associated with French interregional traded tons) while a targeted approach would lead to a 3% reduction in comparison to the reference logistics scenario

Product form is the principal factor that affects the consumer response. It influences the consumer preferences in many ways and affects the success of the product in the market. The response is moderated by several influences including individual tastes and preferences, personal characteristics, cultural and social context and other situational factors. The purpose of this study is to find whether gender as a personal characteristics, has an influential effect on the perception of the product form. A survey was conducted with a sample set of mobile phones. To quantify the participants&
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perceptions, semantic differential method was used in which participants were asked to rate characteristics over a set of opposite adjective pairs. It is found out that, with respect to particular adjectives, responses to product form might be significantly different for males and females.

Digital technology facilitates the conversion of protected works into a single data format making the different categories of work virtually indistinguishable. This homogeneity of data also permits the display of different kinds of works on the same platform, a phenomenon widely known and incorrectly described as "multimedia". Until recently multimedia works were manufactured almost entirely in CD-ROM or floppy disc format, however, an increasing number of multimedia works are being produced as Internet software. This changes the technical as well as the legal nature of software products bringing them closer to the true meaning of "multimedia", which will become clearer later on. The technical convergence that made digitisation possible also created the Internet infrastructure, which would permit the instantaneous delivery of multimedia products. Unfortunately, the convergence of legal rules required for the effective administration of copyright is lagging behind technological convergence, and thereby impeding the development of the Information Society. For many years the development of multimedia products was held up by a 'marketing bottleneck', which increased the length of the product development life cycle. However, with the emergence of Internet technologies, especially the World Wide Web, this bottleneck has almost disappeared. The licensing of multimedia products has always been complex due to the different rules governing copyright in particular media and the large number of rights involved in multimedia compilations. These rights are currently administered by a bureaucratic system, run mostly by national collecting societies and publishing companies. One of the main consequences of this is that authorisation must be sought in respect of each copyright work used in a multimedia product, a process which is so complex and financially risky as to prevent the production of many multimedia products. Copying technologies that make reproduction of copyright works almost effortless, along with network technologies, which give almost instantaneous access to digitised copyright works, aggravate this situation. While collecting societies may regard the system of exclusive rights which prevails in Europe as a great achievement. Those in the emergent multimedia industry regard this as an obstacle, and are therefore calling for the introduction of compulsory licensing. Currently the Commission does not demand that the collective administration of rights become the rule, but is keen to centralise the administration of individual rights. Collective administration of rights may offer a more streamline approach to rights management, but may also restrict access to information, reinforce dominant positions, and erode the position of copyright law. The scope of implied licenses to copy digital works is at present uncertain, and the situation is not likely to improve with the introduction of collective licensing. Furthermore, the use of technical solutions in rights management tends to overly favour the owner at the expense of the user. This is because such systems enable owners to claim more rights than they are entitled to under copyright law. Collecting societies are not generally keen to make the works they administer available in digital form, and even when they do, digital rights are treated as a separate class of rights for which remuneration is payable. In these ways collective administration of works can both erode copyright law and deform it. If the collective administration of works for use in multimedia is to work, there needs to be a pragmatic treatment of digital data based upon a sound knowledge technical factors and a clearly structured licensing/pricing regime. Technical solutions will only work if a broad notion of fair use is applied, since the Internet could not be used legally even if effective management/payment systems were in place. Enforcement and jurisdiction on the Internet can only be effectively realised at an international level. It is therefore vital to reinforce pertinent Articles of the Berne Convention without also unduly favouring authors and publishers. The main aims of this thesis will be to identify the factors, which inhibit the effective administration of copyright in a digitised networked environment; to assess the role of collecting societies and publishing companies in the administration of copyright in the European Union; and to identify the avenues for convergence of copyright laws regarding different forms of digitised media. In order to achieve these aims there will be a review of copyright law applicable to digitised multimedia products distributed via the Internet, the ways in which infringement of digitised copyright works occur in a networked environment will be identified, and there will be an assessment of Community legislation applicable to multimedia products. Further, the interrelation between Community level legislation and national licensing laws must be identified, the effectiveness of existing institutions that administrate the licensing of multimedia products will be evaluated, and the collective solutions to the problems associated with the licensing of digitised multimedia products distributed in a networked environment will be identified.

The combined environmental effects of technological change, increasing competition, new legislation and increasingly demanding consumers have created pressure within the financial services industry for change. One outcome has been a proliferation of new products in the marketplace. This research explores new product development within one subset of this industry -- building societies. By combining the new product development, service marketing and financial services literature, a foundation has been developed for an empirical study into the development practices and the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful new products. The determinants of success and failure for new product development have been examined utilizing a comparative methodology, and subsequently a discriminant model has been developed that successfully classifies successful and unsuccessful new products. By determining how new products are actually developed, the findings support previous claims that intangibility, inseparability, heterogeneity and perishability do have an effect on the development process. Further, the level of sophistication of the development activities is lower than in previously reported research. Notable variations from the development process for tangible new products are the inclusion of system design, system testing and personnel training stages. The majority of societies have been found to lack strategic integration of the development process, to apply different measures of success and to prefer qualitative market research techniques over quantitative approaches. As well, considerable variation exists in the organizational approaches used to manage the process, although organizational related variables were found to have a strong impact upon the predictability of a successful outcome for a new product.

The combined environmental effects of technological change, increasing competition, new legislation and increasingly demanding consumers have created pressure within the financial services industry for change. One outcome has been a proliferation of new products in the marketplace. This research explores new product development within one subset of this industry -- building societies. By combining the new product development, service marketing and financial services literature, a foundation has been developed for an empirical study into the development practices and the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful new products. The determinants of success and failure for new product development have been examined utilizing a comparative methodology, and subsequently a discriminant model has been developed that successfully classifies successful and unsuccessful new products. By determining how new products are actually developed, the findings support previous claims that intangibility, inseparability, heterogeneity and perishability do have an effect on the development process. Further, the level of sophistication of the development activities is lower than in previously reported research. Notable variations from the development process for tangible new products are the inclusion of system design, system testing and personnel training stages. The majority of societies have been found to lack strategic integration of the development process, to apply different measures of success and to prefer qualitative market research techniques over quantitative approaches. As well, considerable variation exists in the organizational approaches used to manage the process, although organizational related variables were found to have a strong impact upon the predictability of a successful outcome for a new product.

Thesis (S.M.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 2009.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-73).
Personalized medicine is the science and practice of customizing medical screening and treatment plans for an individual based on his or her genomic profile. Breast cancer is one of the first disease areas to serve as an example of this approach, where most patients have experienced its benefits through the use of genetic tests that provide decision support for health care workers regarding the likely effectiveness of specific drugs and, more broadly, the urgency of particular treatment options (for example, chemoprevention versus prophylactic surgery). Little is known about the diffusion of such personalized approaches to medical practice, particularly the factors shaping the adoption of genetic tests. While numerous medical diffusion studies have been published over the past few decades, most were univariate analyses and did not consider the unique aspects of genetic testing versus drugs. Moreover, they mainly focused on the characteristics and behaviors of physicians, patients, product manufacturers, and social networks, and did not explore the role of potentially important third parties like professional medical societies and patient groups (e.g. disease foundations and patient advocacy organizations). The aim of this thesis was to analyze the relationship between seven attributes of four breast cancer genetic tests and clinical adoption to show that standard diffusion frameworks can be enhanced through previously unstudied dimensions when evaluating personalized medicine-related innovations.
(cont.) We identified four variables that correlated with clinical adoption: 1) regulatory status, 2) inclusion in practice guidelines by professional societies, 3) explicit endorsement by patient groups, and 4) implicit endorsement by patient groups. Our findings indicate that a key overlooked element in the current literature (and potentially overlooked by the firms creating these tests) is the role of patient groups in the diffusion of novel genetic tests, in addition to endorsement from medical professional societies. These findings may add value to strategic decisions made by company executives, investors, payers, health care providers, and patients as they are presented with novel products and development opportunities in the era of personalized medicine.
by Julie Keunhee Yoo.
S.M.

Significant changes in market behavior arouse the need to adopt new processes and management tools in order to make organizations more competitive and sustainable. Tálamo and Carvalho (2004) to denote the creation of a new economic order based on the structuring of different ways regarding the management and organizational control. In this perspective Pinheiro and Silva (2010, p. 3) indicate that the cooperative has evolved and conquered their own space, defined by a new way of thinking man's labor and social development . Thus, the overall goal of this work is to identify and analyze the system management tools and internal control of a cooperative in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, proposing a theoretical model applicable to that type of organization . In order to provide the framework for knowledge needed to develop this work, we took the theoretical model of cooperative management proposed by Oliveira (2006). Associated with the management, we investigated the internal control procedures, defined by Crepaldi (2007). The methodological contribution this study was a qualitative study, based on field research procedures, descriptive and exploratory. The method was case study allowed investigation of deep theoretical and its practical applicability in the context of a cooperative. The techniques were adopted methodological collection, analysis and organization of data. To obtain answers regarding the issue were used interviews, questionnaires, document analysis and direct observation. Primarily for the analysis of the results were taken as some techniques: classification, categorization, tabulation, statistical quantitative percentage and essentially content analysis. Finally, based on this detailed account of the results, on the model of cooperative management and internal control tools practiced by Cooperative, concluded categorically that the methods, routines, procedures, activities, as well as all organizational assembly caters largely to the theoretical model proposed by Oliveira (2006) and, to a lesser degree, related to a medium degree, the model Crepaldi (2007) as being necessary and crucial for organizations embedded in dynamic and competitive markets, aiming at sustainability of its business in all fields. This all gave effective conditions so that one could propose a theoretical model applicable to cooperative that included the cooperative doctrine, organizational management and internal control.
As mudanças significativas no comportamento do mercado despertam a necessidade da adoção de novos processos e ferramentas de gestão de modo a tornar as organizações mais competitivas e sustentáveis. Tálamo e Carvalho (2004) denotam para a criação de uma nova ordem econômica, com base na estruturação de formas diferenciadas quanto à gestão e controle organizacional. Nessa perspectiva Pinheiro e Silva (2010, p. 3) assinalam que o cooperativismo evoluiu e conquistou um espaço próprio, definido por uma nova forma de pensar do homem, do trabalho e do desenvolvimento social . Dessa forma, o objetivo geral desse trabalho é identificar e analisar o sistema de gestão e as ferramentas de controle interno de uma cooperativa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, propondo um modelo teórico aplicável a esse tipo de organização . Com o intuito de oferecer o arcabouço de conhecimentos necessários para o desenvolvimento desse trabalho, tomou-se como referencial teórico o modelo de gestão de cooperativas proposto por Oliveira (2006). Associado à gestão foram investigados os procedimentos de controle interno, definidos por Crepaldi (2007). Em termos metodológicos esse trabalho teve como aporte uma pesquisa qualitativa, apoiada em procedimentos de pesquisa de campo, descritiva e exploratória. O método foi estudo de caso que permitiu a investigação profunda dos aspectos teóricos e sua aplicabilidade no contexto prático de uma cooperativa. As técnicas metodológicas adotadas foram coleta, análise e organização dos dados. Para obtenção das respostas relativas ao problema foram utilizadas entrevistas, questionários, análise documental e observação direta. Essencialmente para a análise dos resultados foram adotadas algumas técnicas como: classificação, categorização, tabulação, estatística quantitativa percentual e, essencialmente, análise de conteúdo. Por fim, com base nesse relato pormenorizado dos resultados, acerca do modelo de gestão da cooperativa e das ferramentas de controle interno praticadas pela Cooperativa, concluiu-se, categoricamente que as metodologias, as rotinas, os procedimentos, as atividades, bem como todo o conjunto organizacional atende em grande parte ao modelo teórico proposto por Oliveira (2006) e, em grau menor, ou seja, referente a um grau médio, ao modelo de Crepaldi (2007), como sendo necessários e de fundamental importância para as organizações inseridas em mercados dinâmicos e competitivos, com vistas à sustentabilidade de seus negócios em todos os campos de atuação. Isso tudo deu condições efetivas para que se pudesse propor um modelo teórico aplicável à cooperativa que contemplou a doutrina cooperativa, gestão organizacional e controle interno.

CAPES; Fundação Araucária
A crescente necessidade de pesquisas empíricas e teóricas em relação à avaliação de desempenho em sustentabilidade das operações de cooperativas agropecuárias, além da necessidade de equilíbrio econômico, social e ambiental no planejamento e gerenciamento estratégico das operações de cooperativas agropecuárias, conduz ao objetivo da pesquisa de desenvolver um modelo de avaliação de desempenho em sustentabilidade das operações de cooperativas agropecuárias. Para atender ao objetivo proposto, foi realizado um levantamento sistemático da literatura científica sobre modelos de avaliação em sustentabilidade das operações de cooperativas agropecuárias, que possibilitou identificar as características e funcionalidades dos modelos existentes e construir um mapa conceitual de indicadores e princípios mais utilizados. Para refinar e sistematizar esse conjunto de princípios orientadores universais aplicáveis para a temática, especialistas foram entrevistados e delimitaram o escopo da avaliação, bem como identificaram medidas de desempenho das operações sustentáveis para as operações de cooperativas agropecuárias o qual foi nomeado Sustainability Assessment for Agriculture Cooperatives (SAAC). Por meio de estudos de casos múltiplos usando uma metodologia comum com entrevistas, observações e análise documental foi refinado e testado o modelo SAAC. Verificou-se que os indicadores utilizados no modelo proposto estão adequados à realidade das práticas de sustentabilidade nas operações de cooperativas agropecuárias e na formulação de suas estratégias. O modelo se mostrou factível, de relativo fácil uso e útil, e pode ser à base de avaliação de desempenho sustentável das operações de cooperativas agropecuárias e fonte para elaboração e desenvolvimento de políticas sobre desenvolvimento sustentável nas cooperativas agropecuárias, melhorando sua gestão estratégica. Assim, a pesquisa contribui tanto na evolução teórica e empírica para a temática, como para as cooperativas agropecuárias, proporcionando uma base auxiliadora para iniciar um processo de avaliação de desempenho sustentável nas cooperativas agropecuárias ou retroalimentar um já existente; já para a sociedade, oportuniza a verificação de ações sustentáveis realizadas pelo setor; e para a Engenharia de Produção proporciona o entendimento com relação à temática e disponibiliza o modelo SAAC para auxilio na gestão estratégica de operações das cooperativas agropecuárias.
The growing demand for empirical and theoretical research in relation to the evaluation of the sustainability in the performance of agricultural cooperatives operations, besides the need for economic, social and environmental balance in the strategic planning and management of agricultural cooperatives operations, leads to the objective of the research to develop a model evaluation of sustainability performance of agricultural cooperatives operations. In order to meet the proposed objective, a systematic survey of the scientific literature on sustainability assessment models of agricultural cooperatives operations was carried out, which enabled the identification of the characteristics and functionalities of the existing models and a conceptual map of the most commonly used indicators and principles. To refine and systematize this set of universal guiding principles applicable to the thematic experts were interviewed and delimited the scope of the evaluation and identified measures of performance of sustainable operations for agricultural cooperative operations which was named Sustainability Assessment for Agriculture Cooperatives (SAAC). And through multiple case studies using a common methodology with interviews, observations and documentary analysis was refined and tested the SAAC model it was verified that the indicators used in the proposed model are adequate to the reality of sustainability practices in the operations of agricultural cooperatives and in formulating their strategies. The model proved to be feasible, relative ease to use and useful and can be based on the evaluation of the sustainable performance of agricultural cooperatives operations and source for the elaboration and development of policies on sustainable development in agricultural cooperatives, improving their strategic management. Thus, the research contributes both to the theoretical and empirical evolution for the theme, as well as to the agricultural cooperatives, providing an auxiliary base to initiate a process of evaluation of sustainable performance in agricultural cooperatives or to feed an existing one; while for society, it facilitates the verification of sustainable actions carried out by the sector; and for Production Engineering provides the understanding regarding the subject and arranges the SAAC model for assistance in the strategic management of operations of agricultural cooperatives.

The rapid disposal of products has detrimental effects on environment which is increasing resource consumption for the production of new products, along with the waste production. Therefore, designing long lasting products has great importance for achieving sustainable consumption and production. The present study analyzes the implications of an approach called post-use design thinking for achieving sustainable consumption and production through product longevity. To explore that approach, two educational industrial design projects are analyzed throughout the study. The results suggest that post-use design thinking should be considered at the early stages of the design process. The idea generation exercises developed specifically for this design thinking seem to be helpful in generating design solutions for post-use phase. The results also indicate that the post-use design thinking is feasible in terms of design and production for glass packaging products, which is the specific case analyzed throughout the research.

Ao longo das últimas décadas, os processos de liberalização da economia brasileira e avanço do ambientalismo geraram novas representações e políticas relativas à floresta e aos povos indígenas amazônicos. Dentro desse movimento, a comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros através, em alguns casos, de parcerias entre a Fundação Nacional do Índio e empresas passou a ser apresentada como uma ferramenta para o desenvolvimento indígena e para a conservação ambiental. Sob a perspectiva do etnodesenvolvimento, entretanto, a questão central que fundamenta a dissertação é se os regimes de produção, circulação e consumo engendrados por esse \'indigenismo público-privado\' são compatíveis com as economias políticas nativas. Para responder a esta questão, o estudo está baseado no caso dos Asuriní do Xingu, grupo Tupi incluído na parceria para a comercialização de óleo de castanha-do-pará entre a cooperativa Amazoncoop e a empresa britânica The Body Shop. A pesquisa de campo foi estruturada em dois níveis. No primeiro, por meio de entrevistas e conversas informais, foram levantadas informações sobre a história e a economia política da parceria. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que a parceria foi incapaz de romper com a assimetria de poder que caracteriza a relação entre os indígenas e a economia de mercado. No segundo nível, por meio de técnicas qualitativas (entrevistas, conversas informais, diagnóstico rural participativo) e quantitativas (surveys e observações de alocação de tempo), foram levantadas informações relativas à participação dos Asuriní na parceria, bem como os impactos da atividade sobre a economia doméstica. Nesse caso, a incompatibilidade entre o regime indígena e aquele fomentado pela parceria foi evidenciada pela escassez de alimentos no período da coleta; pela distribuição desigual dos recursos monetários entre os grupos familiares; pela acentuação do conflito entre dinheiro e reciprocidade e pelo incremento da dependência por bens industrializados. A diversidade, entretanto, das estratégias econômicas familiares, a incorporação do dinheiro pelas concepções indígenas de riqueza e a continuidade das atividades de subsistência são expressões de que a maior participação na economia de mercado tem como corolário não a \'aculturação\', mas uma transformação na forma como a sociedade indígena se reproduz.
In the last two decades, the synchronous processes of liberalisation of the Brazilian economy and the advancement of environmentalism generated new representations and policies regarding Amazonian rainforests and indigenous peoples. Within this movement, the commercialisation of non timber forest products, through, in a few cases, the implementation of partnerships between the National Indian Foundation of Brazil and companies, began to be presented as a tool for the development of indigenous societies, as well as for environmental conservation. Adopting an ethnodevelopment perspective, however, the central question posed by this dissertation is whether the regimes of production, circulation and consumption devised by this form of \'public-private indigenism are compatible with their political economies. To advance this question, this study is based on the case of the Asuriní do Xingu, a Tupi group included in the partnership for the commercialisation of Brazil-nut oil between the Amazoncoop cooperative and the UK-based company, The Body Shop. Field research was structured into two levels. At the first level, information about the history and the political economy of the partnership were gathered by means of informal interviews. Results at this level indicate the partnership has been unable of breaking down the historical asymmetry of power which characterises the relationship between indigenous societies and the market economy. At the second level, by means of qualitative and quantitative techniques of data gathering, we collected information regarding Asurinís participation in the partnership, as well as the impacts of the trade activity to their domestic economy. In this case, the incompatibility between the indigenous economic regime and that promoted by the partnership implementation was evidenced by food shortages during the harvesting period; by the unequal distribution of monetary incomes among households; by uprising conflicts as regards monetary incomes and reciprocal exchanges of goods, and by their increasing dependence on industrialised goods. Notwithstanding that, the diversity of household economic strategies, the incorporation of money into indigenous conceptualisations of wealth and the continuity of traditional subsistence practices are evidences supporting the argument that an increase in market participation is not a corollary of indigenous peoples \'acculturation\', but a transformation in their form of social reproduction.

The aim of the thesis, whose title is "Analysis of selected building societies and their products and terms of building savings loan", is to enable the general public in particular (clients or potential clients) to obtain comprehensive information about building savings, its functioning and important features, and subsequently to gain knowledge of products offered by the selected building societies operating on the Czech market. Special attention of the application part of the thesis is paid to the conditions fulfilling of which is demanded by the building companies before a loan agreement is signed. Thus the text of the thesis should give its readers knowledge of which obligations the particular building companies demand to be fulfilled before signing a loan agreement, and how these conditions differ in various building companies.

Short-term missions participants encounter difference in purportedly captivating ways. Current research, however, indicates the practice does not lead to long-lasting, positive change. Brian M. Howell (2012) argues the short-term missions experience is confined to the limitations of the short-term missions narrative. People who engage in short-term missions build assumptions, seek experiences, understand difference, and convey meaning, as a result of this narrative. The process of telling and retelling travel stories is integral to the short-term missions experience. Drawing upon literature on tourism, narrative, development, and photography, this study intends to evaluate the inefficacy of short-term missions through the stories which produce and are produced by photography. Through storytelling and photography from 21 short-term missions participants who have served in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, this project deconstructs the short-term missions narrative to understand, what is the relationship between the use of photography and the short-term missions experience? The results indicate a unique relationship between people, photography, and experiences within the framework of short-term missions.

In general, traditional co-operatives suffer from free-rider, horizon, portfolio, control and influence problems that starve them of both equity and debt capital. Evidently, the factors which constrain agricultural development also inhibit co-operative development in the former homelands. These factors include socio-economic as well as political factors operating in the environment of the cooperatives. In addition to these external factors, co-operatives have several internal problems such as inefficient management and lack of understanding of the co-operative concept and principles. The New Cooperative Act No. 14 of 2005 was an attempt at addressing these fundamental problems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent towhich cooperatives organized on the basis of this new Act have performed and to ascertainwhether or not they have met the expectations of the policy makers. In order to address these issues a structured questionnaire was used to interview 100 farmers. Farmers were divided into two groups, one group consisting of fifty members and the other fifty non-members; all these farmers were randomly selected from Ndonga and Maqhashu in Lady frère. The study investigated and profiled the socio-economic situation of the communities of Ndonga and Maqhashu with particular emphasis on the employment and poverty situations, as well as the income earning opportunities in the communities. It also undertook a comparison of the members and non-members of the co-operatives in terms of their production results under the sorghum production programmes in the two communities.The data were analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics which explain some measures of central tendency and dispersion as well as levels of significance. A t-test of independent samples was used to compare the means for the sorghum yields and revenues for non-members and members of the co-operative. Gross margin analysis was also used to determine the financial implications of cooperation for the smallholders. In addition, a multiple regression model and a discriminant function were fitted to determine the factors explaining the differences in performance of members and non-members of the cooperative society. The Gross Margin analysis shows that the cooperatives are operating at a loss, meaning they produce less with high production costs. However, the results also show that the Ndonga and Maqhashu sorghum co-operative did not benefit only its members but the whole community through significant job creation for the local population.

Growing recognition of the profound topics affecting society; including population changes, social issues, and environmental crisis; is emphasising the need for industrial designers to address additional goals beyond those associated with purely commercial targets. Industrial design consultants, however, have a myriad of complex and inter-related elements influencing their work. This thesis investigates those influences and offers a portrayal of what affects industrial design consultants addressing more responsible design goals within their commercial remits. It reviews the literature relating to the nature and role of industrial design, and its relationship with society s larger needs. From this, it expounds the methodology underpinning the investigation, and describes the phases involved. Two main studies were undertaken to pursue the research objectives: an explorative workshop involving 19 participants from design practice and academia; and a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews involving a total of 31 industrial design consultants, leading academics, and design-related strategic consultants. From the analysis of the data, three sets of key observations and theory are presented in the thesis. The first set of findings examines the range of influencing factors acting on the consultant and their work by depicting the characteristics of the main elements constructing the product creation context. The second and principal set of findings identifies what determines the possibility for consultants to incorporate responsible design goals within their work. Using a framework derived from the analysis, and drawing on interview data for empirical backing, it expands on six key areas, identifying a critical determining factor for each. The third set of outcomes combines the findings from the primary data with existing knowledge on design actions and behavioural theory, to depict the formation of an industrial design consultant s behaviour and their tendencies towards responsible design. In this way, the research offers a thorough investigation of what affects industrial design consultants addressing more responsible design goals, by considering the characteristics of their circumstances; the determination of their possibility to act; and what shapes their individual behaviour.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências Jurídico-Forenses apresentada à Faculdade de Direito
“There’s only one great occupation that can change the world: that’s real rock and roll.” A frase é de Lou Reed, célebre compositor e membro fundador da banda The Velvet Underground. É provocatória, apesar de o seu alcance ser mais conceitual do que realista, na verdade. Inquestionável é que outras forças motrizes podem mudar e fazer avançar o mundo, mas o músico norte-americano referia-se a uma muito particular forma de mudança: aquela que tem lugar dentro do indivíduo. Lou vinha de um tempo diferente. Os ventos mudaram, a tinta no papel transformou-se em pixéis e os discos em bits, mas o espírito do rock ‘n’ roll perdurou e continua a personificar o mesmo pedigree que é comum a todas as grandes obras de Arte: a capacidade de desafiar o status quo e adaptá-lo às exigências da modernidade, incitar ao pensamento, defender a liberdade de expressão, promover ideais de justiça, igualdade de oportunidades, tolerância, e acima de tudo, liberdade. O código genético da Música (aqui epitomizada pelo rock, mas de que são exemplos tantos outros géneros) não é, afinal, assim tão diferente do do Direito. Apesar de diferirem quanto à escolha dos instrumentos de trabalho, carregam ambos em si a urgência de procurar e disseminar valores profundamente democráticos, numa tarefa que pretende ser o mais inovadora possível. O Direito sempre foi, e sempre será, uma parte integrante da Cultura, e é neste ponto de convergência que surge esta dissertação. A Música é uma forma de Arte que há muito nos acompanha enquanto seres sencientes. Reflexo directo da forma como o Homem se vê e vê o mundo que o rodeia, é possível traçar uma fidelíssima linha cronológica da História da humanidade ao estudar a evolução dos movimentos e tendências musicais ao longo dos tempos. E enquanto forma artística particularmente etérea, cuja existência no plano físico é bem mais subjectiva do que as restantes formas de expressão artística, questões jurídicas muito particulares se levantam, desde o momento em que a obra musical sai da "mão" do autor e chega ao ouvinte. Estamos, no fundo, a colocar dimensões jurídicas num som, e em qualquer som, que algures, alguém, estará interessado em ouvir. Esta dissertação partirá deste mote para se focar nas especificidades dos direitos de autor musicais, e mais concretamente, nos mecanismos a que se recorre para a protecção dos mesmos. E a Música, como sempre, enfrenta hoje os mesmos desafios da restante sociedade: uma sociedade de informação que não conhece fronteiras. Nos dias que correm, mais do que nunca, todos conseguimos, remotamente, ter acesso a um inacreditável arquivo de obras musicais, de todos os tempos e de todos os autores. Um feito notável para todos nós consumidores, mas onde pelo meio, perdido algures nas invisíveis ondas de rádio ou bits num qualquer servidor, ficou um emaranhado de direitos autorais. O desafio que aqui se propõe é precisamente o de deslindar este novelo. Percorrer os regimes contratuais de edição mais (e menos) comuns para compositores e autores, aludindo não apenas ao nosso sistema nacional pautado pela europeização, mas também a figuras jurídicas características de ordenamentos jurídicos estrangeiros. Questionarmo-nos sobre o papel das editoras discográficas nos dias de hoje: na mesma medida em que podem ser uma rampa de lançamento para muitos autores, podem também agir dissimuladamente contra os mesmos, subvertendo o espírito dos direitos de autor, e recorrendo a expedientes legais duvidosos para sequestrar para si mesmas lucros pelo trabalho dos artistas. Áreas cinzentas, onde há a necessidade de proteger os direitos do autor, mesmo contra aqueles que os deveriam proteger a princípio. Ainda, uma oportunidade para abordar a questão dos desafios da transição digital na música, e do decrescente papel das grandes "labels" nesta área, com o advento das novas tecnologias, em que cada vez mais se dilui a necessidade de um intermediário. Também uma ocasião para questionar os problemas suscitados por esta realidade de uma perspectiva crítica, e compará-los com as vantagens dos modelos tradicionais de distribuição. É que, afinal de contas, os serviços de streaming vieram fazer-nos repensar o conceito de "ter" e de "comprar" música. O que se agrava ainda mais se ponderarmos os perigos que a acessibilidade imediata, potenciada pelo streaming, acarreta para uma possível desvalorização da obra artística em si, com consequências danosas para a protecção do autor. Por fim, questionamo-nos (ou melhor dizendo, adensamos a discussão…) sobre o papel que terão as famigeradas entidades de gestão colectiva numa sociedade cada vez mais digital e intolerante à falta de transparência. Tudo isto, sempre num prisma dinâmico, retrospectivo e prospectivo, olhando para a frente sem esquecer o passado, nesta bissectriz entre a intangibilidade da Arte e a concretude do Direito, e harmonizando o emocional com o racional.
“There’s only one great occupation that can change the world: that’s real rock and roll.” The quote’s author is Lou Reed, famous songwriter and member of the band The Velvet Underground. It’s a provocative statement, despite the fact that its scope is more conceptual than realistic. It is unquestionable that other driving forces can change the world, but the north-american musician was referring to a very particular form of change: the one that takes place within the individual. Lou came from a very different time. Meanwhile, the winds have changed, ink on paper became pixels, and records turned into bits, but the rock ‘n’ roll spirit has endured and it still embodies the same pedigree that is common to all great works of art: the ability to challenge the status quo, to adapt it to the needs of modernity, to provoke thought, defend freedom of speech and promote ideals of justice, equal opportunities, tolerance, and above all, freedom. Music’s genetic code (here described as rock music, but of which so many other genres are equally great exemples) is, after all, not so different from that of Law. Despite differing when it comes to the choice of working materials, both carry the urgency in seeking and disseminating democractic values, in the most effective and innovative way achievable. Law has always been, and always will be, an integral part of Culture. This dissertation is born in this convergence point.Music is an art form that has been with us, as sentient beings, for a long time. Being a direct reflection of the way Man looks at Himself and sees the world around Him, it is possible to sketch a very faithful timeline of the History of humanity by studying the evolution of musical tendencies over time.And as a particularly ethereal artistic form, which’s existence on the physical world is much more subjective than other forms of artistic expression, there are very particular legal questions that arise from the moment the musical work leaves the artist's "hand", to the instant it reaches the listener. We are, at heart, attributing legal dimensions to a sound: to any sound, that somewhere, someone, will be interested in listening to.This dissertation will start from this motto to focus on the specificities of musical author rights, and more specifically, on the mechanisms used for its protection. And Music today, as it always has, faces the same challenges as the rest of society: a society of information that knows no borders. These days, more than ever, we’re all able to remotely have access to an incredible archive of musical works, from all times and from all authors. A remarkable feat for all of us consumers indeed, but in between, lost somewhere among the invisible radio waves or the bits stored on any server, a tangle of author rights was left behind. The challenge proposed here is to unravel this skein.We’ll go through the most (and the least) common contractual regimes for composers and authors, alluding not only to our national laws, inspired by european tendencies, but also to foreign legal systems. Then, we’ll ask ourselves about the role of record companies and publishers today: although they can act as a launching pad for many authors, they can also covertly act against them, subverting the spirit of author rights, and resorting to dubious legal tactics to hijack profits from the artists' work. Gray areas, where there is a need to protect author’s rights, even from those who should be protecting them in the first place. Furthermore, the present dissertation serves as an opportunity to address the challenges posed by digital evolutions in Music, and by the decreasing role of the so-called “big labels”, caused by the invention of new technologies, diluting the need for a middleman. It is also an occasion to question these topics from a critical standpoint, and to compare them to the advantages of the traditional distribution models. After all, streaming services have made us rethink the concept of "owning" and "purchasing" Music, which can be problematic considering the dangers that immediate accessibility (enhanced by streaming) entails for a possible devaluation of the artistic work itself, with harmful consequences to the protection of the authors. Finally, we ask ourselves (or rather, we deepen the discussion…) about the role that the infamous collecting societies will have in an increasingly digital society, intolerant to the lack of transparency. All this, in a dynamic retrospective and prospective approach, looking forward without forgetting the past, in this bisector between the intangibility of Art and the concreteness of Law, and harmonizing the emotional with the rational.

The primary goal of development is to alleviate poverty, and thus improve people's lives. Co-operatives around the world are becoming used more regularly as a vehicle for such development. However, as a result of economic pressures, co-operatives have changed over the years, reflecting a more business-like approach in order to compete in a competitive market. As a result certain types of co-operatives come under the banner of 'new wave' co-operatives. This dissertation examines two such co-operatives and analyses what social and economic benefits accrue to individuals as a result of participating in rural co-operatives. It also reflects upon the 'managed' status of the co-operative and its implication for members.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1999.

Cooperatives are a means through which farmers may gain economic power by reducing unit transaction costs associated with production, marketing and distribution of products. In South Africa, cooperatives are promoted as a means of advancing economic development in rural areas through empowerment, development of income generating activities, improvement of human resource capacity, and increased savings and investment. The new Cooperatives Act 14 of 2005 was enacted in August 2005 to promote the role of cooperatives as organisations for pro-poor development in South Africa and to increase their chance of survival in the economy. This study uses a New Institutional Economics (NIE) framework to analyse the Cooperatives Act and its worth as a vehicle for promoting pro-poor development. A hypothetical cooperative, predicated by the new Act, was analysed using the NIE to identify institutional problems likely to constrain the collective efforts of small producers. A case study approach was then used to analyse three production cooperatives in KwaZulu-Natal that were registered post August 2005 and still operational in 2008. Interviews were conducted with individual members, directors and project managers (where applicable) between May and July 2008. Open-ended questions provided the flexibility needed to explore the institutional roots of problems identified by respondents. Free-rider, horizon, portfolio, control and influence problems were identified in the case studies. These problems, which stem from ill-defined voting and benefit rights, resulted in low equity investment, low investment in long term assets, a preference for current cash flows rather than future investment, and social conflict – all of which constrained the competitiveness and growth prospects of the cooperatives studied. In an attempt to mitigate these problems, two of the cooperatives shed their poorest members, a solution which is not consistent with the objective of pro-poor economic development. Additionally, two cooperatives opted to create their own rules to reward investors with capital gains - an institutional arrangement that is not permitted by the new Act. It is concluded that the new Act should be amended to give cooperatives greater flexibility in their institutional arrangements. In particular, cooperatives should be allowed to issue tradable equity shares that offer benefits proportional to shareholding. If these tradable equity shares carry voting rights and are offered to non-patron investors, aggregate voting rights conferred on these non-patron investors should be capped to prevent loss of control by patron members. It is further recommended that the same level of start-up support should be made available to all producer groups that formally register their business, regardless of the business model chosen, and that member empowerment should be an essential requirement for registration and public funding. Keywords: Agricultural Cooperatives, Cooperatives Act, New Institutional Economics, Case Study
Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

M.Tech. Business Administration. Business School.
he greatest challenge that the City of Tshwane is facing lies in achieving the target growth rate set by ASGISA (Accelerated Shared and Growth Initiative), the latter being a national initiative, by enabling communities to become active participants within the growing economy. One of the enablers that were identified by the Municipality was co-operatives. The successful implementation of the co-operative model within the City of Tshwane will depend on the correct guidance provided by the Municipality to the co-operatives as opposed to dictating the terms of business to the members. These findings will be based in best practice models as found world-wide. The primary objective of this dissertation is to research the legal impact of the Co-operatives Act of 2005 on the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality's Co-operative Strategy as a vehicle for local economic development.

This dissertation investigates the impact of institutional and governance factors on the performance of 10 selected smallholder agricultural cooperatives (case studies) in KwaZulu- Natal (KZN). All the selected cooperatives were traditionally structured (e.g., one-member, one-vote system). Due to logistical and administrative constraints, the selected smallholder cooperatives were drawn from the EThekwini and UMgungundlovu Districts (the latter comprising of two sub-districts, namely Camperdown and Msunduzi), which incorporate the major cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Five of the cooperatives grow and market vegetables, three produce and market poultry, one is a beef production cooperative and another operates a bakery. Information from the interviews suggests that members of the selected smallholder cooperatives do not fully understand cooperative principles and have high expectations of potential benefits of being members. Descriptive analysis of the case studies describes total membership of each selected cooperative; average number of management meetings per month; gender and age composition of cooperative members; the characteristics of chairpersons of these cooperatives (e.g., gender, age and education); the initial capital structure of these cooperatives; annual turnover; growth opportunities; and institutional and governance factors influencing the performance of these cooperatives. The results of a cluster analysis suggest that the performance of the selected smallholder cooperatives is influenced by institutional and governance problems. Institutional problems give rise to low levels of equity and debt capital, reliance on government funding, low levels of investment, and subsequent loss of members. Governance problems are strongly linked to the absence of secret ballot, low levels of education, lack of production and management skills training, weak marketing arrangements and consequent low returns to members as patrons or investors. The conclusion is that appropriate institutional arrangements and good governance are important to the performance of enterprises initiated by groups of smallholders. South Africa’s new Cooperatives Act prevents smallholder cooperatives from adopting good institutional arrangements. Alternative ownership structures such as close corporations and private companies offer better institutional arrangements and opportunities for equity-sharing partnerships.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Collective smallholder farming has been widely promoted as a vehicle for smallholder agricultural development in South Africa. As a result, agricultural co-operative registrations in South Africa are increasing. However, research suggests that South African co-operatives have generally not been effective, successful and functional. This study investigated the elements constituting an effective and functional primary agricultural co-operative among three smallholder agricultural co-operatives. It is expected that identification of these elements may enable institutions that offer support to co-operatives make better decisions to improve smallholder farming through primary agricultural co-operatives. Understanding of these elements could inform the efforts for members of co-operatives to achieve their set objectives and thus improve smallholder agriculture profitability. Three rural agricultural co-operatives in the Local Municipalities of Mooi-Mpofana, Mkhambathini, and Richmond in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality were purposively selected for the study because they were registered agricultural co-operatives. Inyamvubu Co-operative (from Mooi-Mpofana) was larger in membership, and well established compared to Umphumela (from Mkhambathini) and Ingwe-Mndeni (from Richmond). The sample included the purposively selected members and non-members of agricultural co-operatives to explore the differences and provide insight to the knowledge, opinions and perceptions of collective farming. A framework for analysing the effectiveness of agricultural co-operatives was developed using literature of objectives of agricultural co-operatives, success factors of smallholder agriculture and organisational effectiveness. This framework was used to analyse the effectiveness of the three co-operatives. Focus group discussions, Force Field Analysis and a survey were used for data collection. The study revealed that the three co-operatives have clearly defined group objectives aligned to those set out by the South African government. The main identified objectives of farming for the three co-operatives included; creation of employment and income generating activities, improving access to funding, strengthening market access and strengthening human and community development. Activities carried out by the three co-operatives took advantage of opportunities in the value chain including production, marketing, and transportation of produce to markets. However, farmers’ activities were hampered by a number of constraints. Production capability of the three co-operatives was hampered by resource constraints such as lack of access to land, machinery and equipment, finances and information relevant to production. Marketing, transportation and financial management capability of the three co-operatives was hampered by poor networking skills, poor infrastructure and low literacy levels. Management capability in the three co-operatives was challenged by complex group dynamics characterised by conflict of opinions and issues related to free-rider, horizon, and portfolio problems. Low capability of the three co-operatives to mobilise resources, use the limited resources available and low capability to manage institutional arrangements rendered the co-operatives ineffective in achieving their set objectives. The study recommends strategies for ensuring the effectiveness of agricultural co-operatives. These include strategies for addressing internal and external issues affecting the co-operatives. Direct intervention from government was recommended to improve production through revising land allocation systems, improving extension services and strict monitoring of effective use of government resources provided to farmers. Government should improve access and training to relevant technologies to improve the processing and packaging capabilities of co-operatives. Marketing and management activities should be supported through provision of improved infrastructure and relevant training. Farmers themselves should consider pooling resources for market rental of crop land, engage in value added activities, and develop informed marketing programs and cost-effective distributing mechanisms. Farmers should elect an effective board of members that will ensure enforcement of agreements and constitution.
Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Kooperasies, as werktuie ter doelwitbereiking vir graanprodusente, het sedert hul totstandkoming onderskeibare ontwikkelingsfases deurgegaan. Die toepassing van kooperasie as mededingingstrategie deur graanprodusente is grootliks bei"nvloed deur die veranderings wat tydens die ontwikkelingsfases voorgekom het. Aksies wat in die loop van hierdie ontwikkellngsfases ingestel was, het mettertyd onduidelikhede oor die bestaansgrondslag van die kooperasies laat ontstaan. Die klJmaat van politieke veranderings wat tans in die land heers, kan ook belangrike veranderings meebring ten opsigte van die grondslag waarop kooperasies funksioneer. Pie uitwerking van die verwagte veranderings kan kooperasies forseer om strategiese aanpassings in hul strukture te maak ten einde steeds suksesvol te kan bly voortbestaan. · Graanprodusente verkeer in 'n posisie wat vereis dat daar besin moet word oor strategiee wat gevolg kan word ten einde steeds suksesvol in die onsekere markomstandighede mee te ding. Die toepassing van kooperasie as mededingingstrategie waarvolgens graanprodusente deur lidmaatskap van die kooperasies in die mark deelgeneem het, kom nou ook onder die loep. Die hoofprobleem waarop daar dus in hierdie studie gefokus word, is om te bepaal of kooperasie as mededingingstrategie geskik is om die individuele en kollektiewe belange van graanprodusente te bevorder. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die studie is: Graanprodusente voorsien dat kooperasie individuele graanprodusente se markoptrede kan versterk. Graanprodusente is van mening dat hulle deur middel van kooperasie wat manifesteer in selfstandige besigheidsondernemings, genaamd ''kooperasies", 'n positiewe invloed vir graanprodusente op die mark kan uitoefen. Daar kcan nie 'n beduidende negatiewe, of positiewe persepsie oor onderlinge mededinging en die invloed wat die vryemarkbedeling daarop uitoefen, by graanprodusente gei"dentifiseer word nie. Dit blyk egter dat sommige graanprodusente die vryemarkbedeling as 'n belangrike markfaktor bejeen. Ander graanprodusente huldig 'n meer buigsame benadering jeens die vryemarkbedeling. Graanprodusente is, met enkele klemverskille, van mening dat die kooperasies nie daarin slaag om die tradisionele kooperasiebeginsels in die wyse waarop kooperasies hul besigheid bedryf, volledig toe te pas nie. Graanprodusente het oor die algemeen gesien duidelike menings oor die noodsaaklikheid daa.rvan dat die staat nie by die graanbedryf meet inmeng nie. Ander tipes ondersteuningstrategiee, soos die oprigting van beslote korporasies of maatskappye, geniet wisselende steun. 'n Beduidende groep graanprodusente is onseker oor moontlikhede om maatskappye met kapitaalgroei as basis te skep, om sodoende in geheel met kooperasies weg te doen.
Co-operatives have experienced distinguishable changes. The application of co-operation as a competitive strategy by g~in producers was largely influenced by the changes. The prevailing political changes can also instigate important changes with regard to co-operatives. Grain producers must revise strategies to maintain successful competition in the market. The study investigates co-operation as a competitive strategy to advance the individual and collective interests of grain producers, Findings are: Grain producers are convinced that co-operation enhances the market related actions of individual grain producers. Grain producers can, through co-operation, exercise a positive influence in the market. No definite negative or positive perception concerning the influence of the free market system upon mutual competition could be identified. Grain producers are convinced that the state should not interfere with the grain industry.
Business Management
M. Admin. (Business Management)