A Systems Thinking Approach to the Structure, Conduct and Performance of the Agricultural Sector in Ghana

Banson, Kwamina Ewur; Nguyen, Nam C.; Bosch, Ockie J.H.

doi:10.1002/sres.2437

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…)ndeed, when applied to the framing of problems, systems thinking helps to decompose them and analyze them from different perspectives, capturing differences in viewpoints and roles between stakeholders. In this sense, as Banson et al (2018: state, systems thinking is a framework for taming complexity […] [and] foster[ing] maximum collaboration [amongst] all […] stakeholders . As such, it is increasingly seen as an integral dimension of a sustainable global bioeconomy.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The challenge of systemic food change: Insights from cities

Sonnino

Tegoni

Cunto

2019

Cities

130

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IntroductionOne of the most distinctive features of food policy is arguably its fragmentation. Researchers have widely demonstrated that food policies, where they exist, are characterized by a siloed or sector-based) approach that fails to recognize the structural interdependencies between food and other resources (particularly water and energy) and between food and other sectors (e.g., the environment, housing, transportation, waste management, infrastructure, etc.) (Lang and Barling, 2012;Artioli et al., 2017;Mendes and Sonnino, 2018). Part of the problem is that food sits within a global governance context that is also very fragmented, with responsibilities, jurisdictions and priorities often spread across a broad range of organizations and institutionsnone of which has the capacity to address problems holistically (von Braun, 2009;Candel, 2014;McKeon, 2015;Moragues-Faus et al., 2017).The literature has extensively criticized the inconsistencies, overlaps and gaps (Slade et al., 2016: 37) produced by fragmented food policies and governance, calling for enhanced coherence and coordination to ensure that food initiatives contribute to shared goals and outcomes (Misselhorn et al., 2012;Pereira and Ruysenaar, 2012). In all, however, this body of research has failed to become transformative; as Candel (2014: 598) explains, scholarship in this area has remained mostly abstract and normativethat is, it focuses on what an ideal food governance context should look like, rather than how it is actually functioning. In addition to being constrained by the paucity of evidence-based studies, academic debates on food policy tend to be framed within specific disciplinary discourses that emphasize very different threats, priorities and scales of intervention. As Eakin at al. (2017: 760) have recently pointed out, there is relatively little literature that addresses food system sustainability from a truly comprehensive perspective, encompassing the diversity of food system activities, drivers and outcomes .Urban areas are emerging as important empirical contexts to progress debates on the nature and functioning of food systems and to understand the scope for a policy engagement with them. As researchers are beginning to note, multi-actor urban governance coalitions are seeking to enroll pre-existing fragmented initiatives by scaling up food-related activities and advocacy to address broader policy concerns (Mansfield and Mendes, 2013;Cretella and Buenger, 2016). Cities, in other words, are becoming strategic transition nodes that can exploit the policy vacuum created by the absence of comprehensive, coherent and integrated national and supra-national food policies to develop more sustainable food systems. Indeed, academic literature suggests that city governments in both the global North and the global South are imposing themselves as the optimal scale for food policy innovation, often through the adoption of an integrated and systemic approach (Rocha and Lessa, 2009;Sonnino, 2016 andArtioli et al., 2017). To date, however, n...

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confidence: 99%

The challenge of systemic food change: Insights from cities

Sonnino

Tegoni

Cunto

2019

Cities

130

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“…As mentioned above, the results obtained have implications for RAMSAR sites. Regarding the Env variable, some common points were found with the work of Banson et al [15], Van Dyk and Pretorius [16], and Nikolaou et al [19], as the results indicate that the environment largely dictates the organisation of operational units to support the global strategy. In contrast to the aforementioned contributions, this study considers it necessary to delimit and articulate operational units using the VSM criteria to provide a distinctive and flexible structure to RAMSAR sites to comply with sustainable performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…S5: Provides general guidance to the organisation. Its base is established according to the ethos, values and policies established by the RAMSAR Convention and are directed under the National Commission of Protected Areas [15] (CONANP, for its acronym in Spanish) to integrate a sustainable approach. For decision-making, this subsystem is based on information delivered by S4, which considers a balance between the variety of the environment and the information delivered by S3, to set up the dynamics, learning, adaptation and self-organisation of the total system.…”

Section: Structuring Sustainable Performance Through the Vsmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the above ideas, authors such as Bansal and DesJardine [5], Banson et al ], Van Dyk and Pretorius [16], Fiksel [17]; Haywood et al [18] and Nikolaou [19], stress the need generate contributions under a comprehensive perspective that seeks short-term interventions and From Figure 1, it is apparent that the study of sustainability is considered as relevant and not only limited to environmental issues but also to the participation and impact generated by organisations. Considering the above ideas, authors such as Bansal and DesJardine [5], Banson et al [15], Van Dyk and Pretorius [16], Fiksel [17]; Haywood et al [18] and Nikolaou [19], stress the need to generate contributions under a comprehensive perspective that seeks short-term interventions and long-term improvements. Under this guidance, some contributions explore the application of systemic tools to reinforce the ability to meet their future needs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Systems Thinking Approach to Sustainable Performance in RAMSAR Sites

et al. 2019

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This article explores and validates the integrated use of the viable system model (VSM) and the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) approach to assess the sustainable management of RAMSAR sites carrying out economic activities. This work adopts a systems-thinking approach integrating systemic methodologies in three phases: (1) the VSM was first used to develop a conceptual model of the organisational problem; (2) PLS-PM was used to propose a construct to outline a solution, as well as to statistically validate the relationships proposed in the conceptual model; finally, (3) through the VSM, the relationships between actors were rethought in order to promote sustainable performance. The results obtained suggest that the joint use of VSM and PLS-PM is an effective approach that aids in the identification of relational and structural pathologies affecting the observed RAMSAR systems. It also proved useful to suggest that relationships can lead to the sustainable performance of the sites under study. It should be noted that the framework of systemic tools is constrained in its application to the organisational domain: assessing two RAMSAR areas in Mexico. Methodologically, this is the first application of the integrated use of VSM and PLS-PM to analyse the management and viability/sustainability of RAMSAR areas from an organisational perspective, opening a new avenue for the analysis and optimisation of management of such areas. This study provides tools to support actors and academics related to RAMSAR sites and opens up a discussion on how to rethink the organisational interactions in order to improve RAMSAR sites’ adaptive capabilities.

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“…Livestock rearing provides the household with a wide range of benefits, such as cash income, food, manure, draft power and hauling services, savings and insurance, and social status [2]. The livestock farming sector, including piggery remains critically important for millions of people in developing countries including Ghana and developments within this sector are most important in terms of attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs), goals of no poverty [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategic Management for Systems Archetypes in the Piggery Industry of Ghana—A Systems Thinking Perspective

Banson

Nguyen

Sun

et al. 2018

Systems

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Ghana is predominantly an agricultural country with a clear majority of its population depending partly or fully on agriculture for their livelihoods. Pork consumption in Ghana is on the increase and the livestock industry is a key sector of alternative agri-business for farmers looking for profitable business ventures and household income. The growth of Ghana’s domestic piggery industry has been impeded by several constraints such as inadequate information, lack of improved breeding stock, land limitations, rising feed cost and water availability. In this research, systems models provide an understanding of the interconnectedness and relationships present within the piggery industry of Ghana. The Industry’s problems were pooled together and key factors identified, whose behavior over time causes problems by developing various individual two-loop system archetypes coupled with a list of sustainable management strategies. Also, the individual variables affecting the industry were consolidated to obtain a causal loop structure and behavior-over-time graph of the piggery industry. The system archetype developed here is generic enough to explain any productivity decline and business rivalry behavior of any agribusiness industry. The proposed archetype can also help farm managers and producers to make various decisions. The system archetypes contribute effectively to understanding the root cause of challenges rather than providing quick fixes ‘now’ which gives rise to a much bigger problem to fix ‘later’. Application of CLDs models and system archetypes can help farmers and policy makers understand the behaviour of the entire complex piggery systems that will aid in more clarity and consistency in decisions and policy objectives. This will close the gap of inadequate information both to farmers and policy makers and governance. Through the archetypes and the CLDs, it has been identified that using a systemic approach in addressing the problems could lead to the provision of adequate data and management strategies for effective decision making for improving the piggery/livestock industry.

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A Systems Thinking Approach to the Structure, Conduct and Performance of the Agricultural Sector in Ghana

Cited by 34 publications

References 43 publications

The challenge of systemic food change: Insights from cities

The challenge of systemic food change: Insights from cities

Systems Thinking Approach to Sustainable Performance in RAMSAR Sites

Strategic Management for Systems Archetypes in the Piggery Industry of Ghana—A Systems Thinking Perspective

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