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Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector

Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Holland, Mike
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Holland, Mike
author_browse Holland, Mike
author_facet Holland, Mike
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:32.074Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/90850 Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector Holland, Mike ichelp@gibs.co.za Swart, Divan UCTD Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2022. This research project aims to investigate and analyse the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the vertical boundary strategies of firms in the South African agricultural sector (SAAS). It attempts to determine how firms have adapted to the disruption of vertical supply chains during periods of deep uncertainty. Vertical integration is regarded as a "paradigm" problem for explaining firm- and market organisation in modern economics. Considering global dynamics and food security concerns, SAAS should revisit strategic and economic practices. It is essential to analyse how firms have adapted vis-à-vis disruption of vertical supply chains during periods of uncertainty, considering empirical difficulties in developing a theoretical account of these adaptation responses. The research adopted a qualitative analysis approach, embracing interpretivism and an exploratory, multi-case study strategy to identify and compare the insights concerning vertical boundaries strategies of leading firms’ senior management. Indepth-, semi-structured-, open-ended interviews were conducted, and secondary data were collected to investigate three pertinent research questions. A dynamic gears model was created to illustrate the value of three themes emanating during the results' analyses: post-pandemic resilience, vertical boundary strategies, and strategising vs economising. Principal findings aligned with the agent-based model of Histen (2022), arguing that integrated firms better negotiate systemic change and uncertainty. However, as uncertainty decreases, markets outperform firms, indicating that dynamic interdependencies exist and vertical integration is crucial in market expansion and firm existence. A theoretical timeline visualises complex firm organisation within economic evolution, reflecting leadership’s strategic and economic mindsets and affirming the argument by Williamson (1991) that SAAS firms are not economically-, rather strategically focused. pt23 Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted 2023-05-28T16:59:40Z 2023-05-28T16:59:40Z 19-04-2023 2022 Mini Dissertation * A2023 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/90850 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title_full Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title_fullStr Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title_full_unstemmed Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title_short Post-pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the South African agricultural sector
title_sort post pandemic vertical boundary strategies in the south african agricultural sector
topic UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/90850