Managing Food Chain Risks: Integrating Technical and Stakeholder Perspectives on Uncertainty

We explore ways for expressing and communicating uncertainties about food risks and the options for including views from different stakeholders, including members of the public, in risk assessment and risk management. Uncertainty is not only a major consideration of technical risk assessments but also needs to be understood within the two‐way interaction with various stakeholders, ranging from specialist risk managers to members of the public. We consider techniques for integration of technical risk assessment methodologies, including measures of the uncertainties, with social science inputs on participation processes, consumer behaviour and effective risk communication. We use case studies representing different types of risk – chemical contamination, and microbial contamination – to focus the discussion. The paper reviews the approach of ongoing interdisciplinary research which is exploring ways of communicating risks and involving members of the public and other stakeholders in defining the interfaces and processes needed.     

Survey and Market-based Evidence of Industry-dependence in Analysts' Preferences Between the Dividend Yield and Price-earnings Ratio Valuation Models

Prior research has shown that analysts' preferred valuation models are the price-earnings (PE) ratio and the dividend yield. This paper presents strong evidence that the relative importance of these two models varies according to stock market sector. Companies in the services, industrials and consumer goods sectors are shown to be 'PE-valued' while financials and utilities companies are shown to be 'yield-valued'. These findings are derived from survey research and then tested in a market-based model. This use of independent, mutually reinforcing research methods contributes to the robustness of the findings.     

Selecting research firms from which to get proposals

Many marketing research firms are incompetent or transient. It is difficult for the inexperienced buyer of marketing research to know how to make a choice. One factor that should be considered is the nature of the problem; understanding your own needs helps to spell out some of the characteristics to look for in a research firm. Locating names of research firms can be done from reviewing available lists, and from informed sources. Evaluation of the firms is difficult. The potential buyer should attempt to estimate the competency of the firm (in questionnaire development, statistical design, field work, coding and editing, and data processing). The buyer should also try to evaluate the research imagination of the firm, for creativity may add value to the study. Integrity is another important aspect, since this affects whether your marketing secrets are kept, and whether or not a good study is done. Practicality is a highly important standard; this is reflected in location, meeting of deadlines, flexibility, speed, personal relations, and pricing policies. Sources of information for obtaining the necessary information include material from the research firm being considered, a planned visit to the firm’s headquarters, customers of the research firm, and general reputation (among both users and nonusers of the firm).     

Path Dependence in the Innovation of Complex Technologies

This article investigates three factors that affect the path dependence of complex technologies and the organizational networks that carry out their innovation: culture and institutions, organizational learning, and technology design. Evidence from the rapidly growing body of literature on path dependence and from six case studies of complex technologies (i.e. turbine blades, cardio-imaging technology, audio compact discs (CD's), radiation therapy technology, micro-floppy disks, and microprocessors) is used to investigate the impact of culture, organizational learning, and technology design on path dependence. Three innovation patterns associated with co-evolution of technologies and organizational networks provide the framework used to structure the investigation.     

MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND THE FARMER

Agricultural marketing in the United Kingdom has been particularly topical over the last two years. A great deal of publicity has been given to the desirability of agricultural producers improving their marketing skills, with considerable support for this view coming from successive Ministers of Agriculture. However, it appears that farmers remain sceptical, and, in fact, little is known about the importance of marketing in the overall management of the farm. This paper analyses the importance of marketing management to the individual farmer, using the results of research designed specifically to investigate the use of marketing principles at the farm level.     

Technology policy: Fitting concept with reality

We have crossed an historical Rubicon into an era in which the capacity to innovate increasingly complex technologies has created a set of opportunities and problems that make our reductionist and simplistic linear models of policy and governance obsolete. America must base its technology policy on a synthesis of both international experience and new conceptualizations. The most important recent experience with successful technological innovation has taken place in Asia, whereas the most rapid conceptual advances appear to be occurring in Europe and the U.S. Complexity is the key factor in both.