Managing Agricultural Systems

Specificaties
Paperback, 164 blz. | Engels
Springer Netherlands | 0e druk, 2011
ISBN13: 9789400973572
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Juridisch :
Springer Netherlands 0e druk, 2011 9789400973572
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Samenvatting

A large proportion of the world's population is directly involved in agriculture, many of them as small businessmen. Each of these businessmen applies his skill and resources day in, day out, to produce food and raw materials. All of them to a greater or lesser extent operate in a changing environment to which they must adjust. Many aspects of the environments of agricultural institutions by the decisions of other people; in the marketplace, are influenced in ancillary industries, in research institutes and places of learning and in Government organisations that create and implement agricultural policy. Improvements in the quality of decisions made by those who manage all the various parts of the agricultural system can have a major impact on the quality of everyone's life. How can such improvements be achieved? This book is based on the belief that a grasp of concepts or principles can add a great deal to the understanding and management of agricultural systems of all kinds. It therefore attempts to transmit some ideas and observations about management in agriculture. It is not about techniques nor about the particular problems of a specific type of agriculture. Its aim is to promote reflection, thought and discussion by professional people whose decisions influence the performance of agricultural VII V11l PREFACE systems. As such, the book attempts to convey only the -central concepts of management in as simple a language as possible.

Specificaties

ISBN13:9789400973572
Taal:Engels
Bindwijze:paperback
Aantal pagina's:164
Uitgever:Springer Netherlands
Druk:0

Inhoudsopgave

1. Introduction.- General Management Problems.- Management Processes.- Outline of the Book.- 2. Agricultural Systems.- Describing Agricultural Systems.- Characteristics of Agricultural Systems.- Complexity.- Coping with variety.- Constraints on system choice.- Scale.- Time.- Stability.- Technological change.- The market.- Models—A Way of Thinking About Systems.- Types of model.- Features of models.- Experiments with models.- Procedures in Model Building.- Validation.- The use of models.- References.- 3. The Environment.- The Weather.- The Economic Environment.- Agricultural markets.- Price support.- The wider economic environment.- The international economy.- The interaction between agriculture and the rest of the economy.- Social Environment.- Conclusions.- References.- 4. Planning.- A Definition of Planning.- Information.- Objectives.- Degree of satisfaction.- Definition of objectives.- Sub-objectives.- Profit as an objective.- Time preference.- Uncertainty.- Seeking Alternatives.- Finance.- Matching capacity.- Physical form.- Competition.- Finding the Best Solution.- Strategy.- The search process.- Partial budgets.- Replacement.- Linear programming.- Simulation.- Simulation of time.- Simulation of risk.- Action.- References.- 5. Control.- Equalisation of Deviations.- Setting standards.- The need for feedback.- Lags in feedback control systems.- Compensation for Disturbances.- Elimination of Disturbances.- External changes.- Internal changes.- Conclusions.- References.- 6. Recording.- The Recording of Events.- The Use of Records.- Profit.- Wealth.- Comparison.- Index numbers.- Comparing incomes.- Relationships.- Agricultural research.- Surveys.- References.- 7. Forecasting.- The Nature of Forecasts.- Decision Trees.- Limits on Prospects.- Manoeuvring for Position.- References.- 8. Implementation.- The Analysis of Problems.- People.- Job satisfaction.- The purpose of development.- Equity and Development.- Equity and Extension Work.- Countering Unfair Competition.- The ownership and operation of land.- Education and Training.- Task analysis.- Communication.- The capacity of communication channels.- Overcoming Bottlenecks.- Organisations.- Conclusions.- References..

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