scholarly journals Understanding circular economy implementation in the agri-food supply chain: the case of an Indonesian organic fertiliser producer

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Nattassha ◽  
Yuanita Handayati ◽  
Togar M. Simatupang ◽  
Manahan Siallagan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Organic Fertiliser ◽  
Value Loss ◽  
By Products ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Background One of the most important issues in the agri-food industry and its supply chain is the existence of by-products, treated as wastes and discarded immediately to waste disposal. This treatment might lead to loss of possibility in gaining economic value from them. Implementation of a circular economy could prevent the economic value loss, since the circular economy utilises said wastes as resources for other processes. However, the enforcement has obstacles and a lack of explanation in the literature, particularly in the case of an organic fertiliser producer. Results and conclusions This research develops a conceptual model of an organic fertiliser producer through the soft systems methodology approach. The results shed light on the ongoing literature by identifying the overall system and relevant components. Further, this study highlights several issues, the most important of which is the lack of interaction between the company and the farmers, which decrease the farmers’ desire to purchase the organic fertiliser. For better implementation of circular economy in this particular supply chain, it is suggested that the company establish better communication with their customers, the farmers, especially to gain better understanding of their wants and needs.

A SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
Lewis Tsuro ◽  
Stan Hardman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was developed as a set of tools for identifying and making incremental steps to improve situations with poorly defined causes or solutions. The supply chain forms a key process of any construction project; however, on any given construction site, supply chain inefficiencies could arise from many different avenues. Opinions vary, though, on which of these avenues is more important for increasing supply chain efficiencies; whether any problem even exist across the different aspects of the supply chain; as well as what steps should be taken to resolve them. It was therefore studied, here, whether SSM could be employed as a useful tool to systematically apply in the supply chains of a construction project in South Africa, for understanding and targeting the problematic situations that arise. Following thorough cyclical open-ended interviews with 17 workers, supervisors, foremen, site clerks, senior managers, and the CEO of the principal contractor at a new office park construction project in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and a thematic analysis of the data, SSM was performed to understand the existing challenges, and develop a suitable model for improvement. The study found that SSM was a good tool for understanding the ‘messy’ circumstances surrounding the chosen construction project supply chain, as well as actions that could be taken to improve the supply chain’s efficiency on site. The findings add weight to the argument that SSM could be a good tool for project managers to systematically introduce into their project planning regimens

QChain – integrating social, environmental and economic value: a tool to support innovation in production chains

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayalew Kassahun ◽  
Elise du Chatenier ◽  
Pieter Bots ◽  
Gertjan Hofstede ◽  
Jacqueline Bloemhof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Future Production ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Social Environmental

Today's consumers increasingly demand products that are produced sustainably and ethically. As a result, businesses need to address sustainability and social responsibility issues and find a proper balance between people, planet and profit (PPP) aspects of their production chains. Software tools can play an important role in mapping out the current state of PPP aspects along the production chain, and in the design and evaluation of improvement options. There are indeed many tools that are claimed to be useful for sustainability and social responsibility considerations. Yet, a tool that addresses all three aspects of value creation holistically and facilitates discussion is missing. In this paper we present the development of such a tool, called QChain. The development of this tool was based on ideas from soft systems methodology and inputs from a multidisciplinary team of experts and managers. The tool is intended to support group discussions, particularly during the early stages of innovation processes aimed at improving PPP aspects of production chains. It enables users to visualize the essential elements of the current production chain showing the current PPP values, and explore and compare possible future production chain scenarios and the corresponding PPP values. QChain's visualization helps discussants get a rich appreciation of the current and future scenarios, while the semi-quantitative 'what-if' analysis and scenario comparison enables them to hold objective discussions.

An Application of Soft Systems Methodology to Supply Chain Management

2007 ◽  
pp. 254-285
Author(s):  
Ross Smith ◽  
David Mackay ◽  
Graeme Altmann ◽  
Lucas Merlo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
The Uk

This chapter reflects upon techniques that might facilitate improved strategic decision making in a supply chain management (SCM) environment. In particular, it presents the integration of a selection of techniques adapted from an approach to systems-based problem solving that has emerged primarily in the UK over the last 20-30 years—the soft systems methodology (SSM). The results reported indicate that SSM techniques can complement existing SCM decision-making tools. In particular, this chapter outlines a framework for integrating some SSM techniques with approaches based upon the supply-chain operations reference-model (SCOR) .

Secure e-Government Services

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Karokola ◽  
Louise Yngström ◽  
Stewart Kowalski
Keyword(s):  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Security Standards ◽  
Common Frame Of Reference

E-Government offers many benefits to government agencies, citizens and the business community. However, e-Government services are prone to current and emerging security challenges posing potential threats to critical information assets. Securing it appears to be a major challenge facing governments globally. Based on the international security standards – the paper thoroughly investigates and analyzes eleven e-government maturity models (eGMMs) for security services. Further, it attempts to establish a common frame of reference for eGMM critical stages. The study utilizes the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) of scientific inquiry/ learning cycle adopted from Checkland and Scholes. The findings show that security services (technical and non-technical) are lacking in eGMMs – implying that eGMMs were designed to measure more quantity of offered e-government services than the quality of security services. Therefore, as a step towards achieving secure e-government services the paper proposes a common frame of reference for eGMM with five critical stages. These stages will later be extended to include the required security services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document