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Managing Labor on Dairy Farms: A Resource-Based Perspective with Evidence from Case Studies

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  • Mugera, Amin W.
  • Bitsch, Vera

Abstract

Labor management practices in agriculture are a marginally and fragmentally researched subject with limited theoretical background in agricultural economics. The resource-based theory is proposed as a framework to analyze labor management on farms and its application discussed with evidence of six case studies. In-depth interviews with farm managers, supervisors, and non-supervisory employees provide data to illustrate the provisions of the resource-based theory. The theory requires heterogeneity, immobility, value, rareness, inimitability, and non-substitutability for resources to contribute to sustained competitive advantage. The human resource system of the case farms satisfies these conditions and hence qualifies as a source of competitive advantage. * Funding for this project was provided in part by the North Central Risk Management Education Center. The authors wish to express their gratitude to the farmers and their employees who volunteered to participate in the study and openly shared their experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Mugera, Amin W. & Bitsch, Vera, 2005. "Managing Labor on Dairy Farms: A Resource-Based Perspective with Evidence from Case Studies," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 8(3), pages 1-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ifaamr:8140
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.8140
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    4. Mugera, Amin W., 2012. "Sustained Competitive Advantage in Agribusiness: Applying the Resource-Based Theory to Human Resources," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Charis Linda Braun & Meike Rombach & Anna Maria Häring & Vera Bitsch, 2018. "A Local Gap in Sustainable Food Procurement: Organic Vegetables in Berlin’s School Meals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Deming, Justine & Macken-Walsh, Áine & O’Brien, Bernadette & Kinsella, James, 2020. "‘Good’ farm management employment: Emerging values in the contemporary Irish dairy sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
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    8. Bitsch, Vera & Koković, Nevena & Rombach, Meike, 2014. "Risk Communication and Market Effects during Foodborne Illnesses: A Comparative Case Study of Bacterial Outbreaks in the U.S. and in Germany," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(3), pages 1-18, September.
    9. Juan García-Álvarez de Perea & Carolina Ramírez-García & Aida Del Cubo-Molina, 2019. "Internationalization Business Models and Patterns of SMEs and MNEs: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study in the Agrifood Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-26, May.
    10. Bitsch, Vera & Kassa, Getachew Abate & Harsh, Stephen B. & Mugera, Amin W., 2006. "Human Resource Management Risks: Sources and Control Strategies Based on Dairy Farmer Focus Groups," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 38(1), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Götz, Linde & Svanidze, Miranda & Tissier, Alain & Brand Duran, Alejandro, 2022. "Consumers’ willingness to Buy CRISPR gene-edited tomatoes: Evidence from a choice experiment case study in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 14(2).
    12. Bitsch, Vera & Yakura, Elaine K., 2007. "Middle Management in Agriculture: Roles, Functions, and Practices," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 10(2), pages 1-28.
    13. Braun, Charis Linda & Rombach, Meike & Bitsch, Vera & Häring, Anna Maria, 2018. "Structures and Actors of the Organic Vegetable Value Chain for School Catering: a Case Study of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region," 2018 International European Forum (163rd EAAE Seminar), February 5-9, 2018, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 276863, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    14. Regina Sedlmeier & Meike Rombach & Vera Bitsch, 2019. "Making Food Rescue Your Business: Case Studies in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.

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