Governance for quality management in smallholder-based tropical food chains

Abstract The paper provides a framework that focuses on the linkages between several key dimensions of supply chain organization and performance of perishable tropical food products. The focus is on the relationship between governance regime and quality management. However, two other but related variables are taken into account because they impact on the relationship between governance and quality management. These variables are channel choice and value added distribution in the supply chain. Governance regime is reflecting how to enhance coordination and trust amongst supply chain partners and how to reduce transaction costs. Quality management is dealing with how to manage food technology processes such that required quality levels can be improved and variability in quality of natural products can be exploited. Governance regimes in relation to quality management practices are discussed to the extent that supply chain partners are able, or are enabled, to invest in required quality improve-ments. Reduction of transaction costs, creation of trust-based networks and proper trade-offs between direct and future gains may offer substantial contributions to effective quality management and enforcement. This framework has been applied to nine case studies on smallholder-based food supply chains originating from developing countries (Ruben et al., 2007). Three of these case studies are discussed in this paper to illustrate what challenges can be derived from the case studies. The selected case studies concern fish originating from Kenya, mango originating from Costa Rica and vegetables produced in China

Bankier stelt klant centraal – nu de bank nog

Bankmedewerkers willen het klantbelang vooropstellen maar voelen zich belemmerd door de bankcultuur. Het vertrouwen in de organisatie hapert, medewerkers worden niet gemotiveerd door de gestelde prestatiedoelen en krijgen te weinig ruimte van de leidinggevende en de klant komt in de knel. Meer autonomie, openheid en de afname van prestatiedoelen kan het klantbelang ten goede komen

Bankers Focus on Clients – But What Do Banks Do?

Bank employees in the Netherlands want to focus on clients and the interests of their clients. But they feel constrained to do so by the dominant banking culture. They have low trust in their employers, they feel not motivated by the targets they are required to meet, and they experience very limited autonomy. This affects their service orientation towards clients. More autonomy, less emphasis on targets, and more openness in the relationship with managers is likely to further the interests of bank clients

Climate risks are real and need to become part of bank capital regulation

Climate risks are building up on banks’ balance sheets. Supervisory reviews show that banks are not well prepared. Yet, supervisors have been slow to include climate risks in minimum capital requirements. This column argues that doing so would speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy. Given the urgency of addressing the environmental risks that are now largely not accounted for, speed is of the essence

Consequences of anxiety in older persons: its effect on disability, well-being and use of health services

Background. Although anxiety is quite prevalent in late life, its impact on disability, well-being, and health care utilization of older persons has not been studied. Older persons are a highly relevant age group for studying the consequences of anxiety, since their increasing numbers put an extra strain on already limited health care resources. Methods. Data of a large community-based random probability sample (N = 659) of older subjects (55-85 year) in the Netherlands were used to select three groups: subjects with a diagnosed anxiety disorder, subjects with merely anxiety symptoms and a reference group without anxiety. These groups were compared with regard to their functioning, subjective well-being, and use of health care services, while controlling for potentially confounding variables. Results. Anxiety was associated with increased disability and diminished well-being. Older persons with a diagnosed anxiety disorder were equally affected in their functioning as those with merely anxiety symptoms. Although use of health services was increased in anxiety sufferers, their use of appropriate care was generally low. Conclusions. Anxiety has a clear negative impact on the functioning and well-being of older subjects. The similarity of participants with an anxiety disorder and those having merely anxiety symptoms regarding quality of life variables and health care use was quite striking. Finally, in spite of its grave consequences for the quality of life, appropriate care for anxiety is seldom received. Efforts to improve recognition, disseminate effective treatments in primary care, and referring to specialized care may have positive effects on the management of anxiety in late life