The Application of Soft Systems Methodology for Improving the Agrotechnology Transfer Process Responding to Tree Crop Farming Concerns in Kona, Hawaii

This dissertation applied soft systems methodology for improving the agrotechnology transfer process responding to tree crop farming concerns in Kona, Hawaii. The ten-month study undertook on-site research activities involving randomly selected Kona farmers, leaders of commodity organizations and university staff. The analyst engaged participants in the methodology's seven-stage process. They 1) described non-commodity specific and coffee, macadamia nut and avocado concerns, 2) envisioned improvements, 3) developed models of improved situations, 4) compared these models with the actual situation, 5) debated feasible and desirable changes and 6) implemented agreed-upon changes. Major conclusions of the study were that: 1) soft systems methodology caused change in agrotechnology transfer because it accounted for multiple worldviews affecting the process, 2) the current agrotechnology transfer structure, the Industry Analysis Program, had shortcomings, 3) participants requested soft systems methodology for improving the agrotechnology transfer process and on-farm research activities in Kona for assisting small-scale farmers, and 4) the analyst was a catalyst that assisted community members in bringing changes to the agrotechnology transfer process