A holistic, integrated, systems approach towards economic development     ​
 

In order to prosper and sustain, Business or Enterprise development has to be placed in the context of and adapted to local conditions and circumstances. This calls for a holistic or integrated (systems) approach, taking into consideration the complexity and interactions of proposed business activities within the context of their physical, social and economic environment.

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We have adopted a systems approach as our main analytical framework for the design of interventions, aiming to contribute to improve the overall performance of enterprises, the sector and the economy to which they belong. This approach recognises the systematic linkages within the business enterprise system:

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• Production chain linkages, i.e. the flow of raw material from Producer to Consumer.
• Macro and micro policy linkages, concerning the effects of Governmental Policies on Business Operations.
• Institutional linkages, i.e. the relationship between the different types of organisations that operate and interact within the production (market or value) chain.
• International linkages, i.e. inter-dependencies of national and international markets in which the sector operates.

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This approach will lead to a comprehensive strategy to realise quantitative and qualitative improvements in the entire sector, as it will address all relevant aspects of the production (value or market) chain: from primary producer, via collection and processing, to marketing and distribution to the final consumer.

The scope of analysis, as basis for defining strategy for development and intervention, includes not only the producer-to-market (consumer) chain as such (i.e. production, post-harvest/processing and marketing), but also important cross-cutting areas: i.e. the business organization and provision of business development or support services. It takes into account all relevant support services, such as: input supply, credit supply, research, extension, training, etc.

The business organization and support services as present in a producer-to-market chain are the key to understanding the possibility of improving chain performance through the effective use of existing skills and services as well as identifying important bottlenecks that inhibit such improvements.

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