title: An Integrated Theory of the Roles of Governing Boards of New Zealand and Australian Co-operative Dairy Companies

authors: Old, Kevin Murray

subjects: Co-operatives

abstract: Over recent times there has been significant interest in corporate governance by the popular press, regulators and academics after strings of spectacular corporate failures. Governance research, however, appears to have been contextually-bound, focussing mainly on organisations with freely traded shares. The governance of co-operatives, despite their significance to the world and New Zealand economies, has received scant research focus. The New Zealand dairy industry, which is dominated by co-operatives, contributes 25 percent of exports and ten percent of GDP to the local economy, yet there appears little understanding and empirical research of co-operative governance. Reviews of the managerial corporate governance and co-operative literatures also suggest there is currently no all-encompassing theory of the governance of co-operatives. Given these gaps in the literature, the aim of this research is to inductively develop a theory of the roles of governing boards of New Zealand and Australian co-operative dairy companies from the perspective of the participants. 

In order to achieve this aim, a case study method inspired by Eisenhardt (1989a) is selected to guide the research. Fieldwork utilising semi-structured interviews with governance participants from six co-operative cases is used to gather a broad and deep picture of co-operative board roles. By analysing data within case and comparing across cases, the understandings from the empirical data provide the basis to develop the theoretical model.

Drawing from these understandings, this study will look at board member roles in terms of their activities and the process in which they engage. This research results in a theoretical model deeply informed from practitioners' views to provide a unified theory of governance. Upon theoretical saturation five unique theoretical concepts and relationships between them emerge from the analysis with an intimate link to the empirical data: Exogenous-Issues, Supplier-Shareholder-Needs/Benefits, Supplier-Shareholder-Controls, Board Architecture and Board Roles. Subconcepts within the Board Architecture concept are: Individual-Distinctions, Engagement-Forums, and Dynamics. Four Board Role concepts emerge Unite, Strategic-Involvement, Control and Serve. The resultant model of co-operative board roles presents new insights, is logically coherent, has a good fit with the data and is reasonably parsimonious. 

A contribution to knowledge of corporate governance and agricultural co-operatives is achieved through an integrative and nuanced understanding of co-operative board roles. The findings also highlight individual director contributions to the role; a unique addition to governance studies. The model also begins to highlight the relationships between key actors and the processes used in decision making. The theoretical model's similarities to and divergences from existing theories of corporate governance are drawn to illustrate the contribution of the model.

This thesis provides researchers, practitioners, educators, regulators and policy makers in the corporate governance and agricultural co-operative fields, insights into the current and ongoing roles of co-operative boards. The theoretical model establishes foundations for further study into how directors can more effectively govern their co-operatives.

text: An Integrated Theory of the Roles of Governing Boards of New Zealand and Australian Co-operative Dairy Companies Over recent times there has been significant interest in corporate governance by the popular press, regulators and academics after strings of spectacular corporate failures. Governance research, however, appears to have been contextually-bound, focussing mainly on organisations with freely traded shares. The governance of co-operatives, despite their significance to the world and New Zealand economies, has received scant research focus. The New Zealand dairy industry, which is dominated by co-operatives, contributes 25 percent of exports and ten percent of GDP to the local economy, yet there appears little understanding and empirical research of co-operative governance. Reviews of the managerial corporate governance and co-operative literatures also suggest there is currently no all-encompassing theory of the governance of co-operatives. Given these gaps in the literature, the aim of this research is to inductively develop a theory of the roles of governing boards of New Zealand and Australian co-operative dairy companies from the perspective of the participants. 

In order to achieve this aim, a case study method inspired by Eisenhardt (1989a) is selected to guide the research. Fieldwork utilising semi-structured interviews with governance participants from six co-operative cases is used to gather a broad and deep picture of co-operative board roles. By analysing data within case and comparing across cases, the understandings from the empirical data provide the basis to develop the theoretical model.

Drawing from these understandings, this study will look at board member roles in terms of their activities and the process in which they engage. This research results in a theoretical model deeply informed from practitioners' views to provide a unified theory of governance. Upon theoretical saturation five unique theoretical concepts and relationships between them emerge from the analysis with an intimate link to the empirical data: Exogenous-Issues, Supplier-Shareholder-Needs/Benefits, Supplier-Shareholder-Controls, Board Architecture and Board Roles. Subconcepts within the Board Architecture concept are: Individual-Distinctions, Engagement-Forums, and Dynamics. Four Board Role concepts emerge Unite, Strategic-Involvement, Control and Serve. The resultant model of co-operative board roles presents new insights, is logically coherent, has a good fit with the data and is reasonably parsimonious. 

A contribution to knowledge of corporate governance and agricultural co-operatives is achieved through an integrative and nuanced understanding of co-operative board roles. The findings also highlight individual director contributions to the role; a unique addition to governance studies. The model also begins to highlight the relationships between key actors and the processes used in decision making. The theoretical model's similarities to and divergences from existing theories of corporate governance are drawn to illustrate the contribution of the model.

This thesis provides researchers, practitioners, educators, regulators and policy makers in the corporate governance and agricultural co-operative fields, insights into the current and ongoing roles of co-operative boards. The theoretical model establishes foundations for further study into how directors can more effectively govern their co-operatives.

year: 2009

title: Retail value stream management

authors: Powell, Mark

subjects: retail industry

abstract: In this paper the authors translate, integrate and synthesise supply chain management concepts for application in the retail sector. Although a number of best practice retail supply chains have been well popularised, the majority of retailers are struggling with applying the traditionally manufacturing-focussed concepts of supply chain management. This paper provides a comprehensive toolkit, comprising seven retail value stream principles specifically aimed at translating supply chain management for retailers. These seven principles are focus on the customers' perception of value; engineer value streams to match customer requirements; remove non-value adding waste; maximise customer pull; optimise the total supply chain; develop win-win supply chain relationships; and continuously review and improve, striving for perfection. Case applications of these principles clearly highlight the significant improvements possible in retail supply chain competence and the resultant competitiveness.

text: Retail value stream management In this paper the authors translate, integrate and synthesise supply chain management concepts for application in the retail sector. Although a number of best practice retail supply chains have been well popularised, the majority of retailers are struggling with applying the traditionally manufacturing-focussed concepts of supply chain management. This paper provides a comprehensive toolkit, comprising seven retail value stream principles specifically aimed at translating supply chain management for retailers. These seven principles are focus on the customers' perception of value; engineer value streams to match customer requirements; remove non-value adding waste; maximise customer pull; optimise the total supply chain; develop win-win supply chain relationships; and continuously review and improve, striving for perfection. Case applications of these principles clearly highlight the significant improvements possible in retail supply chain competence and the resultant competitiveness.

year: 2010

title: Ko Te Kawa Tūpanapana i ngā Hau Tūpua a Tāwhiri-mātea : The validation, revitalisation and enhancement of Māori environment knowledge of weather and climate

authors: Skipper, Apanui Sonny

subjects: Maori Environmental knowledge

abstract: KO TE KAWA TŪPANAPANA I NGĀ HAU TŪPUA A TĀWHIRI-MĀTEA – THE RITUALISTIC FORMS GOVERNING THE SUPERNATURAL WINDS OF TĀWHIRI-MĀTEA
Mankind has always gazed skyward observing the im immense power generated by forked lightning when it strikes the land. The resounding thunder booming across the landscape never failed to capture the awe and imagination of a people. Māori were no different. The legacy of their Polynesian ancestors, who populated most of the Islands of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the largest ocean on the planet, based on belief, courage, and navigational expertise, honed over many millenia, reached Aotearoa approximately in the 12 century. These highly skilled ancestors from the tropics applied a formalised process of settling a new land. It also required their own weatherlore to be recalibrated to the local conditions, in order to survive in a much harsher, colder climate.

Over the centuries the descendants of these early Polynesian settlers, developed an extensive localised knowledge of weather, climate, and seasonal indicators to accurately predict daily weather, monthly or annual climate conditions. The ongoing lessons learned especially after experiencing a fatality were incorporated into cultural practices of important everyday activities such as ahuwhenua, te mahi hī ika, kohi rongoā, whakaako tamariki, gathering pounamu, whakatū rāhui, and kaitiakitanga, in order to minimise further loss of life.

Formal recognition of these contributions was made at the inaugural Māori Climate Forum in Wellington in 2003, where a number of Māori elders highlighted the importance of giving a greater account of Māori knowledge of environmental change. Among the many priorities identified for research at this forum, an opportunity based on a challenge from a Māori elder led to the development of a pilot project to explore traditional Māori understandings of weather–climate variability and change. 

One of the key outcomes from this work was the identification of Māori environmental indicators to anticipate local weather and climate conditions and thereby manage the risk associated with weather-climate extremes. However, in spite of the work achieved, there remain unanswered questions about the use and ongoing efficacy of environmental indicators to forecast and monitor weather and climate risks, including how new opportunities might be created to promote learning about subtle signals in nature that can reveal much about changes in weather and climate conditions. 

Due to the fact that many of the elders that provided the basis of this thesis have passed away, a great sense of responsibility has remained with me to complete this research. To identify the gaps in the previous research, to ground-truth it, to consolidate and carefully document the level of localised environmental knowledge of weather and climate specifically with iwi from Tainui-Hauraki, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, and Ngāi Tahu. A total of 56 interviews and 17 group wānanga were conducted during 2009-2016. Examples of Māori Environmental Knowledge were also sourced from numerous personal conversations with knowledge holders from 1989-2003, adding to the body of knowledge that was analysed to provide further context. A conceptual framework coined `Ngā Whenu Tapu e Waru’ was created from identifying the key themes of the interviews to inform how Māori Environmental Knowledge was described in the three regions. This study has yielded understandings of wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and cloud classifications; weather and climate indicators; spiritual signs of misfortune and death; memory techniques; longitudinal weather predictions, and lunar calendars in each region.

This thesis is underpinned by a Kaupapa Māori theory and research methodology that links to a body of transformative research and literature conducted by Māori scholars based on the knowledge and experience of tūpuna  Māori. 

Heoti anō rā kei ngā kākahi whakairoiro, kei ngā matataiko, nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki tēnei wānanga nui whakaharahara.

text: Ko Te Kawa Tūpanapana i ngā Hau Tūpua a Tāwhiri-mātea : The validation, revitalisation and enhancement of Māori environment knowledge of weather and climate KO TE KAWA TŪPANAPANA I NGĀ HAU TŪPUA A TĀWHIRI-MĀTEA – THE RITUALISTIC FORMS GOVERNING THE SUPERNATURAL WINDS OF TĀWHIRI-MĀTEA
Mankind has always gazed skyward observing the im immense power generated by forked lightning when it strikes the land. The resounding thunder booming across the landscape never failed to capture the awe and imagination of a people. Māori were no different. The legacy of their Polynesian ancestors, who populated most of the Islands of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the largest ocean on the planet, based on belief, courage, and navigational expertise, honed over many millenia, reached Aotearoa approximately in the 12 century. These highly skilled ancestors from the tropics applied a formalised process of settling a new land. It also required their own weatherlore to be recalibrated to the local conditions, in order to survive in a much harsher, colder climate.

Over the centuries the descendants of these early Polynesian settlers, developed an extensive localised knowledge of weather, climate, and seasonal indicators to accurately predict daily weather, monthly or annual climate conditions. The ongoing lessons learned especially after experiencing a fatality were incorporated into cultural practices of important everyday activities such as ahuwhenua, te mahi hī ika, kohi rongoā, whakaako tamariki, gathering pounamu, whakatū rāhui, and kaitiakitanga, in order to minimise further loss of life.

Formal recognition of these contributions was made at the inaugural Māori Climate Forum in Wellington in 2003, where a number of Māori elders highlighted the importance of giving a greater account of Māori knowledge of environmental change. Among the many priorities identified for research at this forum, an opportunity based on a challenge from a Māori elder led to the development of a pilot project to explore traditional Māori understandings of weather–climate variability and change. 

One of the key outcomes from this work was the identification of Māori environmental indicators to anticipate local weather and climate conditions and thereby manage the risk associated with weather-climate extremes. However, in spite of the work achieved, there remain unanswered questions about the use and ongoing efficacy of environmental indicators to forecast and monitor weather and climate risks, including how new opportunities might be created to promote learning about subtle signals in nature that can reveal much about changes in weather and climate conditions. 

Due to the fact that many of the elders that provided the basis of this thesis have passed away, a great sense of responsibility has remained with me to complete this research. To identify the gaps in the previous research, to ground-truth it, to consolidate and carefully document the level of localised environmental knowledge of weather and climate specifically with iwi from Tainui-Hauraki, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, and Ngāi Tahu. A total of 56 interviews and 17 group wānanga were conducted during 2009-2016. Examples of Māori Environmental Knowledge were also sourced from numerous personal conversations with knowledge holders from 1989-2003, adding to the body of knowledge that was analysed to provide further context. A conceptual framework coined `Ngā Whenu Tapu e Waru’ was created from identifying the key themes of the interviews to inform how Māori Environmental Knowledge was described in the three regions. This study has yielded understandings of wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and cloud classifications; weather and climate indicators; spiritual signs of misfortune and death; memory techniques; longitudinal weather predictions, and lunar calendars in each region.

This thesis is underpinned by a Kaupapa Māori theory and research methodology that links to a body of transformative research and literature conducted by Māori scholars based on the knowledge and experience of tūpuna  Māori. 

Heoti anō rā kei ngā kākahi whakairoiro, kei ngā matataiko, nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki tēnei wānanga nui whakaharahara.

year: 2020