Ronald D. Camp

Environmental uncertainty and vertical integration in a small business network: The case of Natural Valley Farms Inc.

Purpose – The paper intends to identify and explain key managerial principles for vertical integration in the cattle industry during a key period of environment uncertainty.Design/methodology/approach – Following Yins advice on using case studies for exploratory theory development, this study builds on existing theories of vertical integration through a case study that explores potential prospects for cattle producers in a uniquely uncertain environment and the execution of a higher degree of vertical integration in a mature market.Findings – The creation of NVF is a result of a well‐groomed uncertainty management scheme designed to attain a higher degree of vertical integration within an enterprising community. Some key managerial principles have been identified that can be applied to a thriving vertical integration endeavour in the cattle industry. History has proven that such an undertaking is taxing. Nevertheless, by looking at NVFs business model, it can be seen that environmental uncertainty can f...

Aboriginal land rights and development: corporations and trust

Aboriginal people are seeking to regain control over their traditional lands and resources. Among other things, they expect these land and resources to form the foundation upon which they can rebuild their economies and communities. Aboriginal people want to pursue this development on their own terms. However many realise that success requires effective competition in the global economy and this in turn requires capacity beyond land and resource. One method of acquiring the needed capacity is through alliances with non-aboriginal corporations. Drawing on the examples of three aboriginal groups, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council in Canada, and Tepoztlan in Mexico, this paper suggests important areas for aboriginal/non-aboriginal alliance research, develops a theory of how differences in culture affect trust development, partner selection, and effectiveness of organisation structures, and proposes an agenda for future research.