Classifying the strategic capability of farmers: a segmentation framework.

McElwee, Gerard; Smith, Rob

Abstract

This paper examines the capability of farmers to diversify and outlines the barriers and challenges that confront farmers. It suggests that not all farmers have a high level of 'strategic awareness capability'. The paper describes how a segmentation framework can be used to provide coherent understanding of the entrepreneurial farming business. A segmentation framework will be presented. The segmentation framework classifies farmers by their personal characteristics, the characteristics of the farm enterprise, activities and processes undertaken by the farmer and specific needs of the farm enterprise. Criteria from this framework are chosen to identify different types of entrepreneurial farmers. The resulting framework shows different types of entrepreneurial farmers reflecting the strategic orientation of the farm. Different strategic orientations in farming may require different skills. The framework provides the opportunity for individual rural ventures to determine what these skills are.

Citation

MCELWEE, G. and SMITH, R. 2012. Classifying the strategic capability of farmers: a segmentation framework. International journal of entrepreneurial venturing [online], 4(2), pages 111-131. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEV.2012.046517

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 30, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2012
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2012
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2013
• Journal: International journal of entrepreneurial venturing
• Print ISSN: 1742-5360
• Electronic ISSN: 1742-5379
• Publisher: Inderscience
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 111-131
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEV.2012.046517
• Keywords: Rural business; Farmer; Diversification strategy; Entrepreneurship; Strategic capability; Entrepreneurial segmentation
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/802
• Contract Date: Mar 21, 2013