Developing and sustaining joint enterprises in a transitional economy

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss the role of the project champion and the project champion's experience in a business capacity building project in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The project champion mentored and fostered joint enterprises between and across actors engaged in the production, processing, distribution, retailing and exporting of lamb meat and cheese derived from sheep milk. The article aims to analyse and compare the experiences and knowledge from this project with that of knowledge in extant studies on demand chain integration and inter‐firm alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was crafted from information accessed from the project champion, key informants and information about the project presented in the web sites of the United States Agency for International Development and the project champion. The experiences presented in the case study were critically examined and evaluated with the findings in extant studies on inter‐firm alliances.

Findings

Demand chain strategy based on customer orientation and seamless integration of all actors in the value chain through a joint enterprise fosters relationship bonding, structural cohesion and transaction efficiencies. The role of a third party project champion in facilitating and mentoring the value chain actors contributed to the success of the joint‐enterprise.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a single case study, the unique characteristics of the study context limits the scope of generalising the findings.

Practical implications

Knowledge from this study is transferable to other industry sectors and can also be adapted in other environments in which individual small‐to‐medium‐scale enterprises experience competency and capacity constraints in developing their business.

Originality/value

Adopts a whole‐of‐chain capacity building approach. The dynamics of the study context (small‐to‐medium scale enterprises in all segments of the chain, niche high value products, transitional economy which recently adopted a free enterprise business model) are unique and this influenced project initiatives and outcomes. The study provides valuable insights into developing small‐to‐medium‐scale food enterprise capacity building projects.

Citation

Bhaskaran, S. and Gligorovska, E. (2009), "Developing and sustaining joint enterprises in a transitional economy", British Food Journal, Vol. 111 No. 7, pp. 643-659. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700910972341