Kelowna, B.C.

Grand Okanagan Resort

Value Chain Workshop

Abstract

Worldwide evidence shows that adopting Value Chain Management strategies and practices enables organizations to improve their competitiveness. However, the adoption of Value Chain Management Practices requires businesses to think differently about how they operate. To be successful, value chain alliances or partnerships require an understanding of market demands and an acknowledgement that value chains are not an end in themselves; they are tools to assist in the creation of greater competitive strength and the ability to more successfully adapt to market forces than if attempting to ‘go it alone’.

The essence of value chain philosophy is that, through closely integrating their resources and operations, organizations can combine their resources to produce end-products more effectively and efficiently than before, and increase their profitability by better meeting market needs.

By using examples of lessons learnt from successful value chain alliances around the world, the workshop will enable participants to explore the significant benefits that value chain management may hold for their businesses, and gain greater awareness of how a rapidly growing number of producers worldwide are adopting this strategy to improve their business practices and long-term profitability.

In this “hands-on” workshop, you will learn the following:

1. How other producers and agri-food companies have succeeded through developing successful value chain relationships;
2. Why value chain management is a proven business strategy for producers;
3. Common mistakes of value chain alliances, and how to avoid the pitfalls;
4. The opportunities, benefits, and risks of adopting a ‘cooperative, coordinated, or collaborative’ approach to value chain formation and management;
5. How to evaluate your current buyer-seller relationships and “readiness” for value chain participation;
6. The significant benefits that can stem from proactively managing value chain(s);
7. The key principles of value chain management and successful alliances.

Workshop Content

Materials will cover the principles of value chain management. Workshops will provide insights into the critical success factors of particular value chain alliances and the methods that participants can use to improve their competitiveness.

Case studies will feature successful producer alliances that benefit from utilizing value chain management to successfully address strategic issues, and partner with those positioned between themselves and consumers.