Investigating Stakeholder Perceptions of ISO Management Systems in the UK Agricultural Sector

Abstract

This paper considered perceptions from a relatively small sample of case studies but acknowledges other respondents views have been triangulated to an extent that verifies the samples used are representative of the UK agricultural supply chain. The present study provides a starting-point for further research into the adoption and uptake of ISO management systems standards in the UK agricultural sector and its supply chain. Therefore this paper does not explore the relationships between adoption of ISO management systems and the impact of them it rather explores perceptions of different ISO management systems from stakeholders viewpoints. Following an extensive review of stakeholder perceptions this paper concludes that the uptake of ISO management systems in the UK will continue and more areas of the agriculture supply chain will feel obliged to certify their management systems to a wider range of standards than just the well known quality management and environmental management system standards.  The extensive certification of ISO management systems in the UK is well known and this paper focuses on acceptance and perceptions of such standards in the UK agricultural sector. The research identified a lack of understanding and hence encourages agricultural specialists, teachers and policy makers to provide information to the agricultural sector regarding the value and scope of ISO management systems in supporting best practice and identification of regulatory compliance issues. This paper is significant in that it has acknowledged an uptake and trend in certification of management systems within the agricultural sector in the UK but has identified a lack of understanding of such systems amongst stakeholders of the agricultural supply chain. Finally, the paper clearly shows many noteworthy opportunities for further certified management systems research within the worldwide agricultural supply chain.

Keywords:  ISO standards, management systems, stakeholder perceptions, agriculture, food safety, food control