UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Turner, Leslie Drake
Dept./Program:
Community Development and Applied Economics
Year:
2013
Degree:
M.P.A.
Abstract:
This project examines the connectedness of organizations in the Farm to Plate Network in its first year of operation, 2011 to 2012. Through this examination, it is concluded that membership in the Farm to Plate Network creates new connections and enhances existing connections between food system organizations. Furthermore, researchers found that among member organizations, lower forms of collaboration (such as information-sharing) were denser than higher forms (such as project/program collaboration or resource sharing).
To achieve this analysis, a number of methods were employed to describe and evaluate the network in its first year. Network meeting minutes were analyzed to depict the makeup of a governing network, and an online survey was conducted to assess the positions and roles of member organizations to inform this study of the sampled network. In addition to statistical analysis, social network analysis was performed to depict and analyze the Farm to Plate Network. Survey respondents were largely in agreement that membership and participation in the network had yielded benefits to their organization.
Furthermore, an analysis of the forms of collaboration between organizations showed that information-sharing networks were denser than networks involving more extensive resource sharing such as project/program collaboration and resource sharing. The results of this study establish a baseline of the network, and will be used in the future to track the trajectory and performance of this network throughout its life cycle.
To achieve this analysis, a number of methods were employed to describe and evaluate the network in its first year. Network meeting minutes were analyzed to depict the makeup of a governing network, and an online survey was conducted to assess the positions and roles of member organizations to inform this study of the sampled network. In addition to statistical analysis, social network analysis was performed to depict and analyze the Farm to Plate Network. Survey respondents were largely in agreement that membership and participation in the network had yielded benefits to their organization.
Furthermore, an analysis of the forms of collaboration between organizations showed that information-sharing networks were denser than networks involving more extensive resource sharing such as project/program collaboration and resource sharing. The results of this study establish a baseline of the network, and will be used in the future to track the trajectory and performance of this network throughout its life cycle.