Structural Attributes Dynamics of the Brazilian Broiler Production Chain

ABSTRACT Brazil is one of the world’s largest broiler meat exporters. Broiler meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide. The most significant challenge for strategic business management when optimizing the financial returnis knowing exactly where to invest. The same happens in the broiler production chain. The present research aimed to investigate which were the most central actors in the broiler supply chain and the dynamics of the chain. The current study was done based on the poultry chain business relations, from 2000 to 2015, of the leading actors of the Brazilian broiler production chain. The centrality indicator was established through social network analysis (SNA) approach, to determine their positions in the chain as a whole. The most used indicators within network analysis are those designed to identify the extent to which one actor occupies a more central position than another. The Gephi® software was applied to calculate the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results were estimated using the RapidMiner® software. A model was presented that shows one infrastructure indicator as an explanatory variable. The findings indicate that the centrality indicator was weakly influenced when compared to the other variables, such as market demand, wide variations on the scenario, and mergers or acquisitions.

【摘要】巴西是全球最大的肉鸡出口国之一，肉鸡亦是全球消费量最高的肉类品类之一。在优化财务收益的战略商业管理中，最核心的挑战在于精准锁定投资方向，肉鸡产业链的运营亦面临同样的难题。本研究旨在探究巴西肉鸡供应链中最具核心地位的参与者，以及该产业链的运作动态。本研究以2000年至2015年间巴西肉鸡产业链头部参与者的家禽产业链商业关系为研究基础，通过社会网络分析（Social Network Analysis, SNA）方法构建中心性指标，以明确各参与者在整体产业链中的位置。网络分析领域最常用的指标，用于衡量某一参与者相较于其他参与者的核心程度。本研究采用Gephi®软件计算网络的结构属性与各项指标，并通过RapidMiner®软件对结果进行估算。本研究提出了一项以基础设施指标作为解释变量的模型。研究结果表明，相较于市场需求、场景大幅波动以及并购等其他变量，中心性指标对投资决策的影响程度较弱。