Articles
DEVELOPMENTS IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN THE GLASSHOUSE HORTICULTURE IN THE NETHERLANDS
In recent years the registration of all kinds of aspects of the firm (crop, labour, etc.) has occupied a central place.
In view of this the Department of Economics and Management of the Research Station issued a registration book in which the grower can note the various parts of the registration.
The book contains a separate form for each crop, dealing with growing conditions and labour.
The growers’ associations NTS (The Organization of Dutch Horticultural Study Groups) and SITU (The Organization looking after the growers’ interests in the field of automation) have taken over this publication, carrying out the necessary adaptations and taking care of its distribution.
The climate computer industry also manufactures administration computers (so-called ‘bedrijfscomputers’); in total there are ca 150 personal computers on the glasshouse firms.
Following on the firm registration is the firm comparison.
Both internal (within the firm) and external comparison (between firms) are possible.
This paper limits itself to external comparison.
Members of the study groups, vegetable growers in the Westland (part of the province of South Holland), have taken the initiative, in co-operation with the vegetable auctions in this area, for a project to compare yields, growing conditions and labour.
Many growers took part in this project by sending the forms to the auctions and receiving the general survey in return.
A number of participants wanted to do this faster and they started another project for the comparison of growing conditions by means of Videotex.
In 1987 there will be ca 130 participants in the second project, which will then have a national instead of a regional character.
The participants will then form groups in their own districts.