Resumen de Whose vision counts? The formulation of vision in community forest enterprises
How do external factors such as donor interventions and government policies influence the competitiveness of community forest enterprises (CFEs)? The author conducted a qualitative study on two second-tier CFEs in Mexico and Guatemala. The study consisted primarily of semistructured interviews with 125 informants, including CFE personnel, buyers, government institutions, and NGOs. It analysed the influence of the CFE's objectives and establishment process over the corporate culture, and the relationship between second-tier CFEs and affiliated CFEs. The study revealed the importance of the autonomous formulation of corporate vision. External interventions should be based on the producers’ agency rather than on the donors’ agendas. The vision of an enterprise should be guided by buyers’ values. A shift from a ‘farmer first’ to a ‘customer first’ culture is of paramount importance for support institutions as well.
