Not so ‘invisible’: A Qualitative Case Study Exploring Gender Relations and Farm Management Software

Authors

  • Dale Carolyn Mackrell Griffith University
  • Maree Veronica Boyle Griffith University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v16i2.578

Keywords:

Farm management software, case study, qualitative, gender, Australia

Abstract

This qualitative case study explored farm management practices by women cotton growers who used computer-based information systems, most particularly the agricultural farm management software, CottonLOGIC, within the Australian cotton industry. This study found that, although gender differences and inequalities persist in rural parts of the region, the agency of women cotton growers ensures not only a sustainable future for themselves and their families, but also for the broader cotton industry as a whole. The use of farm management software by women cotton farmers was informed by Connell’s theoretical framework of gender relations (2002). The findings suggested that, women’s active participation in family farm partnerships and their acquisition of technological skills through the use of farm management software like CottonLOGIC, meant that all cotton growers benefit through the feminizing of specific farm management practices in family farm enterprises. This, therefore, has significant implications for developing the cotton industry into a truly sustainable entity.

Author Biography

Dale Carolyn Mackrell, Griffith University

Dale Mackrell is a lecturer in Information Systems in the Griffith Business School of Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Her research interests are business intelligence, in particular, the adoption and use of agricultural decision support systems, gender and technology, as well as the alignment of the academic preparation of MIS graduates and the expectations of technology intensive organisations. Dale has published several conference and journal papers.

Downloads

Published

2010-03-01

How to Cite

Mackrell, D. C., & Boyle, M. V. (2010). Not so ‘invisible’: A Qualitative Case Study Exploring Gender Relations and Farm Management Software. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v16i2.578