Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Chapter 1 – Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
1.1 Background of the topic …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
1.2 Specific angle of the topic ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
1.3 Research aim ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
1.4 Research question …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
1.5 Research sub-questions ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
1.6 Research Objectives ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
1.7 Suitability of the researcher and interest in the subject. …………………………………………………….. 10
1.8 Approach to the dissertation …………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
1.9 Scope and limitations of the research …………………………………………………………………………….. 11
1.10 Organisation of the dissertation …………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Chapter 2 – Literature Review ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
2.1 Literature Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
2.2 Theme one: Irish Agri-Food Sector ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15
2.2.1 Generalities ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
2.2.2 Historical volatility of the Irish agricultural market……………………………………………………. 16
2.3 Theme two: The UK Market …………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
2.4 Theme Three: The European Union ……………………………………………………………………………….. 19
2.4.1 Overview of trade policies in the EU ……………………………………………………………………….. 21
2.5 Theme four: Risk Management……………………………………………………………………………………… 23
2.5.1 How can Decision Science help managing the “Brexit” ……………………………………………… 23
2.5.2 Risk Management as the main component of decision science in face of “Brexit” …………. 23
2.5.3 How do cognitive biases affect the decision making process regarding event risk …………. 24
2.6 Theme five: Strategic (short-term) Risk Awareness & Management ………………………………….. 25
2.7 Theme six: Structural (long-term) Risk Awareness & Management …………………………………… 25
2.7.1 How do Businesses adjust to major macroeconomic changes ……………………………………… 25
2.8 Conclusions: Challenge for Irish Agri-Food exporters. …………………………………………………….. 27
Chapter 3 – Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29
3.1 Methodology Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 29
3.2 Research Questions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 29
3.3 Research Philosophy ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30
3.4 Research Approach ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
3.5 Research Strategy ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
3.6 Research Choice ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
3.7 Time horizon ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34
3.8 Sampling – Selecting Respondents …………………………………………………………………………………. 34
3.9 Data Collection Instruments………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35
3.10 Research Ethics …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 36
3.11 Limitations of Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 37
Chapter 4 – Data analysis and findings ……………………………………………………………………………………. 38
4.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 38
4.2 Questions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
4.3 Findings and analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 38
Chapter 5 – Conclusion and Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………… 51
Chapter 6 – Self-reflection on own learning and performance …………………………………………………….. 55
6.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 55
6.2 Reflection on dissertation …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 56
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
Appendices ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 64
Appendix 1: Questions used for the farmers’ interviews. ……………………………………………………….. 64
Appendix 2: Sampling – Farmers ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
Appendix 3: Sampling – Economist …………………………………………………………………………………….. 66
Appendix 4: Interviews – Farmer 1 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 67
Appendix 5: Interviews – Farmer 2 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 69
Appendix 6: Interviews – Farmer 3 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 70
Appendix 7: Interviews – Farmer 4 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 71
Appendix 8: Interviews – Farmer 5 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 73
Appendix 9: Interviews – Lorcan Allen ……………………………………………………………………………….. 75