Factors Affecting the Success of Cooperatives in Iran: A Case Study of \"Out-of-Season Products Cooperatives\" in Kermanshah Province

Authors

Abstract

        The goal of the present study is to find the gap between the existing and desired situation on the basis of factors affecting the success of cooperatives. It is a descriptive, cross-section survey of 220 cooperative members. The results of Wilcoxon test indicated a significant difference between the two situations. To enhance the existing situation special attention should be paid to socio-cultural, personality, technical, management, training and economic factors. In addition, in each factor we should consider some issues as follows:   Socio-cultural factor: Belief in the philosophy of cooperation, communication with other cooperatives and using their experiences, enhancing the work knowledge, and generating the spirit of collaboration;   Personality factor: innovation ability, risk acceptance, entrepreneurship spirit, interest in and motivation for productive work, and flexibility;   Training factor: entrepreneurship communication skills, technical skills, collaborative skills, familiarizing with cooperative skills, internship, informing of new technologies, and informing the engineers;   Management factor: managing the production and marketing, human resource development, manager accountability, management of threats and opportunities, considering the community views, skills, experience and education of executive manager, organizing, and authority;   Economic factor: long term investment, appropriate marketing, facilitating the access to loans, and economic participation.    

Keywords