The study was undertaken to establish the role that should be played by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to strengthen existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in South Africa to ensure that they are able to provide support services to member cooperatives. Ten existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in the Zululand district of the province of Kwazulu Natal took part in the study. The results indicate that although these cooperatives understand the services to provide, they lack capacity mainly due to lack of the necessary infrastructure, finance and skills. The study recommends that DAFF should recognise the significance of this tier of cooperatives and provide direct and focused support. DAFF should develop a Cooperative Development Strategy for the sector that clearly articulates how it is going to support this level of cooperatives. Among others DAFF should also provide initial infrastructure to these cooperatives and facilitate private-public-partnership initiatives. / Public Administration & Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

The study was undertaken to establish the role that should be played by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to strengthen existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in South Africa to ensure that they are able to provide support services to member cooperatives. Ten existing second-tier agricultural cooperatives in the Zululand district of the province of Kwazulu Natal took part in the study. The results indicate that although these cooperatives understand the services to provide, they lack capacity mainly due to lack of the necessary infrastructure, finance and skills. The study recommends that DAFF should recognise the significance of this tier of cooperatives and provide direct and focused support. DAFF should develop a Cooperative Development Strategy for the sector that clearly articulates how it is going to support this level of cooperatives. Among others DAFF should also provide initial infrastructure to these cooperatives and facilitate private-public-partnership initiatives. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) at Stellenbosch University / Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main objective of the research is to understand the concept of cooperative conversions and compare the performance of converted cooperatives to those that never converted using financial accounting analysis and organisational dynamism. Even though the differences were relatively small, companies had the strongest relative financial performance than cooperatives. Companies had the strongest performances in asset and revenue growth. Average revenue growth for companies from 2004 to 2007 was 29% as compared to 15% by cooperatives and asset growth was 25% for companies compared to 12.5% by cooperatives. Results further indicate that for the past two years, cooperatives seem to be reporting decreasing performance in most of the financial ratios analysed. Thus, based on results from the financial analysis, operating as a company or converting from a cooperative to a company could result in slight increases in financial performance. Rapid change presents various challenges and opportunities for businesses in today‘s dynamic environment. As a result, business dynamism is becoming an increasingly important aspect and factor in determining success. Based on a dynamism score card, the study shows that companies are by far much more dynamic than cooperatives, with a score of 83.75 compared to 62.33 out of 100 respectively. However, cooperatives compare relatively well to companies in as far as organisational strategy, management, organisational structure and culture. Their limitations come from their property rights framework which is by far less dynamic than that of companies owing to the limitations and constraints of the Cooperatives Act (Act 14 of 2005). The main shortcomings of cooperative property rights were that of not allowing external investors into the cooperative and the one member one vote principle for primary cooperatives or the 15% cap for secondary cooperatives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vernaamste doelwit van hierdie navorsing was om die konsep van koöperatiewe omsettings te verstaan en die prestasie van omsette koöperasies te vergelyk met dié wat nog nooit deur middel van finansiële rekeningkundige analise en organisatoriese dinamisme omgesit is nie. Hoewel die verskille relatief klein was, het maatskappye die sterkste relatiewe finansiële prestasie gehad in vergelyking met koöperasies. Maatskappye het ook die sterkste prestasie in bate- en inkomstegroei getoon. Gemiddelde inkomstegroei vir maatskappye vanaf 2004 tot 2007 was 29%, in vergelyking met 15% vir koöperasies, terwyl bategroei vir maatskappye 25% was in vergelyking met 12.5% vir koöperasies. Die resultate toon verder dat koöperasies oor die afgelope twee jaar verminderde prestasie blyk te rapporteer in die meerderheid van die finansiële verhoudings wat geanaliseer is. Dus, op grond van die resultate van die finansiële analise, sal funksionering as ‘n maatskappy of omsetting van ‘n koöperasie na ‘n maatskappy kan lei tot ‘n effense verhoging in finansiële prestasie. Snelle verandering bied verskeie uitdagings en geleenthede vir maatskappye in die huidige dinamiese omgewing. Gevolglik is sakedinamisme besig om ‘n toenemend belangrike aspek en faktor in die bepaling van sukses te word. Op die basis van ‘n dinamisme-telkaart het hierdie studie getoon dat maatskappye baie meer dinamies is as koöperasies, met ‗n telling van 83.75 in vergelyking met 62.33 uit 100 onderskeidelik. Koöperasies vergelyk egter relatief goed met maatskappye in soverre dit organisatoriese strategie, bestuur, organisatoriese struktuur en kultuur behels. Hulle beperkings kom van hulle eiendomsregraamwerk, wat baie minder dinamies is as dié van maatskappye op grond van die beperkings van die Wet op Koöperasies (Wet 14 van 2005). Die vernaamste tekorte van koöperatiewe eiendomsregte is dat hulle nie eksterne beleggers in die koöperasie toelaat nie en die beginsel van een lid, een stem vir primêre koöperasies of die 15% perk op sekondêre koöperasies.

The purpose of this research is to develop a model of organizational capacity that can potentially lead wine cooperatives to achieve success, exploring the factors in the environment that affect their performance and present preliminary criteria to evaluate organizational capacity based on the model. Cooperatives are organizations with particular characteristics. Apart from having sharing cooperative principles and values, there is a dual nature to their purpose that has been noted in the literature. Cooperatives have both an economic and a social dimension: they are simultaneously a business and non-profit driven organizations owned by their members and controlled by them democratically. The aim of cooperatives is to maximise members’ service and satisfaction. Financial indicators alone are not suitable to assess cooperatives’ performance since they are not for-profit organization. So, the construct of organizational capacity, developed to assess the potential of non-profit organizations (NPO) to achieve their goals, was adapted to wine cooperatives in Portugal. Although there are models of organizational capacity for NPO, they do not fit the reality of cooperatives mainly because of their economic role. Cooperatives are also economically oriented businesses. A grounded theory approach was adopted for this research, which is a qualitative methodology that intends to systematically obtain and analyse data in social research to generate theory. Cooperatives were selected through theoretical sampling, aiming to reach cooperatives that could represent the diversity of the universe of 67 wine cooperatives in Portugal in 2015. Twenty-three people (members and managers) were interviewed in 19 wine cooperatives and unions in different regions of the country. The model of organizational capacity in the environment of wine cooperatives was developed taking into account the categories that emerged from data. The model provides a systemic view of the wine cooperative environment and has three sets of categories: members, environmental factors and the cooperative itself. The two categories that compose this last set are cooperative identity and organizational capacity. The core category in the model of organizational capacity in wine cooperatives is management because it is the required ability of managers that allows them to coordinate the environmental factors and other capacities of the cooperative. / O objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver um modelo de capacidade organizacional capaz de gerar o potencial de conduzir as adegas cooperativas ao sucesso, identificando os fatores ambientais que afectam o seu desempenho e propor critérios para avaliar a capacidade organizacional das adegas cooperativas a partir do modelo. As cooperativas são organizações com características muito próprias. Para além de partilharem os princípios e valores cooperativos, uma dualidade de propósito tem sido identificada na literatura. As cooperativas têm tanto uma dimensão económica como uma dimensão social: são simultaneamente um negócio e organizações sem fins lucrativas que pertencem e são controladas pelos seus associados, democraticamente. A finalidade das cooperativas é maximizar os serviços e a satisfação dos associados. Indicadores financeiros não são adequados para avaliar o desempenho das cooperativas, pois estas não são organizações que visam lucro. Assim, o constructo capacidade organizacional, desenvolvido para avaliar o potencial das organizações sem fins lucrativos (OSFL) de atingir seus objetivos, foi adaptado para as adegas cooperativas Portuguesas. Embora existam modelos de capacidade organizacional para OSFL, eles não se adequam à realidade das cooperativas dado o seu papel económico. As cooperativas são também negócios com orientação económica. A abordagem de pesquisa foi a teoria fundamentada, uma metodologia qualitativa que pretende obter e analisar dados sistematicamente em pesquisa social para gerar teoria. As cooperativas foram selecionadas através da amostragem teórica, buscando incluir cooperativas que pudessem representar a diversidade do universo de 67 adegas cooperativas existentes em Portugal em 2015. Vinte e três pessoas (associados e gestores) foram entrevistados em 19 adegas cooperativas e uniões, em diferentes regiões do país. O modelo de capacidade organizacional no ambiente das adegas cooperativas foi desenvolvido levando em consideração as categorias que surgiram nas entrevistas. O modelo proporciona uma visão sistêmica do ambiente das adegas cooperativa e apresenta três conjuntos de categorias: associados, factores ambientais e a cooperativa. As duas categorias que compõem este último grupo são a identidade cooperativa e a capacidade organizacional. A categoria central do modelo de capacidade organizacional em adegas cooperativas é gestão pois é a habilidade necessária aos gestores que lhes permite coordenar os factores ambientais e as outras capacidades da cooperativa.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-346). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-346). Also available on the Internet.

A presença e a importância das cooperativas no Rio Grande do Sul - especialmente as ligadas ao setor produtivo - é consenso entre os estudiosos do tema. Estas organizações foram constituídas por distintos agentes, com, igualmente, objetivos distintos, em múltiplos tempos e locais, apresentando estruturas e funcionamentos diversos. A fim de compreender o rico e pouco estudado universo dos elaboradores e participantes da constituição dessas organizações - no caso, os produtores familiares ligados à Cooperativa de Carnes do município de Sananduva - bem como das formas com que seus associados se relacionam com elas, contemplando, igualmente as mudanças operadas nas próprias Organizações, este trabalho elabora, primeiramente, tipos ideais dos produtores associados. Em segundo momento, examina as transformações operadas na própria Cooperativa, visando estabelecer, a partir destas duas análises, quais são as relações constituídas entre a Organização e seus associados. Conjeturaram-se, como hipóteses fundamentais, que, à medida que os produtores de suínos associados avançam no processo histórico, eles transformam-se, diversificando-se quanto a seu tipo. A cooperativa estudada, por sua vez, consolida um modelo hegemônico, o empresarial, mas mantém laços de dominação pautados na tradição. Verificou-se, comprovando-se as hipóteses apontadas, a presença de dois tipos de produtores: o tradicional e o empresarial, que sustentam uma dominação em relação à Cooperativa (progressivamente burocratizada e empresarial) baseada em uma relação firmada em valores. / The presence and importance of cooperatives within Rio Grande do Sul - especially those that are linked to the productive sector - is consensus among specialists of the topic. These organizations were constituted by different agents, with, likewise, different goals, in multiple times and localities, showing diverse structures and functionings. With the purpose to understand the rich and little-studied universe of people who elaborate and participate in the constitution of those organizations - in this case, the family producers involved to the "Cooperativa Sananduva de Carnes e Derivados Ltda." [a cooperative of meat production] within Sananduva Municipality - as well as the forms by which associates report to them, having in mind, as well, the changes that has been operated in the Organizations, this work elaborates, firstly, ideal types of the associated producers. At a second time, it examines the transformations that were operated inside the Cooperative, attempting to establish, from these two analyses, what are the relationships that were constituted between the Organization and their associates. The fundamental hypotheses that have been conjuctured is that, as long as the associates of swine production go forward in the historic process, they transform themselves, diversifying according to their type. The surveyed cooperative consolidates a hegemonic model, or entrepreneurial, however it keeps links of domination patterned by tradition. It was verified, confirming the mentioned hypotheses, the presence of two types of producers: the traditional and the entrepreneurial in relation to the Cooperative (progressively bureaucratized and entrepreneurial) based on a relation that has been consolidated in values.

A presença e a importância das cooperativas no Rio Grande do Sul - especialmente as ligadas ao setor produtivo - é consenso entre os estudiosos do tema. Estas organizações foram constituídas por distintos agentes, com, igualmente, objetivos distintos, em múltiplos tempos e locais, apresentando estruturas e funcionamentos diversos. A fim de compreender o rico e pouco estudado universo dos elaboradores e participantes da constituição dessas organizações - no caso, os produtores familiares ligados à Cooperativa de Carnes do município de Sananduva - bem como das formas com que seus associados se relacionam com elas, contemplando, igualmente as mudanças operadas nas próprias Organizações, este trabalho elabora, primeiramente, tipos ideais dos produtores associados. Em segundo momento, examina as transformações operadas na própria Cooperativa, visando estabelecer, a partir destas duas análises, quais são as relações constituídas entre a Organização e seus associados. Conjeturaram-se, como hipóteses fundamentais, que, à medida que os produtores de suínos associados avançam no processo histórico, eles transformam-se, diversificando-se quanto a seu tipo. A cooperativa estudada, por sua vez, consolida um modelo hegemônico, o empresarial, mas mantém laços de dominação pautados na tradição. Verificou-se, comprovando-se as hipóteses apontadas, a presença de dois tipos de produtores: o tradicional e o empresarial, que sustentam uma dominação em relação à Cooperativa (progressivamente burocratizada e empresarial) baseada em uma relação firmada em valores. / The presence and importance of cooperatives within Rio Grande do Sul - especially those that are linked to the productive sector - is consensus among specialists of the topic. These organizations were constituted by different agents, with, likewise, different goals, in multiple times and localities, showing diverse structures and functionings. With the purpose to understand the rich and little-studied universe of people who elaborate and participate in the constitution of those organizations - in this case, the family producers involved to the "Cooperativa Sananduva de Carnes e Derivados Ltda." [a cooperative of meat production] within Sananduva Municipality - as well as the forms by which associates report to them, having in mind, as well, the changes that has been operated in the Organizations, this work elaborates, firstly, ideal types of the associated producers. At a second time, it examines the transformations that were operated inside the Cooperative, attempting to establish, from these two analyses, what are the relationships that were constituted between the Organization and their associates. The fundamental hypotheses that have been conjuctured is that, as long as the associates of swine production go forward in the historic process, they transform themselves, diversifying according to their type. The surveyed cooperative consolidates a hegemonic model, or entrepreneurial, however it keeps links of domination patterned by tradition. It was verified, confirming the mentioned hypotheses, the presence of two types of producers: the traditional and the entrepreneurial in relation to the Cooperative (progressively bureaucratized and entrepreneurial) based on a relation that has been consolidated in values.

A presença e a importância das cooperativas no Rio Grande do Sul - especialmente as ligadas ao setor produtivo - é consenso entre os estudiosos do tema. Estas organizações foram constituídas por distintos agentes, com, igualmente, objetivos distintos, em múltiplos tempos e locais, apresentando estruturas e funcionamentos diversos. A fim de compreender o rico e pouco estudado universo dos elaboradores e participantes da constituição dessas organizações - no caso, os produtores familiares ligados à Cooperativa de Carnes do município de Sananduva - bem como das formas com que seus associados se relacionam com elas, contemplando, igualmente as mudanças operadas nas próprias Organizações, este trabalho elabora, primeiramente, tipos ideais dos produtores associados. Em segundo momento, examina as transformações operadas na própria Cooperativa, visando estabelecer, a partir destas duas análises, quais são as relações constituídas entre a Organização e seus associados. Conjeturaram-se, como hipóteses fundamentais, que, à medida que os produtores de suínos associados avançam no processo histórico, eles transformam-se, diversificando-se quanto a seu tipo. A cooperativa estudada, por sua vez, consolida um modelo hegemônico, o empresarial, mas mantém laços de dominação pautados na tradição. Verificou-se, comprovando-se as hipóteses apontadas, a presença de dois tipos de produtores: o tradicional e o empresarial, que sustentam uma dominação em relação à Cooperativa (progressivamente burocratizada e empresarial) baseada em uma relação firmada em valores. / The presence and importance of cooperatives within Rio Grande do Sul - especially those that are linked to the productive sector - is consensus among specialists of the topic. These organizations were constituted by different agents, with, likewise, different goals, in multiple times and localities, showing diverse structures and functionings. With the purpose to understand the rich and little-studied universe of people who elaborate and participate in the constitution of those organizations - in this case, the family producers involved to the "Cooperativa Sananduva de Carnes e Derivados Ltda." [a cooperative of meat production] within Sananduva Municipality - as well as the forms by which associates report to them, having in mind, as well, the changes that has been operated in the Organizations, this work elaborates, firstly, ideal types of the associated producers. At a second time, it examines the transformations that were operated inside the Cooperative, attempting to establish, from these two analyses, what are the relationships that were constituted between the Organization and their associates. The fundamental hypotheses that have been conjuctured is that, as long as the associates of swine production go forward in the historic process, they transform themselves, diversifying according to their type. The surveyed cooperative consolidates a hegemonic model, or entrepreneurial, however it keeps links of domination patterned by tradition. It was verified, confirming the mentioned hypotheses, the presence of two types of producers: the traditional and the entrepreneurial in relation to the Cooperative (progressively bureaucratized and entrepreneurial) based on a relation that has been consolidated in values.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2018-06-18T15:46:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 gleicesantanamorais.pdf: 2010794 bytes, checksum: 52ab798a72af303385477db8ef845974 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-08-21T11:12:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gleicesantanamorais.pdf: 2010794 bytes, checksum: 52ab798a72af303385477db8ef845974 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T11:12:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gleicesantanamorais.pdf: 2010794 bytes, checksum: 52ab798a72af303385477db8ef845974 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-06 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Externamente as cooperativas de crédito possuem muitas similaridades com os bancos. No entanto há uma série de características, próprias da sua natureza organizacional, que as diferenciam das instituições financeiras bancárias. Dentre elas, tem-se a figura do cooperado, um “consumidor” diferenciado, que assume, simultaneamente, o papel de dono e usuário dos serviços prestados pela cooperativa. A singularidade do modelo de organização cooperativa, bem como a natureza híbrida do papel assumido pelos cooperados, despertam, para fins deste estudo, o interesse em compreender as dimensões do comportamento deste “consumidor- associado”. Nesse sentido, o objetivo geral deste estudo é: identificar os fatores que influenciam a associação em cooperativas de crédito. O referencial teórico desta pesquisa aborda dois campos do conhecimento: os aspectos relacionados ao cooperativismo de crédito e estudos sobre os fatores que influenciam a escolha por instituições financeiras. Para responder aos objetivos específicos, duas fases metodológicas foram desenvolvidas: fase qualitativa, cuja finalidade é responder o objetivo específico 1 (identificar, na perspectiva dos cooperados e dos gestores de cooperativas singular, central e confederação, as variáveis que influenciam a associação em cooperativas de crédito). Para isso, foram realizadas 14 entrevistas semiestruturadas com atores-chave, dentre eles: cooperados, gerentes de negócios, supervisor de produtos e diretor responsável pelo marketing de cooperativa singular, gerente da área de marketing de uma cooperativa central e de uma confederação de cooperativas. Os dados foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. A segunda fase é de natureza quantitativa, sua finalidade é responder ao objetivo especifico 2 (identificar e mensurar os fatores que influenciam a associação em cooperativas de crédito). Para isso, foram aplicados 415 questionários em cooperados de três cooperativas. Os métodos utilizados na análise de dados foram a análise fatorial exploratória e mensuração do Alfa de Cronbach. A pesquisa identificou sete fatores que explicam 66,68% da variação total dos dados. Os fatores e seus respectivos alfas são: Atendimento e Confiabilidade (0,943), Preço (0,841), Diferenciais do Cooperativismo (0,846), Conveniência (0,856), Vantagens Relativas (0,862), Influencias Sociais (0,700), Produtos (0,498). Destaca-se a relevância do fator Diferenciais do Cooperativismo, que permite constatar que as características consideradas como intrínsecas às cooperativas, são motivadoras no processo de associação. Nota-se, também, que o fator Produtos não obteve um alfa satisfatório. Acredita-se que um dos gargalhos esteja relacionado à política de comunicação desse atributo, durante as entrevistas, os cooperados não se demonstraram seguros quanto ao conhecimento dos produtos ofertados pela cooperativa. Este estudo proporciona uma contribuição incremental à literatura de comportamento do consumidor, especialmente, no âmbito do cooperativismo financeiro. Quanto às implicações práticas, os resultados obtidos poderão ser incorporados na estratégia de marketing das cooperativas, especialmente, no âmbito do marketing comercial e institucional. Dentre as limitações do estudo, verifica-se que a amostra não contemplou municípios de portes distintos e cooperativas de sistemas diferentes. Como sugestão de pesquisas futuras, estudos comparativos entre cooperativas de crédito e bancos e perfis distintos de cooperados poderão ser realizados; validação do instrumento de coleta de dados (escala); dentre outras sugestões. / Externally, credit cooperatives have many similarities with banks. However, a series of characteristics of its own organizational nature, distinguish them from banking financial institutions. Among them is the figure of the member, a distinguished "consumer" who simultaneously assumes the role of owner and user of the services provided by the cooperative. The uniqueness of the model of a cooperative organization, and the hybrid nature of the role assumed by the members, awakens the interest in understanding the behavioural dimensions of this "consumer-associate". In this sense, the general objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence the association in credit cooperatives. The theoretical reference of this research approaches two fields of knowledge: the aspects related to credit cooperativism and studies on the factors that influence the choice for financial institutions. To reach the specific objectives, two methodological phases were developed. A qualitative phase, of which purpose was to reach specific objective 1 (identify, from the perspective of members and managers of singular, central and confederation cooperatives, the variables that influence the association in credit cooperatives). To this end, a literature review was conducted in addition to 14 semi-structured interviews with key actors, among them: members, business managers, product supervisor and the director responsible for the marketing of a singular cooperative, and marketing manager of a central cooperative and confederation of cooperatives. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The second phase had quantitative nature, with the purpose of reaching specific objective 2 (identify and measure the factors that influence the association in credit cooperatives). To this end, 415 questionnaires were applied to members of three cooperatives. The methods used for data analysis are the exploratory factorial analysis and the Cronbach's Alpha. The research identified seven factors that explain 66.68% of the total data variation. The factors and their respective alphas are: Attendance and Reliability (0.943), Price (0.841), Cooperativism Differentials (0.846), Convenience (0.856), Relative Advantages (0.862), Social Influences (0.700), Products (0.488). The relevance of factor "Cooperativism Differentials" was prominent, demonstrating that the characteristics considered as intrinsic to cooperatives are motivating for the association process. The "products" factor did not obtain a satisfactory alpha. It is assumed that one of the hindering effects is related to the communication policy of this attribute, given that, during the interviews, the cooperative members demonstrated uncertainty regarding the knowledge of the products offered by the cooperative. This study provides an incremental contribution to the literature on consumer behaviour, especially in the area of financial cooperativism. Regarding practical implications, the results obtained can be incorporated into the marketing strategy of cooperatives, especially in the context of commercial and institutional marketing. About the study limitations, the sample did not include municipalities of distinct sizes and cooperatives of distinct systems. As a suggestion for future research, comparative studies can be conducted between credit cooperatives and banks, as well as distinct cooperative profiles; validation of the data collection instrument (scale); among others.