Title: Cooperation process: what motivates individuals to participate in a cooperative?

Authors: Rozelia Laurett; Mário Franco

Addresses: University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal ' University of Beira Interior, Department of Management and Economics, CEFAGE-UBI Research Center, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal

Abstract: Setting out from the relevance of cooperatives worldwide and their important economic and social role, this research aims to understand what motivates cooperators in different segments to be part of a cooperation process with a cooperative. To do so, an exploratory and qualitative study was carried out following the multiple case study method. For data-collection, ten semi-structured interviews were held based on a previously defined script. These interviews were recorded and transcribed, followed by content analysis through codification and categorisation. From analysis of the interviews, 37 variables motivating members to participate in a cooperative were identified, with these being grouped according to their similarity in five categories: (1) external influences; (2) characteristics of the cooperative; (3) socio-psychological; (4) relationships; and (5) benefits. Some implications for theory and practice and suggestions for future research are also presented.

Keywords: cooperative; cooperator; motivators; cooperation; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2018.088388

International Journal of Management Practice, 2018 Vol.11 No.1, pp.93 - 110

Received: 13 Feb 2017
Accepted: 10 Jul 2017
Published online: 05 Dec 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article