Member Heterogeneity in Agricultural Cooperatives: A Systems-Theoretic Perspective

Authors:
Constantine Iliopoulos
Vladislav Valentinov
Type: Journal Article
Journal title: Sustainability
Year of publication: 2018
Source: AGRERI
Collected from: AGRERI
Subject:
agricultural products
agricultural economics
trade
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
agroindustrial sector
agriculture
cooperative farming
agricultural trade
Description:All over the globe, cooperatives are plagued by pervasive member heterogeneity problems that are induced by the radical and dynamic changes in the business environment. Most current solutions to these problems emphasize strengthening member loyalty and commitment. Yet, many of these solutions are symptomatic rather than fundamental. Searching for fundamental solutions, this paper draws on the Luhmannian system-environment paradigm. Bringing this paradigm to bear on the cooperative scholarship, the paper views cooperatives as operationally closed systems maintaining a precarious relationship to their outer environment, which includes cooperative members. In view of their operational closure, cooperatives tend to overstrain the carrying capacity of their environment by being active in the areas marked by a limited extent of the true commonness of member interests. This overstraining results in a host of problems associated with member heterogeneity. The fundamental solutions following from the system-environment paradigm require the adjustment of cooperative boundaries and goals in light of the evolving range of the true common interests of members. In terms of methodology, we review the extant literature, synthesize the main elements of the system-environment approach and conduct a meta-analysis of case studies and other empirical research to highlight our theoretical arguments.
 

Related Resources

Support for Farmers' Cooperatives-Experiences of non-EU OECD Countries

Provider: 
Subject: 
policies
agricultural policies
socioeconomic development
economics
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
agriculture
agricultural practices
farming systems
cooperative farming

Support for Farmers' Cooperatives-Sector Report Olives

Provider: 
Subject: 
products
agricultural products
agricultural policies
economics
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
farming systems
cooperative farming

Support for Farmers' Cooperative - Sector Report WINE

Provider: 
Subject: 
products
agricultural products
policies
agricultural policies
agricultural development
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
farms
cooperative farming

Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa: Can Agricultural Cooperatives Facilitate Access to Input and Product Markets?

Provider: 
Subject: 
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
economics
agriculture
Collected from: 

Medium-term perspectives 2000-2005

Provider: 
Subject: 
agricultural development
agricultural policies
agricultural products
agricultural economics
trade
Collected from: 

THE ROLE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN THAI AGRICULTURE

Provider: 
Subject: 
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
agriculture
policies
Collected from: 

AGRERI Library

Support for Farmers' Cooperatives-Experiences of non-EU OECD Countries

Provider: 
Subject: 
policies
agricultural policies
socioeconomic development
economics
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
agriculture
agricultural practices
farming systems
cooperative farming

Support for Farmers' Cooperatives-Sector Report Olives

Provider: 
Subject: 
products
agricultural products
agricultural policies
economics
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
farming systems
cooperative farming

Support for Farmers' Cooperative - Sector Report WINE

Provider: 
Subject: 
products
agricultural products
policies
agricultural policies
agricultural development
agricultural economics
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
farms
cooperative farming

External Library

Small-Scale Farmers in South Africa: Can Agricultural Cooperatives Facilitate Access to Input and Product Markets?

Provider: 
Subject: 
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
economics
agriculture
Collected from: 

Medium-term perspectives 2000-2005

Provider: 
Subject: 
agricultural development
agricultural policies
agricultural products
agricultural economics
trade
Collected from: 

THE ROLE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN THAI AGRICULTURE

Provider: 
Subject: 
cooperatives
agribusiness and cooperatives
agriculture
policies
Collected from: