CO - OPERATION AND AGRICULTURE (TAAVON)
Year:2015 | Volume:4 | Issue:14

The theory of postmodern change management is one of the new theories replying shortcomings of other traditional and modern theories to deal with increasing and changing requirements of organizations and the entire society. Application rate of components of postmodern change management in managing system of Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare has been studied in this paper in two current and desirable situations. In many related texts while considering the literature of post-modern change management, these components were discussed as “ creativity and innovation” , “ encouraging leadership based on theories of serving leader” , “ co-creation and management based on networks” , “ self-control” and “ active organization” . Descriptive-survey method was used in this research to study all managers and directors of Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in high, middle and executive levels. Dependent t-test and T-Hoteling statistical tests were used to analyze data. The findings showed that based on observed t-test, all components were less agreed than average level in current situation, but were agreed more than average level in the desirable situation. The findings of T-hoteling also showed that application rate of co-creation (management based on network) was higher in current situation, and application rate of creativity was the least one; while, desirability of encouraging leadership based on serving leader is evaluated higher than other components by means of standard scales, and application of self-control was less evaluated than other components. Generally, the results indicated that current management system of Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare benefited very little from these components and were far from ideal situation.

This study aimed to identify indicators for evaluating the performance of agricultural cooperatives and trying to promote quality and quantity of agricultural cooperatives and recognizing successful agricultural cooperatives. This study was applied research that was based on qualitative methodology. The data were collected in two phases. Reviewed literature and identifying primary indicators included the first step. The second step, for the purpose of finalizing and weighing the indicators a Delphi technique was used. Twenty-six related experts and specialists were the respondents of Delphi phase that were selected by purposeful and snowball sampling methods. The results showed that the most important indicators for the success of cooperatives could be detected in 6 dimentions such as; economic, social, legal, managerial, educational, and individual. The most important parameters were identified such as; employment, profitability, education level of administrators and members, the expertise of managers, members, continuity of co-operative activity and participation and saticfaction of the members pointed out. Factor of importance or weight given to these experts, the indexes are: profitability 89. 30, job creation 83. 08, education administrators and members 86. 20, participation 76. 35 and consent of the members 78. 27.

This quantitative research was carried out with the aim of comparatively assess the success of rural production cooperatives in comparison with otheragricultural utilization systems. Statistical population of this research were agricultural beneficiaries in Kashan, Aran and Bidgol Townships (N=2700) that 486 Samples were selected through stratified random sampling from three geographical region and five kind of system operation. Data were collected using a questionnaire instrument. Validity of the questionnaire was obtained through a panel of experts and reliability was obtained through Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed by using SPSS16 and applying descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Duncan's test. Results revealed that the rural production cooperatives in all evaluated parameters (social, technical, economic and management) has a significant difference with other agricultural operation systems. Rural production cooperatives in comparison with other agricultural operation systems of the social and technical Index in the first place but in economy and management Index is in second place after the trading system.

The main purposes of this descriptive-exploratory research were to survey barriers and identify the best solutions for activating frontiersmen cooperatives in Kermanshah Province. The population included board of directors and managers of the cooperatives (N =115). Eighty-five members using simple random sampling method was chosen by the use of Krejcie & Morgan Table. The main tool for data collection was a questionnaire that its validity was conducted through experts from the cooperative and its reliability was using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Factor analysis was used to elicit the barriers of cooperatives success. Based on results, these barriers are linked to the government, management of cooperatives, situations of education, socio – economic barrier and proficiency. Strategies such as providing suitable infrastructures, increase foreign exchange quota of frontiersmen and more freedom in the import and export are important for the activation of the cooperatives.

In order to evaluate the factors affecting the failure of tea farmer cooperatives in Guilan Province a descriptive-correlation study was designed. The statistical population consisted of tea farmer cooperatives’ members and board of directors (N=38736). According to Kerjci and Morgan’ s sample size table for the given population, 400 people selected as statistical sample by using stratified sampling method. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire whose validity was confi rmed by university faculty members and Cooperative Organization experts. The estimated reliability in pilot study, using Cronbach’ s Alpha, was 0. 904, which was an acceptable reliability. Descriptive and inferential statistics used for data analysis. SPSS16 software was used for data analysis. Results of the factor analysis revealed that seven factors such as educational, participatory, supportive, developmental, managerial, responsibility and governeral affect the failure of tea farmer cooperatives. These factors accounted for 71. 034% of variance of effective factors in the failure of tea farmer cooperatives. In general, the main factors affected the failure of the tea cooperatives were: insufficient government support, lack of proper communication between production and marketing, lack of proper marketing of products, improper credit policies, and lack of solidarity among members, lack of familiarity with the principles of cooperative members, non-governmental and non-profit credit facilities due to long-term investment.

The main purpose this study was to investigate the cultural capital and demographic characteristics on the Performance of Agricultural and Industrial Cooperatives of Boyerahmad Township. Using survey and documentary methods, statistical population included 210 members of Agricultural and Industrial Cooperatives of Boyerahmad Township, from which 136 members were selected as sample size based on Morgan sampling Table and selected via approporiate multistage random sampling. Findings showed that "cultural behaviors and procedures" and cultural capital had linear relationship with the dependent variable, but there was no relationship between the kind of cultural goods consumption and the dependent variable. "Cultural behaviors and procedures" and cultural capital, totally, had explained 33. 6 percentages of the dependent variable variance. There was no significant difference between the dependent variable according to the demographic variables (such as gender, marital situation, and education, membership and activity history of members).

This study is based on a comparative assessment to measure the level of rural satisfaction with the services provided by local management in both cooperative and spot model. SERVQUAL model has been used to measure service quality. The population of this study included villages in the central district of Abarkuh Township (cooperative model) and the central district of Lamerd Township (point model). Stratified random Sampling method was used to distribute 130 instruments in each Township, a total of 260 questionnaires were distributed all together. For data analysis, SPSS software and one sample and independent sample T-test and Chi-square test was implemented. The results showed that the rural average satisfaction level in Abarkuh Township was higher than Lamerd Township. The independent sample T-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the two Townships regarding rural average satisfaction in reliability, durability, and physical and empathy dimensions. Also, there was a significant difference between the two Townships and rural average satisfaction in Abarkuh Township with cooperative model and Lamerd Township with point model. However, there was not a significant difference between two Townships regarding responsibility dimension.

The main purpose of this descriptive correlational research was to analyze the impact of social capital in developing a shared vision for agricultural entrepreneurship improvement. The population included 152 members of cooperatives in Kermanshah Township. A random sampling method was used to select 110 respondents. The main instrument was a questionnaire that Panel of expert method was used to verify its content and face validity. AMOS software was used to test the fitness of data in structural equation modeling. Multivariate Analysis of Variance was utilized to identify the effect of shared vision on social capital. The findings confirmed the significant relationship between shared vision and social capital indicators (including trust, norms, and networks) in development of agricultural entrepreneurship.