Identifying Successful Indicators for Agricultural Cooperatives

Abstract

Abstract 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.

Keywords

• agricultural cooperatives
• delphi technique
• performance assessment
• success indicators of cooperatives