Browsing by Subject "Cooperative"

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Die Bedeutung von Werten in Genossenschaften und deren Umsetzung : eine empirische Analyse
(2015) Hill, Sebastian; Doluschitz, Reiner
In this dissertation, we aimed to clarify what values are considered as typical for cooperatives in theory and practice, how the values are applied and realized in practice, and what are their functions and potentials. In the first step, a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature on a national and international level was used to identify which values are seen, in theory, as cooperative-specific values. Based on the results of the literature analysis, a questionnaire was developed and the branch, the size and age of the cooperative as well as the status of the respondents were defined as influencing factors. The questionnaire was sent as a digital quantitative survey to one manager in each of the 844 existing cooperatives in the Baden-Württemberg study region. As a second step, a written (postal) survey was conducted, involving a total of 3,552 members and 707 employees from two Cooperative Banks and Raiffeisen Cooperatives and three Commercial Cooperatives. The evaluation results of the database (from primary and secondary data) show that in scientific literature, cooperative values’ core is described as one that includes the values of democracy, self-help, solidarity, self-responsibility, voluntariness, equality and justice. Some of these values were also mentioned in the results of the empirical survey, whereas the cooperative managers tended to list general values such as reliability, sustainability and fairness, as typical for cooperatives. However, it can be shown that the traditional values still have significant and implicit influence on the legal form of registered cooperatives, and that the previously defined influencing factors have a strong effect on the relevant central values. Although differences could be found between the perception and implementation of cooperative values, a conscious and purposeful communication strategy can have a decisive influence here. The hidden functions and potentials of cooperative values are undisputed in practice, such as the functions of identity and foundation of trust, or discrimination against other types. In addition, the survey shows that in the minds of the managers, members and workers, the cooperative values have social and economic potentials as well as potentials for the marketing of the cooperatives. In summary, it can be said, that the cooperative values are a unique instrument for the cooperatives to promote the legal from of registered cooperatives. It is therefore important to recognize and exploit these potentials to gain a sustainable and successful future not just for the cooperative sector, but also for the whole German society.
Kooperative Lösungsansätze zur Begegnung der Herausforderungen der Daseinsvorsorge im ländlichen Raum
(2019) Adams, Isabel; Doluschitz, Reiner
In the context of social, (infra-)structural, agricultural and demographic change, new challenges are emerging for rural areas. Demographic change especially impacts on smaller communities without an efficient infrastructure (IREUS 2011, p. 64 f.). One central challenge that affects all areas of life is the nationwide provision of public services. Based on the challenges of providing public services on a nationwide basis, an approach already practised in some locations was analysed and further developed. Observations, infomation and statistical records from the past decade indicate that the wide-ranging tasks involved in providing public services are partially performed by cooperatives (cf. BLOME-DREES et al. 2015; DOLUSCHITZ et al. 2013a; GOESCHEL 2012, p. 51; KLEMISCH and BODDEN-BERG 2012, p. 570; Kluth 2017; MARTENS 2012, p. 145; MÜNKNER 2012, p. 332; STAPPEL 2016, p. 66) with the aim of addressing specific local problems (HAUNSTEIN and THÜRLING 2017, p. 2). Due to the lack of a basis of specifically required secondary data, a comprehensive data set was collected throughout Germany that enables analysis of the specific details and background to the emergence of newly-founded public service cooperatives. The results obtained confirm the background to these foundations as described in the literature, such as the desire for an appropriate infrastructure, regional deficits (BLOME-DREES et al. 2015, p. 134), threats to the infrastructure, social challenges (cf. WIEG 2016, p. 78) and specific local and regional problems (HAUNSTEIN and THÜRLING, 2017, p. 2). However, an analysis of the underlying the establishment of cooperatives also provides fresh, supplementary findings. On the one hand, further goals reflect a charitable purpose such as the creation of social points of contact, while on the other hand there are efforts to organise further training programmes, for example, based on the wishes/initiative of like-minded individuals. About two thirds of the responding public service cooperatives, especially in rural areas, are creating a new scheme for both members and non-members. Approximately one third of the public service cooperatives analysed aim to maintain or reactivate existing facilities and services that risk being discontinued or where discontinuation has already occurred as a result of various challenges. A second aspect of this dissertation relating to public services is the digitisation of the agricultural and food sectors. All in all, a heterogeneous pattern emerges with regard to digitisation along the value chain. As a result, the companies analysed are divided into pioneers, newcomers and followers. User structures were analysed by means of a survey among practising farmers that focused on the use of e-commerce structures when purchasing agricultural resources. These structures proved to be independent of age, farm size, location and farm orientation. On the basis of the surveys, time benefits were identified as the main source of motivation behind the procurement of resources through e-commerce channels, which contradicts the cost benefits described in the literature (cf. CLASEN 2005, p. 54 f.).
Operationalisierung von Werten in Genossenschaften
(2020) Breuning, Senta; Doluschitz, Reiner
Values have gained in relevance due to their importance to individuals as well as to companies, as they are used, among other things, for orientation and identity formation. This is true for society as a whole, but especially for the structure of cooperatives. Against this background, the present cumulative dissertation will first of all establish an intersection of social (individual values) and cooperative (company values) values. For this purpose, numerous representative social value studies were analysed and a comprehensive national and international analysis of the cooperative scientific literature was collected. The aim of the intersection was to analyse a common denominator of individual and company values in order to be able to conduct an empirical survey based on fundamental values of society and cooperatives. The result of the two analyses was an intersection of 16 values, which serve as a basis for the quantitative empirical survey along a structured questionnaire. In the further course of the present dissertation it was clarified what German society knows about cooperatives and their principles and values. As differentiating factors, individual determinants such as gender, generation, federal states and cooperative branches have been analysed comparatively. In principle, a clear majority of German society has heard the term cooperatives before. However, the cooperative values and principles are much less known than the term cooperative itseld. The lack of knowledge about the term "cooperative" as well as about the cooperative values and principles is mainly found among women and the younger generations Y and Z. Contrary to the expectations, no differences are discernible with regard to the degree of familiarity with the term cooperative and its values and principles in an East-West comparison of the federal states. However, the level of awareness of cooperatives and their values and principles depends on the cooperative sector. Therefore, it can be concluded that the test persons who are familiar with the field of cooperative banks have heard the term cooperative more often and are more familiar with the cooperative principles and values than the test persons who are more acquainted with commercial or rural cooperatives. Furthermore, it should be noted that members of cooperatives are better informed about the term cooperative and its values and principles than the general German population. While the social values represent the individual values of German society and are classified as "important" to "very important", the cooperative values are the company values which are perceived by society as "less important". When listing the individual and company values, it becomes clear that the sequences are not identical and that the mean values differ considerably. Freedom is the most important individual value, whereas freedom comes last in the company values. Meanwhile, solidarity is the most important company value, which is nevertheless ranked 12th in the list of individual values. Other interesting differences, but also similarities, such as in the value of security, can be found in the rankings of the individual and company values. In general, it is worth noting that women and the oldest age cohorts, i.e. the traditionalists, rate both individual and company values more important than men and the younger generations Y and Z. Against this background, cooperatives are faced with the decision of how they want to deal with the result, especially in the context of their strategic management. In this context, either the adaptation or the differentiation strategy is suitable with regard to the application of values. The adaptation strategy consciously communicates the values that the selected target group considers as important. The differentiation strategy explicitly communicates values that can be historically and branchspecifically associated with the individual cooperative. In addition to the challenge of value pluralism, which can be found in society as well as in cooperatives and their value communication, the heterogeneity of the membership structure and their value perception of corporate values poses an additional challenge for cooperatives. In order to operationalise values in the corporate culture of cooperatives, the membership structure should therefore be analysed on a case-by-case basis and the strategic orientation of the management should be chosen accordingly. In conclusion, it is important to note that values are considered abstract. However, when continuously applied in strategic management, as well as in precise and goaloriented communication, they represent an essential contribution to the corporate mission and vision. Thus, they can contribute a considerable share to the increase of positive perception and company success.