Identifying Strategies for Adapting Agricultural Cooperatives to Learning Organization in Iran: Application of SWOT and SEM Models

The main purpose of this study was to identify strategies for adapting agricultural cooperatives to learning organization. Agricultural cooperatives are business organizations that fully examine all the economic, democratic and social dimensions of poverty reduction in rural areas simultaneously. This research is an exploratory research that was conducted in two parts: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative section, by holding several meetings with experts and through the method of brainstorming, the opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses for the adapting of the agricultural cooperative organization to learning organization were identified. Then, using the SWOT model, strategies and action plan were identified for adapting the cooperative organization to the learning organization. Also, in the quantitative part of the research that was conducted among the members of the cooperatives, through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the role of the identified strategies was evaluated and the designed model was approved. Based on the results, the predictive positive effect of identified strategies include: SO۱ (β= ۰.۷۳, t-Value= ۴.۲۳, P< ۰.۰۰۱), SO۲ (β= ۰.۷۹, t-Value=۴.۷۱, P< ۰.۰۰۱), SO۳ (β= ۰.۸۱, t-Value=۵.۰۸, P< ۰.۰۰۱) and SO۴ (β= ۰.۸۲, t-Value= ۴.۹۷, P< ۰.۰۰۱) on Adapting Cooperatives to the Learning Organization (ACLO). The findings showed that (R۲= ۰.۶۹) the identified strategies determined ۶۹% of the variance in the ACLO.

Keywords:

Structural Equation Modeling , SWOT model.