Key factors in cooperatives creation and development. Empirical study applied to valencian lands

Abstract

Cooperatives and social economy enterprises play a key role in the economic crisis: first because they are more resistant to the loss of jobs and other companies because their number increases during recessions. For this reason, it may be important to determine what factors influence the creation of such organizations and ensure their long-term survival are. To do this, the work is an empirical study applied to a sample of cooperatives created in Valencia between 2008 and 2011 (first four years of the crisis) in order to determine such key factors through the use of it is done Profile strategic technique. The results show that these organizations have significant shortcomings in relation to their skills and management capacity to adapt to the changing environment, especially in obtaining funding and professionalization of its management. Moreover, its main strength is the satisfaction and loyalty of customers, protecting the environment, improving quality, employee involvement and labor climate. Rather, its main weaknesses are the low bargaining power with suppliers, innovation in production processes, levels of indebtedness and financial costs. They are therefore the areas of finance and provisioning weaker unions, while their strength resides in its human resources and marketing.