Examining Factors Related to Work Motivation in Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives;

This study investigated work motivation among employees of a Japanese agricultural cooperative (JA) using the SWITCH (Sustainable Work-styles for Individuals and Team Challenges) for sustainable workstyles.Data were collected from 337 members of JA Fukushima Mirai in 2025.Multi-group covariance and mean structure analysis (MG-CMSA) was employed to examine differences by occupational position.The validated model indicated that motivation was supported by two main factors: successful experiences (effort, achievement, social evaluation) and interpersonal relationships (communication, language concept, building trusting relationships).Structural differences emerged across positions.For regular employees, motivation was strengthened through trusting relationships that fostered social evaluation.For managers, motivation was primarily sustained by linking personal effort to achievement outcomes, reflecting their responsibility to produce results.For contract employees, no consistent associations with motivation were observed, suggesting distinct dynamics tied to employment status.These findings demonstrate that the model of motivation within JA varies by occupational position and underscore the need for position-specific strategies to enhance organizational sustainability.