ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE INDICADORES ORGANIZACIONAIS E O DESEMPENHO ECONÔMICO DE COOPERATIVAS AGROPECUÁRIAS

The objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence the economic performance of agricultural cooperatives in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Paraná (PR) in southern Brazil. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire applied to 40 cooperatives (20 from RS and 20 from PR). Interpretation and analysis were performed using canonical correlation. A positive association was found between economic performance and technological factors in cooperatives from both states, suggesting that investments in technology can be an effective strategy to improve competitiveness. In cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), a positive correlation was found between economic performance and the following variables: governance structure adopted by the cooperatives; bargaining power of cooperative supplier-rural producers; and income/earnings generation for members. For cooperatives in Paraná (PR), a positive association was found between the economic performance of the cooperatives and customer characteristics and with the characteristics of the region. In conclusion, the importance of understanding the market and the local context for cooperatives in Paraná is highlighted, suggesting that a customer-focused approach adapted to regional particularities can be an effective strategy to boost economic performance. For cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul, internal management practices, power relations in the supply chain, and the distribution of economic benefits to members are fundamental elements for the economic success of cooperatives.