STIMULI AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF INTERCOOPERATION

Resumo

The study aimed to identify the elements that make up intercooperation, as well as the aspects that encourage or restrict the achievement of such relationships. Qualitative research was carried out, through data collected by semi-structured interviews carried out with seventeen cooperatives located in Brazil and Spain. For the execution of the interviews, the Content Validity Coefficient method, proposed by Hernandez-Nieto (2002), was used. To analyze the collected data, the content analysis technique was used. Fourteen categories of intercooperation were identified, involving horizontal, vertical, single-sector and multi-sector dimensions. It was found that the greater the degree of integration involved in the intercooperative relationship, the more expressive the need for informal control mechanisms. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the formality of control mechanisms and the sharing of resources between cooperatives. Furthermore, the reputation of the cooperative positively influences intercooperation. The principle of intercooperation is categorized, in addition, the research provides empirical evidence on the attributes that encourage or constrain the achievement of inter-cooperative relationships. It was suggested that cooperatives expand their participation in closed networks of relationships, as well as value reciprocity actions and maximize their reputation with other cooperatives. Such actions will maximize the social capital of cooperative and, consequently, will positively influence the scope of inter-cooperative relations. The research contributes to expanding the research field, through the identification of fourteen categories of intercooperation. Furthermore, the study is carried out in countries with different degrees of maturity in cooperativism (Brazil and Spain).