Singularities in the management of traditional and popular cooperatives: case study of in rural cooperatives

Abstract

This article analyzes management elements in traditional and popular cooperative, as part of a debate that is taking place in Brazil since the 1990 ́s. Based on the empirical assessment of two agricultural cooperatives - a traditional agribusiness cooperative – COCAMAR, and a popular cooperative belonging to MST (Movement of Rural Workers Without Land)- COPAVI, and using a case study methodology, the aim was to identify the singularities of these cooperatives’ management history, focusing on assets, finance, decision processes and work organization. The results pointed to a management dynamics directed towards gauging of economic results in the case of the COCAMAR, while in the COPAVI the management dynamics pointed to the gauging of better social conditions for the members, apart from maintaining its resistance to processes of land, income and power concentration and centralization in the rural environment.