Intercooperation of an agriculture-food coop net work within the milk chain in the state of Paraná

Abstract

Current paper focuses on triggering and restrictive factors associated to inter-cooperation activities. The study deals with a qualitative research, based on a single case study, undertaken in a network of agro-food coops of the dairy industry in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The theoretical presuppositions deal with inter-cooperation as a strategy in competitive advantage so that coop networks may survive and grow. Data were collected from interviews with administrators of the network under analysis and treated by content analysis and data triangulation. There are factors that influence inter-cooperation and compete for positive or negative results, depending on how they are administered. The main triggering factors of inter-cooperation comprises receiving services, improvement and industrialization of prime matter, strong trademark of the other companies, collegiate decision-taking, societal co-participation of the network coops among themselves, independent business units, centralized commercialization and joint ventures with relevant international firms. The main restrictive factors to inter-cooperation are dubious joint ventures and competitions between coops associated to the network. In the case of the coop under analysis, the impact generated by restrictive factors to inter-cooperation was duly administered, especially with regard to governance and network administration.