The Use of the TOWS Matrix for Analysis of Sustainable Strategies in Cooperatives

Authors

  • Mariluce Paes-de-Souza Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)
  • Theophilo Alves de Souza Filho Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)
  • Haroldo de Sá Medeiros Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)
  • Dércio Bernardes de Souza Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21527/2237-6453.2019.49.309-328

Keywords:

Sustainability; Cooperatives; TOWS Matrix; Strategy.

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze sustainability strategies in cooperatives seeking to evaluate organizations that are not in beginning process and without restrict the emphasis in economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. For this, the TOWS Matrix, that is usually used to define organizational strategies, was adapted as a mechanism for analyzing the cooperative strategies, incorporating territorial and political dimensions of sustainability. Interviews were conducted with managers and members of five organizations located in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, which are linked to the agricultural sector. Through application of the adapted matrix, the joint sale of the products, the purchase of inputs and other items by the producers directly by the cooperatives are evidenced, which allows them to price and term better than those found in the market. However, some difficulties were identified in organizations, such as function overload in cooperatives management.

Author Biographies

Mariluce Paes-de-Souza, Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)

Doutora em Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Trópico Úmido pela Universidade Federal do Pará. Professora do Programa de Pós-graduação em Administração da Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR).

 

Theophilo Alves de Souza Filho, Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)

Doutor em Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Trópico Úmido pela Universidade Federal do Pará. Professor do Programa de Pós-graduação em Administração da Universidade Federal de Rondônia.

Haroldo de Sá Medeiros, Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)

Mestre em Administração pela Universidade Federal de Rondônia. Doutorando em Administração pela Universidade de Fortaleza. Professor da Universidade Federal de Rondônia.

Dércio Bernardes de Souza, Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR)

Doutor em Agronegócios pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Professor da Universidade Federal de Rondônia.

Published

2019-10-17

How to Cite

Paes-de-Souza, M., Souza Filho, T. A. de, Medeiros, H. de S., & Souza, D. B. de. (2019). The Use of the TOWS Matrix for Analysis of Sustainable Strategies in Cooperatives. Development in Question Journal, 17(49), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.21527/2237-6453.2019.49.309-328

Issue

Section

Artigos