IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i18p1921-d1746745.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Interplay of Pro-Innovative Behavior, Trust, and Farm Viability for Sustainability in the United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Karampela

    (School of Economics, Faculty of Social and Economics Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Thanasis Kizos

    (Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece)

  • Alex Koutsouris

    (Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

This study explores the complex interplay between innovation, pro-innovative behavior, social capital, and farm viability in contributing to sustainability within agricultural cooperatives. Focusing on the United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos (UWC SAMOS), a historic cooperative on the Greek island of Samos, this research aimed to measure and operationalize these concepts using literature-derived indicators and complex indexes. A mixed-method approach was employed, collecting data via semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The findings revealed a highly intricate relationship among these factors which quantitative analysis alone could not fully capture. The findings revealed a complex interplay, with female respondents showing better results in all the created composite indexes of our study. Surprisingly, the respondents of our sample who were more than 60 years old had the highest values in the composite indexes of pro-innovative behavior and economic viability and a relatively high value in the social capital index, and considering the educational level of the interviewees, the proportion with a Master’s or an equivalent level had the highest results in the pro-innovative behavior index and trust but not in economic viability. Crucially, qualitative data highlighted the underlying mechanism of “institutionalization of cooperative members” as a significant mediating factor, explaining the weak innovation and low social trust observed. This study concludes that a holistic understanding of sustainability in agricultural cooperatives necessitates a deep integration of both quantitative measures and qualitative exploration of socio-cultural dynamics, offering a refined conceptual framework for future research and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Karampela & Thanasis Kizos & Alex Koutsouris, 2025. "The Interplay of Pro-Innovative Behavior, Trust, and Farm Viability for Sustainability in the United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:18:p:1921-:d:1746745
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/18/1921/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/18/1921/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mourad Dakhli & Dirk De Clercq, 2004. "Human capital, social capital, and innovation: a multi-country study," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 107-128, March.
    2. Van de Ven, Andrew R., 1986. "Central Problems in the Management of Innovation," Agricultural Research Policy Seminar 139708, University of Minnesota Extension.
    3. Andrew H. Van de Ven, 1986. "Central Problems in the Management of Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(5), pages 590-607, May.
    4. Latruffe, Laure & Diazabakana, Ambre & Bockstaller, Christian & Desjeux, Yann & Finn, John & Kelly, Edel & Ryan, Mary & Uthes, Sandra, 2016. "Measurement of sustainability in agriculture: a review of indicators," Studies in Agricultural Economics, Research Institute for Agricultural Economics, vol. 118(3), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Liang, Qiao & Huang, Zuhui & Lu, Haiyang & Wang, Xinxin, . "Social Capital, Member Participation, and Cooperative Performance: Evidence from China’s Zhejiang," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 18(01), pages 1-30.
    6. Aleksandar Miljatović & Mirela Tomaš Simin & Veljko Vukoje, 2025. "Key Determinants of the Economic Viability of Family Farms: Evidence from Serbia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Irene Tzouramani & Stamatis Mantziaris & Pavlos Karanikolas, 2020. "Assessing Sustainability Performance at the Farm Level: Examples from Greek Agricultural Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Todtling, Franz & Trippl, Michaela, 2005. "One size fits all?: Towards a differentiated regional innovation policy approach," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1203-1219, October.
    9. Jordi Caïs & Diego Torrente & Catalina Bolancé, 2021. "The Effects of Economic Crisis on Trust: Paradoxes for Social Capital Theory," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 173-192, January.
    10. Jarka Chloupkova & Gunnar Svendsen & Gert Svendsen, 2003. "Building and destroying social capital: The case of cooperative movements in Denmark and Poland," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 20(3), pages 241-252, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ucar, Erdem, 2018. "Local creative culture and corporate innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 60-70.
    2. Nam, Dae-il & Parboteeah, K. Praveen & Cullen, John B. & Johnson, Jean L., 2014. "Cross-national differences in firms undertaking innovation initiatives: An application of institutional anomie theory," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 91-106.
    3. Klimczuk-Kochańska, Magdalena, 2016. "Rola innowacji miękkich w badaniach innowacyjności przedsiębiorstw z sektorów niskotechnologicznych na przykładzie sektora spożywczego [The Role of the Soft Innovation in the Research of Low-Tech S," MPRA Paper 84757, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Samar Hayat Khan & Abdul Majid & Muhammad Yasir, 2014. "Impact of Human Capital on the Organization’s Innovative Capabilities: Case of Telecom Sector in Pakistan," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 6(2), pages 88-95.
    5. Magdalena Klimczuk-Kochanska, 2016. "The Role of the Soft Innovation in the Research of Low-Tech Sectors on the Example of Food Industry (Rola innowacji miekkich w badaniach innowacyjnosci przedsiebiorstw z sektorow niskotechnologicznych," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(22), pages 23-32.
    6. Liu, Zhiqiang & Yan, Miao & Fan, Youqing & Chen, Liling, 2021. "Ascribed or achieved? The role of birth order on innovative behaviour in the workplace," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 480-492.
    7. Cécile Fonrouge & Cécile Ayerbe, 2005. "Les transitions entre innovations : études de cas et proposition d'une grille d'interprétation," Post-Print halshs-00696111, HAL.
    8. Jean-Philippe Denis & Frank Tannery, 2002. "L'architecture des systèmes de contrôle de la stratégie dans les groupes," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 5(3), pages 69-114, September.
    9. Anil K. Gupta & Paul E. Tesluk & M. Susan Taylor, 2007. "Innovation At and Across Multiple Levels of Analysis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(6), pages 885-897, December.
    10. Brigitte Charles-Pauvers & Nathalie Schieb-Bienfait & Caroline Urbain, 2004. "La compétence du créateur d’entreprise innovante : quelles interrogations?," Post-Print hal-01416605, HAL.
    11. Simona Alfiero & Laura Broccardo & Massimo Cane & Alfredo Esposito, 2018. "High Performance Through Innovation Process Management in SMEs. Evidence from the Italian wine sector," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(3), pages 87-110.
    12. Yoshida, Masayuki & James, Jeffrey D. & Cronin, J. Joseph, 2013. "Sport event innovativeness: Conceptualization, measurement, and its impact on consumer behavior," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 68-84.
    13. Cécile Ayerbe & Cécile Fonrouge, 2005. "Les transitions entre innovations:études de cas et proposition d’une grille d’interprétation," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 8(2), pages 39-64, June.
    14. Tanja Lepistö & Tiina Mäkitalo-Keinonen & Tiina Valjakka, 0. "Opportunity recognition in a hub-governed network – insights from garage services," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    15. Sylvain Lenfle, 2004. "Innovation in services : the contribution of design theory," Post-Print hal-00263365, HAL.
    16. Panourgias, Nikiforos S. & Nandhakumar, Joe & Scarbrough, Harry, 2014. "Entanglements of creative agency and digital technology: A sociomaterial study of computer game development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 111-126.
    17. Christel Lane & Daniela Lup, 2015. "Cooking under Fire: Managing Multilevel Tensions between Creativity and Innovation in Haute Cuisine," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(8), pages 654-676, November.
    18. Prasanta Kumar Dey & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Debashree De & Soumyadeb Chowdhury & Fouad Ben Abdelaziz, 2019. "Could lean practices and process innovation enhance supply chain sustainability of small and medium‐sized enterprises?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 582-598, May.
    19. Gopesh Anand & John Gray & Enno Siemsen, 2012. "Decay, Shock, and Renewal: Operational Routines and Process Entropy in the Pharmaceutical Industry," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(6), pages 1700-1716, December.
    20. Ma Asunción Esteso-Blasco & María Gil-Marqués & Juan Sapena, 2021. "Leadership in Economy of Communion Companies. Contribution to the Common Good through Innovation," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 77-101, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:18:p:1921-:d:1746745. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.