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Improving Farm Cooperatives’ Performance and Sustainability: A Study of Agricultural Managers’ Competencies Based on the Grounded Theory and the fsQCA Methods

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  • Xiyuan Yu

    (School of Business, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China)

  • Wenli Liu

    (School of Business, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China)

  • Lingli Qing

    (School of Accounting, Guangzhou College of Commerce, Guangzhou 511363, China)

  • Di Zhang

    (School of Business, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China)

Abstract

As an effective talent selection and performance management method in enterprises, can the competency model also play an essential role in farm cooperatives? Limited research currently focuses on improving farm cooperatives’ performance through agricultural managers’ competency. Our study takes the initiative to create the “agricultural manager competency model,” which includes five competency dimensions: knowledge and technology, personal capabilities, career orientation, personality traits, and intrinsic drive. On this basis, the multiple competencies are analyzed by the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis(fsQCA). We found that agricultural managers improve the performance of farm cooperatives. There are four paths to generate high performance, which summarize three types of agricultural managers: technical career, managerial career, and integrated entrepreneurial.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiyuan Yu & Wenli Liu & Lingli Qing & Di Zhang, 2023. "Improving Farm Cooperatives’ Performance and Sustainability: A Study of Agricultural Managers’ Competencies Based on the Grounded Theory and the fsQCA Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1263-:d:1030232
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    1. Yangyang Zhao & Bojun Gu & Xin Xu & Dingding Yang, 2025. "The Role of Green Patents in Innovation: An fsQCA Study of Chinese Listed Agricultural Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Guo-Yan Zeng & Jie-Hao Deng & She-Mei Zhang, 2025. "How Hiring Agricultural Managers Affect Farmland Quality Protection Behavior in Farmers’ Cooperatives—Evidence Based on the Survey of Cooperatives in Sichuan, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Guerreschi, Asia & Zecca, Emy, 2025. "Green coops: Drivers of innovation for circular strategies among Italian cooperatives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    4. Utomo, Raden Priyo & Kuleh, Yohanes & Darma, Dio Caisar, 2023. "Conventional vs modern: which approach is better for the success of agricultural cooperatives?," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 9(4), December.

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