A study to determine how the co-operative principles and values have shaped the organizational culture of ufundi co-operative Society

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the co-operative principles and values and how they influence co-operative organizational culture at the Ufundi Co-operative Society. The study is based on the theory that, there are many factors that determine the culture of an organization and in the case of co-operatives, the co-operative principles and values play a key role in shaping the organizational culture. A wide coverage of literature in relation to culture, the co-operative culture and Ufundi cooperative has been reviewed. The literature shows that the co-operative culture has been influenced by the co-operative principles to a great extent. Previous studies on culture, principles and values have made it clear and helped in the evaluation of the extent to which co-operative principles facilitate or shape the co-operative organizational culture. The study applied a qualitative research methodology. This facilitated the use of two methods namely; questionnaire and document analysis. The corresponding instruments included; a questionnaire and a document analysis. Preparation for the study began in April, 2009 and the research project was finally approved in August, 2009. The researcher began with the preliminary study, visits at the Ufundi Sacco, data collection, analyzed the data and compiled the report by mid October, 2009. Based on the values; the results are as stated in chapter five which revealed that honesty was the most agreed upon value by the respondents as it comprised a mean of 4.2564, followed by equity which comprised a mean of 3.8957. Openness and equality were moderately agreed upon values and consisted of a mean of 3.5475 and 3.5154 respectively. Solidarity was the least agreed upon value and comprised of a mean of 2.0865