Organizational Development Capacity of Coconut Farmer Cooperatives in Camarines Sur, Philippines: A Multidimensional Assessment

Abstract

This study examines the multidimensional organizational development capacity of coconut farmer cooperatives in Camarines Sur, Philippines, addressing a critical gap in the literature that often treats cooperative performance as fragmented or purely economic. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, qualitative insights from 20 cooperative leaders were integrated with survey data from 99 respondents to assess key dimensions, including leadership, resource management, operations, financial governance, and external linkages. Findings reveal that while cooperatives demonstrate relatively strong leadership and material resource management, financial management remains the weakest dimension, constraining long-term sustainability. Persistent challenges, such as low member participation, aging membership, and limited youth engagement, further compound institutional vulnerability. Drawing on social capital theory, resource dependence theory, and systems thinking, the study shows that cooperative performance is shaped by the interaction of internal capacities and external networks. The results highlight a condition of “partial organizational maturity,” where operational stability coexists with structural fragility. The study contributes a theoretically integrated and empirically grounded framework for understanding cooperative development and offers policy-relevant insights to strengthen financial governance, participatory leadership, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, thereby enhancing resilience and competitiveness in agricultural cooperatives.