Table 8 reflects collectivist thoughts drawn from the cooperatives’ mission statements, which specify the approaches and core purposes that would ensure the attainment of their vision. The mission statements manifest that the cooperatives’ activities are consistent with their economic, social and political aspirations that were provided in their vision statements. As observed, they pursue activities that would improve their economic (60%), social (26%), and political (14%) conditions. The result of chi-square test show that the collectivist thoughts are not dependent on the cooperatives’ size, and there are no significant differences in the observance of collectivist dimensions such as economic, social and political. This means that the cooperatives give equal importance on attaining their collective aspirations on economic, social and political.
Table 9 reflects the sub-themes for economic thoughts drawn from the cooperatives’ mission statements. Being cognizant to the vision statements, the cooperatives are pursuing enterprising activities in order to improve their economic conditions. As observed in the results, cooperatives offer products and services that are needed by the members and the community in which they operate. As they grow, they diversify their business ventures and encourage more members to participate and contribute capital. In return, they can lend the funds back to the members, allowing them to invest in their own businesses, and the members can eventually share as well in the cooperatives’ surpluses. Furthermore, cooperatives encourage savings and investment, and they can take advantage of opportunities and technological upgrades that can help them grow. Apparently, their collectivist behaviors contribute to the economic development of cooperatives and their members, and they can become relevant sources of public goods and services that benefit members and society. The findings support what Ball (2001) and Marziarz (2015) discovered that collectivist societies perform functions that benefit the collective and promote economic growth.
Table 10 presents the sub-themes for social thoughts, which are intended to support the cooperatives’ social purpose and aspirations. The observed themes in the mission statements manifest that through cooperativism and collective efforts, they can foster trust and good relationships, which can improve their social and cultural conditions. Pertinent to this, they can instill among themselves the discipline, ideals, principles, responsibility, and commitment that will benefit their respective cooperatives and communities. For instance, they can resolve matters on their own, foster promptness in settling their obligations, and generally contribute in the attainment of the common good. To meet this, the members express themselves during general assembly meetings and codify policies that would define appropriate behaviors for the members and elected officers.
Table 11 presents the sub-themes for political thoughts, which would establish a collectively agreed governance system and expectations for elected officers and management who were endowed with accountability and authority. Members expect their elected officers and management to be responsible, accountable, credible, honest, and transparent. These are norms that serve as qualifications for their officers and that they must adhere to while serving their terms. Apparently, the members also expect their cooperatives to serve as models for other cooperatives and as catalysts in the society by sharing good principles and serving as alternative venues for good governance and cooperation. To achieve this, they strictly impose good conduct and behaviors on their officers, and as a result, their officers will imbibe these expectations while leading the cooperative to meet the cooperatives’ direction and aspirations.
Realistically, the cooperatives’ vision and mission statements are translated into achievable goals. Tables 12 to 15 present the frequency of observed economic, social and political themes in the goal statements of cooperatives. The goal statements represent the members’ collectively agreed specific and measurable milestones to meet the vision and mission statements of the cooperatives. These goal statements are translated into series of activities that could bring realistic improvements on the collectives’ economic, social and political conditions.
Table 12. Collectivism in the Goal Statements of Cooperatives