Factors of Collaborative Networks Affecting the Sustainability of the Cooperative Movement in Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) study the level of cooperation networks of the cooperative movement in Thailand and (2) analyze the influence of cooperation network factors on the sustainability of the cooperative movement in Thailand. The research was quantitative, with a sample of 400 cooperative committees and management in Thailand. The instrument used was a 5-level Likert scale questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.963. The statistical methods used to analyze the data included percentages, means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The research results showed that (1) the overall cooperation network factor was at a high level, with network support having the highest average score, followed by trust, communication, and participation, respectively; (2) the overall sustainability of the cooperative movement in Thailand was at a high level, with the social aspect having the highest average score, followed by the economic aspect and the management aspect; and (3) the cooperation network factor could collectively predict the sustainability of the cooperative movement in Thailand with statistical significance at the .01 level, explaining 61% of the variance. The most influential variable was trust, followed by network support, participation, and communication, respectively. The research results indicate that cooperation networks are an important mechanism for strengthening the sustainability of the Thai cooperative movement, especially by building trust and support among network partners, thereby increasing the operational potential and stability of cooperatives in the long term.

Keywords: Collaboration Networks, Sustainability, Cooperatives, Social Capital