| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to assess the management practices of three coffee
cooperatives in Rwanda and, subsequently, modify existing educational curricular
modules in order to address the identified areas of need. Societal and institutional
challenges, such as a lack of management training, may hinder the growth of welldeveloped
coffee cooperatives in Rwanda. Capacity building through adult education is a
central component to development efforts.
The research questions used to accomplish the purpose of this study focused on
the principles of cooperative identity, participation and decision making, internal and
external communications, organizational and leadership development, and the duties of
and relationships between the cooperativesÂ’ leadership.
The three cooperatives have been assisted by the USAID-funded PEARL project.
The sample population consisted of the Members, Management, and Board of Directors
of the three coffee cooperatives in Rwanda. A purposive sample of key informants was
selected. A total of 65 individuals participated in the research task. The data were
collected from mid-July to mid-August, 2005.
This study was qualitative and quantitative in design. The research instruments
included a quantitative, close-ended category-scale questionnaire and a qualitative, openended
standardized interview. The responses to the open-ended standardized interviews
were tabulated based on the frequency and percentage of responses. The close-ended category-scale questionnaires were analyzed based on the frequency and percentage of
responses. A case study data analysis methodology was used to combine the responses to
the quantitative and qualitative methods.
Major findings of the study include that one or more of the cooperatives need
education programming in the areas of cooperative member ownership, job descriptions,
and ways in which to increase participation in decision-making. The cooperatives need
to increase internal communications regarding the function of the federation of coffee
cooperatives in securing long-term sustainability. The cooperatives need to empower the
sector level leadership to resolve conflicts and increase communication flows. | en |
