The Balanced Scorecard Approach to measuring Cooperative Performance: Implications for Multipurpose Cooperatives in the Philippines

Abstract

The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) has been studied a lot as a tool for measuring performance in corporate organizations around the world, but it hasn't been studied much in cooperatives. The goal of this research was to ascertain how multipurpose cooperatives perform using the BSC. A total of eighteen cooperatives were purposively chosen as samples for this research, where members, employees, and managers served as the respondents. The study utilized a descriptive research design whereby the researcher collected and analyzed financial statements for three years, made use of surveys to elicit responses from respondents, and conducted document analysis to further enhance the result. Results showed that the cooperatives’ financial performance obtained a "fair performance" rating using the Cooperative Development Authority's (CDA) performance standards. Members/customers received very satisfactory performance, while internal business processes and learning and growth received excellent results. This investigation revealed that despite financial performance issues, cooperatives met member expectations, provided outstanding business processes, and provided staff learning and development, contradicting Kaplan and Norton's assertion that optimal performance in all three areas leads to financial success. Weak areas were also identified along with the four BSC perspectives that need intervention, and strategies were devised to enhance and improve performance utilizing the BSC framework. It is recommended that cooperatives adopt strategies in terms of improving their performance, particularly in the identified weak areas, and meeting their objectives and goals as set by CDA. Future researchers may consider discovering cooperatives' performance in other social aspects.