The use of Strategic Aliances by Agricultural Cooperatives

Abstract

This study consists in comparing case studies of four agricultural cooperatives regarding their choices about the use of strategic alliances. The objective of this study is to identify the differences in the practices of cooperatives for making alliances with suppliers, customers and competitors, specifically the differences about cooperatives’ interests and characteristics. In order to reach this objective, it was made an exploratory qualitative research with four agricultural cooperatives, which are ranked in the top twenty cooperatives of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The results show that strategic alliances are almost unknown, and when they are used, there is little theoretical basis to support them. There is evidence that the choice of strategic alliances is an important decision of cooperatives no matter what type of alliances are taken place. In addition, the use of strategic alliances tend to influence positively not only the results of the cooperatives but also the results of the supply chain to which the cooperatives belong.