This research explores the mediating role of organisational commitment in the relationship between learning orientation and the performance of cooperatives in Malaysia. The study aims to investigate into how learning orientation and organisational commitment interact and collectively influence the performance outcomes of cooperatives. By employing a systematic random sampling technique, data was gathered from 236 small and micro cooperatives across Malaysia. The analysis was conducted using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), a robust statistical method well-suited for examining complex relationships, particularly in studies with relatively small sample sizes. The findings underscore that organisational commitment plays a significant mediating role, enhancing the impact of learning orientation on cooperative performance. This indicates that while a strong learning orientation is essential for cooperative success, its effectiveness is markedly amplified when it is supported by a high level of organisational commitment among members. This suggests that cooperative leaders should prioritize fostering a culture of commitment within their organizations to fully leverage the benefits of a learning-oriented approach. This study contributes to the broader academic discussion by providing empirical evidence from the cooperative sector in a developing country, an area that has been relatively underexplored in previous research. The practical implications are clear where cooperative management should strategically focus on enhancing both learning orientation and organisational commitment to drive better performance outcomes. Moreover, this study sets the stage for future research to investigate these dynamics in various cultural and organisational contexts, thereby broadening the applicability of the findings beyond the Malaysian cooperative sector.
Read full abstract