Volumes

INFLUENCE OF HRM PRACTICES ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN CO-OPERATIVES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ORGANISATIONAL AND SUPERVISORY COMMITMENT

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices, organisational commitment, supervisory commitment and employee performance. Specifically, the direct and indirect relationship between HRM practices and employee performance was examined using the Structural Equation Modelling technique. A survey was carried out among clerical employees in 140 service-based co-operatives in West Malaysia and a sample of 516 respondents was analysed. The study revealed that HRM practices, specifically training and development, performance appraisal, rewards and communication and participation, showed significant direct positive relationship with employee performance. In addition, the results indicated that the relationship between HRM practices and employee performance was mediated by organisational commitment. However, the direct relationship was stronger than the mediated relationship. In contrast, it was observed that supervisory commitment did not mediate the relationship between HRM practices and employee performance. The results suggest that HRM practices are important tools in enhancing employee performance directly and indirectly, through fostering organisational commitment.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL FACTORS ON THE BUSINESS OF COOPERATIVE BANKS – AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

Abstract

In Indian banking, particularly the cooperative banking system, which is not categorized specifically as a profit earning system, the social role played by them is the key in deciding the quantum of business of these banks. An attempt has been made in this paper to estimate the impact of the identified social factors on the business magnitude of cooperative banks. In an attempt to compare the role of social factors in dictating the business of cooperative banks in the state of Punjab (India) in pre-reform (1991-92 to 1993-94) versus post-reform period (2000-01 to 2002-03), a sample of six rural cooperative banks is taken. Correlation and stepwise multiple regression methods of statistics are used to analyze and arrive at conclusions. The social factors identified for the purpose of this paper are per capita loans, per capita deposits, per capita agricultural loans, number of square kilometres (Ians) of area per branch office, credit to deposit (CD) ratio and number of members. Four variables: per capita deposits, number of sq. kms of area per branch office, number of members and CD ratio have significant bearing on business volume of cooperative banks in the pre-reform period. However only per capita deposits and CD ratio continued to play significant roles in the post-reform period too. In the post-reform scenario, the social facet is playing a lesser role in defining the business volume of the cooperative banks in Punjab, that too in a negative sense.

COOPERATIVES IN SARAWAK: PRESENT CAPACITY AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Abstract

Cooperatives in Sarawak have been in existence since 1949 and have played their role as financial intermediaries by providing loans to members. These organisations constitute both business and social models that balance members social and economic needs as their organizational objectives. However limited information is available about how these cooperatives operate, how they perform and what their future prospects are. This paper is based on a study undertaken by the Cooperative College of Malaysia (CCM) in 2006 on the profile of cooperatives and the profile of board members of cooperatives in Sarawak. A total of 393 board members from 131 selected cooperatives across 11 Divisions in Sarawak participated in the study. These cooperatives were voluntarily managed by the elected board members. The study indicated that the size of the members share and profits are relatively small. The businesses of these cooperatives is confined to traditional activities like operating sundry shops and providing credit facilities. The chairman, secretary and treasurer of the cooperatives surveyed shared the same opinion with respect to the future business prospects of their cooperatives. This study also indicated that factors which determined the future prospects of cooperatives are members support, training and education for members and board members and, acquiring external financing.

CONCEPTUAL PAPER TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ON ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTITY OF COOPERATIVES IN SELECTED STATES IN INDIA

Abstract

Cooperation as a movement is prevalent all over the world. The emergence of this value based movement in different regions of the world has a distinct history. Though, by philosophy cooperative societies seem to be the same all over the world, the nature of its birth and thereby evolution of the same resulted in different identities in different countries. This article is intended to examine the identity of cooperatives in the Indian context, with a stakeholder perspective, as stakeholders have an effect in the determination of the identity of any organization. The relevance of a discussion on cooperative identity lies in its relationship with effectiveness. In other words, the long run performance of the organization and the identity it carries are related. This work will enable future researchers to carry out research in the same line to understand the identity prevailing in the cooperative sector in different regions.