Strengthening strategies in cooperatives for competitive and sustainable management

Authors

Jorge Estuardo Goyes Noboa, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador; Eddy Stalin Alvarado Pacheco, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador; Mariangela Andreina Pinto Ocanto, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador; Widinson Alexander Gavilanes Caiza, Independent Author, Ecuador; Jefferson David Zavala Capus, Independent Author, Ecuador
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63804/libroseuc.3

Keywords:

business administration, cooperatives, human resource management, sustainable development, technological innovation

Synopsis

The Valles del Lirio Savings and Credit Cooperative is an important player in financial inclusion and the socioeconomic development of rural communities in the Guaranda canton, Ecuador. However, it faces numerous obstacles in the areas of administrative management, technological innovation, and, most importantly, human talent motivation. The objective of this study was to assess the organizational status of the cooperative and suggest methods for its institutional strengthening to increase its sustainability and competitiveness. To achieve this, a mixed, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach was used, which included semi-structured interviews with management staff, as well as surveys of employees and members. To contextualize the results, SWOT and PESTEL matrices were added to descriptive statistics and thematic coding, which served as the basis for data analysis. The results showed both weaknesses, such as the perception of a lack of incentives and training programs, limited innovation in services, and poor institutional communication, as well as strengths, for example, a collaborative work environment and sufficient willingness to use technological tools. Members expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of agility in procedures, ineffectiveness of marketing campaigns, and lack of trust in data security. This highlights the need to improve external communication and operational processes. The diagnosis also identified low strategic planning and little alignment of administrative functions with institutional objectives. As a solution, a comprehensive strategic plan is proposed with goals aimed at improving human resource management, promoting innovation in products and services, enhancing internal and external communication, and fostering an open and participatory corporate culture. This tactical approach will enable the cooperative to position itself as a concrete actor within the popular and solidarity economy system, with a focus on member satisfaction and, most importantly, sustained long-term growth within the region.

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Author Biographies

Jorge Estuardo Goyes Noboa, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador

Jorge Estuardo Goyes Noboa born in Guaranda in 1963, is an Ecuadorian academic and researcher with a distinguished career in higher education, strategic planning, and quality assurance. He currently serves as Director of Planning and Quality Assurance at the Universidad Estatal de Bolívar. He has published numerous scientific articles on public management, entrepreneurship, local development, and higher education. His expertise combines university teaching, project formulation, and accreditation process evaluation, significantly contributing to institutional modernization and the strengthening of technical and technological education in Ecuador.

Eddy Stalin Alvarado Pacheco, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador

Eddy Stalin Alvarado Pacheco, born in El Oro province in 1975, he holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management and is a lecturer at Universidad Estatal de Bolívar (Guaranda campus), as well as a member of the Planning and Quality Assurance team. His research focuses on production planning, quality management, and statistical analysis applied to public health and education. He has co-authored scientific articles such as “Methodology for the Integral Homologation of the Public Transport of Interprovincial Buses” and developed methodologies for prioritizing positions in faculty selection processes.

Mariangela Andreina Pinto Ocanto, Universidad Estatal de Bolívar, Campus Académico “Alpachaca” Av. Ernesto Che Guevara s/n y Av. Gabriel Secaira, Guaranda, Ecuador

Mariangela Andreina Pinto Ocanto born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, in 1985, is a mathematician and data analyst. She works as a Quality Assurance Analyst at Universidad Estatal de Bolívar (UEB), Guaranda. She has actively participated in strategic planning, institutional self-evaluation, and continuous improvement in higher education. She co-authors research on academic resource optimization, quality management, and higher education financing, with publications in academic journals on pedagogy and educational management. Her expertise combines educational consulting, project formulation, and methodology development to ensure compliance with quality standards in higher education.

Widinson Alexander Gavilanes Caiza, Independent Author, Ecuador

Widinson Alexander Gavilanes Caiza is an Ecuadorian professional who studied at Unidad Educativa Tres de Marzo and holds a degree in Business Administration from Universidad Estatal de Bolívar. He has actively participated in strategic planning projects, including the development of Embutidora FUNORSAL Salinas (2023), an analysis of cocoa commercialization for positioning in the U.S. market (article, 2024), and administrative control and institutional strengthening for the Valles de Lirio Savings and Credit Cooperative in Guaranda. His career is defined by a strong commitment to organizational development, focusing on promoting efficiency and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises in Guaranda, Bolívar province, with the aim of providing sustainable solutions that address current needs.

Jefferson David Zavala Capus, Independent Author, Ecuador

Jefferson David Zavala Capus He stands out for his quick learning ability, adaptability to new challenges, and contribution of creative solutions in collaborative environments. He is proactive, responsible, and committed to every task he undertakes. He enjoys teamwork and achieving common goals. He possesses communication skills, critical thinking, and a positive attitude toward change. He values continuous learning as a tool for both personal and professional development. He is known for his willingness to take on new challenges, his focus on continuous improvement, and his enthusiasm, initiative, and sense of responsibility in every project he undertakes.

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Copyright (c) 2025 Jorge Estuardo Goyes Noboa, Eddy Stalin Alvarado Pacheco, Mariangela Andreina Pinto Ocanto, Widinson Alexander Gavilanes Caiza, Jefferson David Zavala Capus (Autor/a)

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Strengthening strategies in cooperatives for competitive and sustainable management. (2025). Editorial Unión Científica. https://doi.org/10.63804/libroseuc.3