Awam Sushila Devi Rajaratnam, Nurizah Noordin, Mohd Shahron Anuar bin Said, Rafedah Juhan & Farahaini Mohd Hanif
Co-operative College of Malaysia
This paper attempts to identify a tentative framework on the factors which may influence the performance of cooperatives in Malaysia, based on a review of the existing literature. The paper begins with a description of the current status of cooperatives in Malaysia. The literature has highlighted the need for cooperative performance measurement to encompass both financial and non financial dimensions of performance. Next, the specific financial and non financial performance measures commonly used in prior studies are explained. This is followed by a discussion on the factors influencing the performance or success of cooperatives. Finally, based on the literature reviewed, the paper proposes a tentative framework on the factors influencing the financial and non financial performance of cooperatives in Malaysia. Three main factors are proposed as influencing the financial and non financial performance of cooperatives and these are referred to as the structural, managerial and membership dimensions.