The Role of Leadership in the Organization and the Administration of Women’s Agricultural Cooperatives in Greece: A Case Study

Lassithiotaki Aikaterini

Department of Rural Development, Municipality of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece.

DOI: 10.4236/ojbm.2015.31001                

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of chairwomen in the organization and administration of Women’s Agricultural Cooperatives at the Prefecture of Heraklion, in the island of Crete, Greece. The aim of the research is to provide answers to the questions “how” and “why” the chairwomen affect the organization and the administration of cooperatives and it is focused on the administrative, social, cognitive, personal and entrepreneurial skills of chairwomen. The results of a qualitative study involving 12 chairwomen of rural women’s Traditional Food Production Cooperatives of the Prefecture of Heraklion indicated that their role was multiple and complex and it affected positively the organizational and entrepreneurial process of the Cooperatives. On the other hand, the research indicated that the chairwomen’s role did not differ significantly from the role of other members. Their role in the organization and operation of the Cooperatives is more managerial and less leadership.

Keywords

Women’s Agricultural Cooperatives, Leadership, Prefecture of Heraklion, Greece

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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