Behaviors and attitudes that encourage information sharing and promote managerial innovation in agricultural cooperatives

Abstract

This study analyzes behaviors and attitudes of managers that encourage information sharing and promote managerial innovation in agricultural cooperatives. The responses obtained in the survey conducted with 94 managers of Brazilian agricultural cooperatives, were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate the influence of cognitive conflicts, trust, and cooperation on information sharing, as well as information sharing on managerial innovation. Indirect effects are only observed from cognitive conflicts and cooperation in managerial innovation. These findings add to the literature by revealing behaviors and attitudes of managers that encourage information sharing, which can mitigate communication problems that potentially hinder the development of tasks and managerial innovation. They also contribute to management practice with insights for managers about behaviors and attitudes that can reinforce the guiding principles of cooperative organizations.