EMBRACING DIGITAL COLLABORATION: INVESTIGATING THE WILLINGNESS OF WEST JAVA COOPERATIVES FOR ROBUST BUSINESS NETWORKS

• Main Author: Khadijah, Intan
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/82382
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The study explores the potential for digital collaboration among cooperatives in West Java, Indonesia. Cooperatives, rooted in democratic governance and collective ownership, face challenges in fully utilizing their networks and connections. This research aims to understand these challenges and propose a digital platform to enhance cooperative collaboration. The background highlights the historical and ideological foundation of cooperatives in Indonesia, influenced by Mohammad Hatta and enshrined in the 1945 Constitution. Cooperatives in Indonesia are organized under the Cooperative Business Network (JUK), which aims to facilitate cooperation and market access through databases, business meetings, and workshops. However, the full potential of JUK remains unrealized, with most cooperative interactions limited to secondary forms of cooperatives. The literature review delves into various frameworks explaining digital collaboration dynamics in cooperative networks, focusing on Social Capital Theory and Relational Exchange Theory. These theories emphasize the importance of trust, long-term relationships, and mutual commitment in enhancing digital collaboration. Empirical studies show that digital technologies improve communication, coordination, and resource sharing, thereby enhancing social capital and strategic capabilities. The research methodology uses a mixed method, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collecting and analysis. An exploratory phase involves open questions to understand cooperative members' opinions on collaboration, followed by a structured questionnaire distributed both offline and online. The study focuses on consumer cooperatives, producer cooperatives, and multi-purpose cooperatives (KSU), which are significant in West Java due to their network needs and potential for collaboration. The expected outcome is the improvement of a digital platform for the CBN/JUK, integrating networking activities such as buying, selling, and co-financing. This platform aims to facilitate database networking, streamline meeting agendas, and provide easy access to collaborative opportunities, ultimately enhancing the operational efficiency and market competitiveness of cooperatives in West Java.