What should we do to make extension training a learning organization?A mixed approach in rural cooperatives of Alborz province

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension and Education Research

ELAHE KIANI ¹ , AZADEH noorollah noorivandi ² , ahmadreza ommani ³

1 - department of extension
2 - DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION
3 - department of extension

Received: 2023-07-03 Accepted : 2023-12-19 Published : 2023-11-22

Keywords: learning organization, rural cooperatives, extension training,

Abstract :

The purpose of this research is to identify strategies for adapting extension trainings of rural cooperatives in Alborz province to the learning organization. This study was conducted based on mixed paradigm and using qualitative and quantitative methods. To collect data, face-to-face interview and brainstorming techniques were used in the qualitative part, and questionnaires were used in the quantitative part. The research participants in the qualitative part included 30 experts from rural cooperative companies using the snowball sampling method until the theoretical saturation of the data and in the quantitative part, 379 people were members of rural cooperatives. To identify the strategies of aligning the extension training with the learning organization strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities from the dimensions of shared vision, personal mastery, mental models, team learning and systems thinking in the form of three stages of open , axial and selective coding were identified. After identifying the internal and external factors, they were measured among the members of the cooperatives. Based on the results, the position of the cooperatives was placed in the third quarter, and the appropriate strategies for adapting the extension training to the learning organization, competitive strategies were determined. Using the quantitative strategic planning matrix, were prioritized, and action plane were presented to realize the desired strategies using brainstorming techniques and interviews. The planners of extension trainings of rural cooperatives can provide the necessary conditions for adapting the mentioned trainings to the functions of the learning organization, according to the strategies and action plane identified.