Cultural dimensions in cooperative enterprises: a case study analysis using Hofstede's framework

Purpose The aim of this article is to analyze how national and cultural dimensions influence success, governance and participation within cooperatives across different cultural contexts, and to identify the cultural values that facilitate or hinder cooperative development. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative comparative approach was used, through two purposefully selected case studies: a housing cooperative in Alicante, Spain and an energy cooperative in Jilin, China. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews with key cooperative members. The interviews were analyzed using both deductive and inductive coding, focusing on Hofstede's six cultural dimensions. Strategies such as source triangulation, participant validation and researcher reflexivity were employed to ensure validity and reliability. Findings The findings reveal how cultural dimensions directly affect cooperative structures and functioning. The Spanish cooperative demonstrated low power distance, high femininity and voluntary collectivism characterized by horizontal structures and participatory decision-making. In contrast, the Chinese cooperative displayed high power distance, greater formality and institutional collectivism with hierarchical governance and strong state support. Both share a long-term orientation, but differ in approach: one is community-social and the other is strategic-economic. These contrasts confirm that cooperative success depends on aligning organizational practices with the cultural values of the national context. Originality/value This study offers a unique and original approach, combining intercultural analysis with cooperative studies, bridging two fields that are rarely deeply integrated. The rigorous, contextualized methodology contributes theoretically to the literature on intercultural management and cooperative development, while applying Hofstede's framework highlights how cooperative models must adapt to local cultures to be effective. Practically, this study provides useful tools for designing culturally sensitive cooperative policies and structures aimed at sustainability, inclusion and resilience. This serves as a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers and cooperative leaders.