Cooperative Competitiveness for Community Development in West Java: Strategies and Outcomes

Abstract

Cooperatives, as a pillar of the people's economy in Indonesia, face significant
challenges in increasing their competitiveness amid the era of globalization
and digitalization. In West Java, the presence of cooperatives plays a vital role
in community development; however, many cooperatives are still stagnating
due to limited innovation and lack of collaboration. This study aims to identify
strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of cooperatives and evaluate their
impact on local community empowerment. The method employed is a
qualitative case study approach involving 10 active cooperatives in West Java
that have implemented community-based innovation and digitalization. Data
was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document
analysis, and then analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. The
study's results show that the most effective strategies for increasing the
competitiveness of cooperatives include digitizing services, product
diversification, building community partnerships, and training human
resources. Cooperatives that apply a collaborative innovation approach and
build strategic networks have proven to experience improved membership and
better economic growth. The implications of this study confirm the
importance of strengthening collaborative ecosystems and adopting
community-based innovations as the key to the success of modern
cooperatives. This research also provides practical recommendations for the
development of digitalization-based cooperative assistance programs and
multistakeholder collaboration to accelerate sustainable community
development in West Java.