Factors Affecting the Entrepreneurship Competencies of Lorestan Animal Science Graduate Cooperative Members

The success of a cooperative company in the dynamic sector of agriculture requires hardware resources such as physical and financial capital as well as software capital, i.e. entrepreneurial capital. Therefore, entrepreneurial competencies are necessary for the stability and development of cooperative companies, and in this direction, the measurement of these competencies is important. Thus, the aim of this research is to identify the factors affecting the entrepreneurial competencies of cooperative members of Lorestan animal science graduates. The statistical population studied included 576 graduates of agricultural sciences who were members of the cooperative. The size of the sample was determined by using the table of Karjesi and Morgan, 230 people, and the random sampling method was used to accurately reach the people under study. To collect data, the standard questionnaire of Man (2001) was used. Based on the results, cooperative members are weak in strategic competence, while they have a better situation in terms of relationship competence. Also, the regression analysis results showed that the variables of professional factors, internship experience, and field of study are effective factors in the entrepreneurial competencies of cooperative members. Also, the regression analysis results showed that the variables of membership history in the cooperative, professional factors, internship experience, the field of study, environmental factors, and entrepreneurial experience are the factors affecting the entrepreneurial competencies of the cooperative members. Therefore, cooperative managers can revise cooperative goals and programs to create and strengthen entrepreneurial competencies among members by considering individual, professional, and environmental factors affecting members' competencies.