Do Co-operative Managers and Directors Differ in their Familiarity with Innovative Business Risk Management Strategies?

Getu Hailu, Ellen Goddard and Scott Jeffrey

This paper provides results of a pilot survey conducted to compare risk attitudes, understanding of innovative risk management tools and strategies used as insurance protection by managers and directors of agribusiness co-operatives in Canada. Managers and directors are also compared with respect to importance ratings of risk factors. Results indicate that both managers and directors of the sample agricultural co-operatives have limited knowledge of new ways of managing risks. The evidence from this pilot survey suggests a need for support for training and specialised skill development for co-operative decision makers.