The Effects of Growth on Organisation Design: An Exploration of Credit Unions in Saint Lucia

Credit unions in Saint Lucia are growing significantly, presenting challenges that may affect their co-operative identity and mission. Few studies have explored how organisational design influences this growth or which elements best support expansion without compromising core values. This study is therefore significant since it examines the factors behind credit union growth in Saint Lucia, assess its impact on identity and mission, and identified strategies to sustain growth while preserving co-operative identity.
A constructivist grounded theory methodology was utilised in this study. Qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions, guided by semi-structured questions. Using stratified purposive sampling, four focus groups comprising credit union directors and managers were created from the sixteen credit unions on the island to serve as the means to capture data.
The research findings showed that organisation design responses to growth related challenges generate tension between maintaining competitiveness and safeguarding the co-operative identity. It is recommended that the leadership of credit unions in Saint Lucia address the dual challenges through adaptive balancing. This approach involves continuous organisation design modifications to effectively navigate the growth-related challenges. The process is influenced by leadership competence, dynamic capabilities, appropriateness of performance metrics, and prevailing socio-economic conditions.