Journal of Co-operative Studies 54(2), 45-61

Abstract

Despite its advantages in terms of sustainable development, the co-operative business model is still little known and largely underestimated by the general population. Even in business schools, it is given scant attention, if any, in the curriculum. As a result, the co-operative model remains a‘hidden alternative’ for many students. In this article, we argue for a cross-disciplinary integration of the co‑operative model into introductory management courses. To show how such an integration is possible, we present the process by which a series of short educational videos on worker co‑operatives was created. We describe the different steps in creating this educational material, highlighting the collaboration between the academic and business communities in the creative process, and outline the advantages of the co-operative model for illustrating contemporary themes in various areas of management. In conclusion, this article offers a reflection on how an organisational model that at first glance appears ‘undervalued’ in the academy can prove to be a great resource for illustrating complex concepts, stimulating reflection, and initiating discussions on ‘alternative’ models.

References 

Alonso-Almeida, M. D. M., Fernández de Navarrete, F. C., & Rodriguez-Pomeda, J. (2015). Corporate social responsibility perception in business students as future managers: a multifactorial analysis. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12060

Ansart, S., Artis, A., & Monvoisin, V. (2014). Les co-opératives: Agent de régulation au cœur du système capitaliste? La Revue des Sciences de Gestion: Direction et Gestion, 5(269-270), 111-119. https://doi.org/10.3917/rsg.269.0111

Audebrand, L. K., Camus, A., & Michaud, V. (2017). A mosquito in the classroom: Using the co-operative business model to foster paradoxical thinking in management education. Journal of Management Education, 41(2), 216-248.   https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562916682552

Axley, S. R., & McMahon, T. R. (2006). Complexity: a frontier for management education. Journal of Management Education, 30(2), 295-315.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562905277316

Barco Serrano, S., Bodini, R., & Salvatori, G. (2019). Financial mechanisms for innovative social and solidarity economy ecosystems [Executive summary]. International Labour Organisation.  https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_emp/@emp_ent/@coop/documents/publication/wcms_728374.pdf

Battilana, J., & Dorado, S. (2010). Building sustainable hybrid organisations: The case of commercial microfinance organisations. Academy of Management Journal, 53(6), 1419-1440. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2010.57318391

Bocken, N. M., Short, S. W., Rana, P., & Evans, S. (2014). A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 42-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.039

Boone, C., & S. Özcan (2014). Why do co-operatives emerge in a world dominated by corporations? The diffusion of co-operatives in the U.S. bio-ethanol industry, 1978-2013. Academy of Management Journal. 57(4), 990-1012. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2012.0194

Borzaga, C., & Galera, G. (2012). Promoting the Understanding of Co operatives for a Better World. Euricse. https://euricse.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/promoting-the-understanting-of-cooperatives-for-a-better-world-full.pdf

Borzaga, C., & Spear, R. (Eds.). (2004). Trends and challenges for Co operatives and Social Enterprises in developed and transition countries. EURISCE/Edizioni 31. https://euricse.eu/en/publications/trends-and-challenges-for-co-operatives-and-social-enterprises-in-developed-and-transition-countries/

Carini, C., Eum, H., Gotz, I., Mandelli, D., Treccani, P., & Turri, S. (2020). World co-operative monitor: Exploring the co operative economy. Report 2020. EURICSE/ICA. https://monitor.coop/en/media/library/research-and-reviews-world-cooperative-monitor/world-cooperative-monitor-2020

Chamard, J. (2004). Co-operatives and credit unions in economic and business texts: Changing the paradigm. International Journal of Co-operative Management, 1(2), 34-40.

Cheney, G., Santa Cruz, I., Peredo, A. M., & Nazareno, E. (2014). Worker co-operatives as an organisational alternative: Challenges, achievements and promise in business governance and ownership. Organisation, 21(5), 591-603.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508414539784

Curl, J. (2012). For all the people: Uncovering the hidden history of co operation, co operative movements, and communalism in America (2nd edition). PM Press.

Dart, R. (2004). The legitimacy of social enterprise. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 14(4), 411-424. https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.43

Dehler, G. E., Welsh, M. A., & Lewis, M. W. (2001). Critical pedagogy in the 'New Paradigm'. Management Learning, 32(4), 493-511.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507601324005

Demoustier, D., & Wilson-Courvoisier, S. (2009). L'enseignement initial de l'économie sociale et solidaire : Un enjeu stratégique. Revue internationale de l'économie sociale: RECMA, 311, 59-71. https://doi.org/10.7202/1022186ar

Diamantopoulos, M. (2012). Breaking out of co-operation's 'Iron Cage': From movement degeneration to building a developmental movement. Annals of Public and Co-operative Economics, 83(2), 199-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8292.2012.00461.x

Dion, G. (1970) Le Mouvement coopératif du Québec et l'éducation des adultes. Les cahiers de l'ICEA, 10 11. Institut Canadien d'éducation des adultes, Montréal.  https://doi.org/10.7202/028144ar

Duguid, F., & Karaphillis, G (2019). Economic impact of the Co-operative sector in Canada.  https://canada.coop/wp-content/uploads/coop_gdp_report_english_web.pdf

Dunn, J. R. (1988). Basic co-operative principles and their relationship to selected practices. Journal of Agricultural Co operation, 3, 83-93. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/46212/?v=pdf

Fairbairn, B. (1994). The meaning of Rochdale: The Rochdale Pioneers and the Co-operative Principles. Center for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan.

Findlay, I. M. (2004). Remapping co-operative studies: Re-imagining postcolonial co-operative futures. In B. Fairbairn & N. Russel (Eds.). Co operative membership and globalization: New directions in research and practice(p. 145-165). Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan.

Fulton, M., & Girard, J.-P. (2015). Demutualization of co operatives and mutuals. Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC).

Hadfield, M. (2020, October 3). Judge quashes attempt to halt sale of Mountain Equipment co-op. Co operative News. https://www.thenews.coop/judge-quashes-attempt-to-halt-sale-of-mountain-equipment-co-op/

Hill, R. (2000). The case of the missing organisations: Co-operatives and the textbooks. Journal of Economic Education, 31(3): 281-295.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00220480009596786

Holt, K., & Seki, K. (2012). Global leadership: A developmental shift for everyone. Industrial and Organisational Psychology, 5(2), 196-215.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2012.01431.x

Huhtala, K., & Tuominen, P. (2016). Election of board members in co-operatives: A review on co-operative governance vis-à-vis corporate governance. In I. Aaltio & M.T. Eskelinen (eds.), 11th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, (Vol. 2) (pp. 945-954). Curran Associates. https://www.proceedings.com/content/031/031940webtoc.pdf

Huybrechts, B., Mertens, S., & Rijpens, J. (2014). Explaining stakeholder involvement in social enterprise governance through resources and legitimacy. In J. Defourny, L. Hulgård, & V. Pestoff (Eds.), Social enterprise and the third sector: Changing European landscapes in a comparative perspective (p.p. 157-175). Routledge.

Kalmi, P. (2007). The disappearance of co-operatives from economics textbooks. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31(4), 625-647. https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bem005

Lan, C. (2005). University teaching of co operative business management and philosophy in Canadian Universities. BCICS, University of Victoria.

Larose, C. (1991-2). Jalons de l'histoire de l'éducation des adultes au Québec. Cité éducative. https://www.ageefep.qc.ca/pdf/reflex/jalons.pdf

Laurent, J. (2000). Co-operation: The missing element in economics textbooks. Journal of Economics and Social Policy, 5(1): 1-15.

Leclerc, A. (1982). Les doctrines coopératives en Europe et au Canada: Naissance, évolution et interrelations. IRECUS.

Lévesque, B. (2016). Économie sociale et solidaire et entrepreneur social: Vers quels nouveaux écosystèmes? Interventions Économiques, 54, 1-45.
https://doi.org/10.4000/interventionseconomiques.2802

López-Navarro, M. Á., & Segarra Ciprés, M. (2015). Social issues in business education: A study of students' attitudes. Journal of Education for Business, 90(6), 314-321.   https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2015.1046360

Michaud, M., & Audebrand, L. K. (2014). Les paradoxes de la transformation d'une association en co- opérative de solidarité : Le cas de l'Accorderie de Québec. Économie et Solidarités, 44(1-2), 152-168. https://doi.org/10.7202/1041610ar

Neuhäuser, C., & Oldenbourg, A. (2020). Workplace democracy and corporate human rights responsibilities. Review of Social Economy, 78, 331-350.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00346764.2020.1725832

Paredes, D., & Loveridge, S. (2018). Rural electric co-operatives and economic development. Energy Policy, 117, 49-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.02.035

Pepin, M., Tremblay, M., & Audebrand, L. K (2021). Responsible entrepreneurship: A new challenge for entrepreneurship education and training. In H. Neck and Y. Liu (Eds.). Innovations in global entrepreneurship education: Teaching entrepreneurship in practice (pp. 259-273). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839104206.00027

Pigeon, M.-A. (2020, September 29). The MEC debacle is a predictable and avoidable governance failure. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-mec-debacle-is-a-predictable-and- avoidable-governance-failure-146513

Salamon, L. M., & Sokolowski, S. W. (2016). Beyond nonprofits : Re-conceptualizing the third sector. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organisations, 27(4), 1515-1545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9726-z

Sarracino, F., & Fumarco, L. (2020). Assessing the non-financial outcomes of social enterprises in Luxembourg. Journal of Business Ethics, 165(3), 425-451.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-4086-9

Simard, J.-F., & Allard, M. (Eds.). (2014). La révolution coopérative: Un jalon d'histoire de la pensée sociale au Québec. Notes de cours en philosophie de la coopération de Georges Henri Lévesque. Les Presses de l'Université Laval.

Sleesman, D. J. (2019). Pushing through the tension while stuck in the mud: Paradox mindset and escalation of commitment. Organisational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 155, 83-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.03.008

Smith, W. K., Besharov, M. L., Wessels, A. K., & Chertok, M. (2012). A paradoxical leadership model for social entrepreneurs: Challenges, leadership skills, and pedagogical tools for managing social and commercial demands. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(3), 463-478. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2011.0021

Smith, W. K., Gonin, M., & Besharov, M. L. (2013). Managing social-business tensions: A review and research agenda for social enterprise. Business Ethics Quarterly, 23(03), 407-442. https://doi.org/10.5840/beq201323327

Stikkers, K. W. (2020). Institutionalizing the common good in economy: Lessons from the Mondragon co operatives. Humanistic Management Journal, 5(1), 105-115.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41463-020-00093-8

Storey, J., Basterretxea, I., & Salaman, G. (2014). Managing and resisting 'degeneration' in employee-owned businesses: A comparative study of two large retailers in Spain and the United Kingdom. Organisation, 21(5), 626 644.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508414537624

Thompson, D. J. (1994). Weavers of dreams: The origins of the modern co-operative movement. University of California.

Universities Canada (2021). Canadian Universities. https://www.universitystudy.ca/canadian-universities/

Upward, A., & Jones, P. (2016). An ontology for strongly sustainable business models: Defining an enterprise framework compatible with natural and social science. Organisation & Environment, 29(1), 97 123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026615592933

Waldman, D. A., & Bowen, D. E. (2016). Learning to be a paradox-savvy leader. Academy of Management Perspectives, 30(3), 316-327. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2015.0070

Webster, A., Shaw, L., Walton, J. K., Brown, A., & Stewart, D. (2011). The hidden alternative: Co-operative values, past, present and future. Manchester University Press.

Whyman, P. B. (2012). Co-operative principles and the evolution of the 'dismal science': The historical interaction between co-operative and mainstream economics. Business History, 54(6), 833-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2012.706903

Zamagni, S., & Zamagni, V. (2010). Co-operative enterprise: Facing the challenge of globalization. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849805667

Zeuli, K. A., & Cropp, R. (2004). Co-operatives: Principles and practices in the 21st century. University of Wisconsin. http://ed.coop/unit/co-operatives-principles-and-practices-in-the-21st-century/