Journal of Co-operative Studies Vol 39 No 1

Peer viewed articles

Co-operative business: The role of co-operative principles and values  

Sonja Novkovic, pp. 5-15

This paper results from an online survey of managers and board members of predominantly Canadian co-operatives, where the role of co-operative principles and values has been examined, in an attempt to document their relevance to co-operative business practices. Co-operative management literature has emphasised the importance of bringing the co-operative difference into the marketing and management strategy of co-operatives, but in practice few co-operatives do that. We examine the differences across different types of co-operatives, and while our results are preliminary, they do indicate that some patterns emerge. There are differences in perceptions of managers and board members regarding both their acquaintance with, and application of, the co-operative principles. And while co-operative size matters in shaping the answers, so does the type of co-operative, the length of respondents' relation with the co-operative, and whether they are the manager or the board member. The most important value to all types of co-operatives in our sample is democracy, while the principle of concern for the community carries a lot of weight in defining the co-operative difference. 

Better together: Management, morals and co-operation in times of globalisation 

Hans. H. Münkner, pp. 16-23

This paper considers the main arguments in the German press against capital domination at the expense of labour and the reasons behind managerial orientation towards increasing shareholder value. This is followed by a discussion on the effects that worldwide trends in co-operation among enterprises have on the thinking and action of management of group enterprises.

Annual report readership and understanding: An international comparison 

 A. J. Robb, Y. P. Shanahan and B. R. Lord, pp. 24-34

This paper extends the initial research reported in Lord et al. (2005) on the readership of annual reports by members of co-operatives. Lord et al (2005) surveyed members of a New Zealand (NZ) supply co-operative, whereas this study is of two United Kingdom (UK) consumer co-operatives. The analysis establishes that there are differences in readership and understanding of annual reports, depending on the type of co-operative and possibly the country culture. Information about proms/earnings is the most important item provided by annual reports. UK readers ranked rebate information much lower than NZ readers. UK respondents read narrative portions more thoroughly, whereas NZ respondents read the numerical financial sections most thoroughly. The thoroughness of reading of annual reports was positively correlated with understanding of accounting terms and also positively correlated to the reading of three or more other sources of information about companies. Respondents with a more extensive accounting background showed more understanding and read the annual report more thoroughly. The majority of respondents considered that the annual report contained sufficient information for members, but some suggestions tor additions and improvements were offered. 

Short articles

‘Fancy That’ school of co-operative history 

Rita Rhodes, pp. 39-41

This paper looks at some of the history and influences of development of co-operatives in the British empire.

Book reviews

One hundred thousand miles in the Kalahari. A History of Co-operative Development in Botswana, 1970-75. By Basil Loveridge.
Reviewed by John Collins, pp. 42-43

The emergence of global citizenship; Utopian ideas, co-operative movements and the third sector. Edited by Chushichi Tsuzki, Naobumi Hijikata and Akira Kurimoto.
Reviewed by Richard Bickle, p. 44 

Co-operatives and mutuals: The new challenge. By Independent Labour Publications.
Reviewed by Trevor Bottomley, pp. 45-46