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Entrepreneurship and innovation in worker cooperatives and conventional firms: the role of external cooperation

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco J. Santos

    (University of Seville)

  • Carmen Guzmán

    (University of Seville)

  • Lidia Valiente

    (University of Seville)

Abstract

Through the comparison of conventional firms (CFs) with worker cooperatives (WCs), which are a type of collective enterprise with significant experience in cooperation, this research aims to analyse the influence of external cooperation on the two most prominent factors for the success of enterprises: entrepreneurship and innovation. To this end, a research model is proposed based on contributions from the stakeholders’ perspective of the resource-based view of the firm and tested with data from a survey conducted on WCs and CFs located in two Spanish regions with a long tradition in the cooperative movement. The results highlight that the influence of external cooperation on innovation performance is more relevant for WCs and demonstrate that these collective firms are not disadvantaged in innovation compared to CFs. Furthermore, the results suggest that WCs have a more remarkable ability to compete and cooperate simultaneously, that is, to coopete, due to their participative nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco J. Santos & Carmen Guzmán & Lidia Valiente, 2025. "Entrepreneurship and innovation in worker cooperatives and conventional firms: the role of external cooperation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(3), pages 1415-1431, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:64:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11187-024-00951-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00951-x
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • J54 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Producer Cooperatives; Labor Managed Firms
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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