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Patterns of Cooperative Management: Beyond the Degeneration Thesis

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Cornforth

    (Open University)

Abstract

This paper presents case studies of the development of four relatively long-standing and successful worker cooperatives in the UK. It focuses in particular on how, as a result of growth and pressure for greater efficiency, the cooperatives have developed new management structures and a more specialized division of labour, and how these changes have affected democratic control and accountability. The paper presents further evidence that degeneration is not inevitable as cooperatives age and grow, and details how processes of regeneration may occur. The paper concludes by highlighting some of the different conditions and strategies that support workplace democracy. In particular, as cooperatives grow their management structures and procedures will need to be regularly reviewed and changed, both to remain efficient and give renewed expression to democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Cornforth, 1995. "Patterns of Cooperative Management: Beyond the Degeneration Thesis," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 16(4), pages 487-523, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:16:y:1995:i:4:p:487-523
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X95164002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Menachem Rosner, 1984. "A Search for 'Coping Strategies' or Forecasts of Cooperative 'Degeneration'?," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 5(3), pages 391-399, August.
    2. Eric Batstone, 1983. "Organization and Orientation: A Life Cycle Model of French Co-operatives," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 4(2), pages 139-161, May.
    3. Gerald Callan Hunt, 1992. "Division of Labour, Life Cycle and Democracy in Worker Co-operatives," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 13(1), pages 9-43, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kévin Pastier, 2024. "Beyond democratic degeneration, horizontal and liberated organization? The agonistic approach of a Belgian food co-op," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(4), pages 1325-1349, November.
    2. Charlène Arnaud & Célia Auquier & Pascale Chateau Terrisse, 2025. "Creating alternatives within cooperatives [La fabrique de l’alternative dans les coopératives]," Post-Print hal-05069314, HAL.
    3. Pietro Ghirlanda & Vassil Kirov, 2024. "An alternative organizational model for a more democratic and equitable digital economy: A systematic literature review on platform cooperativism through the lens of stakeholder theory. Competitive advantages and challenges," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(4), pages 1197-1221, December.
    4. Ignacio Bretos & Rory Ridley-Duff & David Wren, 2025. "Crafting alternative work organisations: Paradoxes of workplace democracy and emancipation in worker-buyout cooperatives," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(4), pages 1002-1030, November.
    5. Anjel Errasti, 2015. "Mondragon’s Chinese subsidiaries: Coopitalist multinationals in practice," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 36(3), pages 479-499, August.
    6. Ronald Hartz & Markus Tümpel & Melanie Hühn & Irma Rybnikova, 2024. "Handling the organizing paradox: A multiple case study of German cooperatives," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(4), pages 1112-1136, November.
    7. Regine Bendl & Alexander Fleischmann & Angelika Schmidt, 2025. "The (In)Visibility of Diversity in Alternative Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(2), pages 273-289, January.
    8. Krista Jaakson & Epp Kallaste, 2016. "Who uses employee financial participation in an adverse environment? The case of Estonia," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 37(3), pages 449-467, August.
    9. Catherine W. Ng & Evelyn Ng, 2009. "Balancing the Democracy Dilemmas: Experiences of Three Women Workers' Cooperatives in Hong Kong," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 30(2), pages 182-206, May.

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