Co-Operatives Based on Interdependent Self-Governing Teams

This paper describes an organizational model that is intended to increase the proportion of co-operatives in the economy. This organizational model is of large co-operative companies that are networks of small co-operative self-governing teams, where these teams are legally independent companies but where most of the teams could not function as an independent business. The paper starts by looking at the industries where there are large co-operatives and the industries where there are no large co-operatives. It is shown that there are many industries where there are no large co-operatives. Co-operatives’ current business models and some new co-operative business models are described. A constraint in the current and new organizational models is pointed out. An organizational model that removes that constraint is proposed: the organizational model of co-operatives based on interdependent self-governing teams