This research investigates the discourse of co-operative management and leadership. It explores the social construction of the concept of the 'co-operative' and the philosophy that underpins co-operative ideology, culture and values. The research employs a discursive research methodology. More specifically, discourse analysis is applied to a sample of speeches (n=23) given by prominent co-operative figures between 1823 and 1997. These texts are analysed using three discursive methods, namely: content analysis, narrative analysis and intertextuality analysis. These approaches are utilised to explore different levels of discourse, i.e.: the micro-level (the interrogation of words and sentences using content analysis); the meso-level (the examination of embedded stories and plots within texts using narrative analysis) and; the macro-level (the exploration of underlying patterns and recurring themes across texts using intertextual analysis). There are two main findings of this research. First, there is an emphasis on the notion of 'heroic/ideal' leadership within the texts which runs contrary to the espoused core values of shared responsibility and democratic member-based control within co-operatives. Second, and somewhat paradoxically, the discourse of co-operatives is becoming more business like and entrepreneurial in nature while the rhetoric of profit-making organisation is generally becoming more inclusionary, participative and democratic. The research highlights that there is an inherent tension within the co-operative movement between wanting to retain traditional values and the need to incorporate contemporary business practices (e.g. hierarchical leadership) and business values (i.e. capitalistic ideals). Given that co-operatives are caught between traditional commitments and adjusting to external requirements of being profitable, there are implications for identity and there is an need to rethink some of the assumptions, concepts and values which underpin co-operative discourse. Beyond the substantive contribution, this research also offers insights into the scope for, and benefits of, applying a multi-method, multi-level approach to discursive study of organisational phenomena.

Les coopératives sont souvent vues comme des alternatives organisationnelles aux entreprises traditionnelles. Pourtant, la relation entre les coopératives et leurs membres a tendance à évoluer jusqu’à générer des tensions. Nous nous appuyons sur l’économie des coûts de transactions pour décrire les relations coopératives comme la conséquence d’un choix des membres pour gouverner collectivement une transaction. La coopérative, en tant qu’organisation à part entière, émerge comme une conséquence de ce choix de gouvernance. Ensuite, en mobilisant la théorie institutionnelle, nous expliquons que l’organisation coopérative s’institutionnalise jusqu’à s’éloigner de ses objectifs initiaux. En conséquence, elle se soucie de sa propre existence et de sa survie et se doit de sécuriser le choix de gouvernance de ses membres dont elle dépend pour exister. Elle réussit cela en influençant les caractéristiques de la structure qui gouverne la transaction de ses membres. Nous confrontons empiriquement ce développement théorique en réalisant deux études de cas encastrées : une coopérative agricole et une coopérative de commerçants. En nous appuyant sur l’analyse thématique de 57 entretiens ainsi que de données secondaires, nous confirmons nos propositions théoriques. Nous suggérons ainsi que la gouvernance de la transaction des membres évolue à cause du glissement institutionnel de l’organisation coopérative. Les conséquences de ce glissement sont stratégiques pour les membres de la coopérative. Nous présentons plusieurs contributions qui s’inscrivent à la fois dans la littérature sur les coopératives ainsi que la littérature sur l’analyse des institutions. / Cooperatives are often considered as organizational alternatives to traditional firms. However, the relationship between the cooperative and its members tend to evolve so as to generate tensions. Our dissertation aims at explaining why this relationship evolves. Relying on transaction cost economics, we describe the cooperative relationship as stemming from the choice by the cooperative members to govern a transaction collectively. The cooperative as a full-fledge organization emerges as a consequence of this governance choice. Then, relying on the “old” institutionalism, we explain that this cooperative organization institutionalizes so much as to drift from its original goals. As a consequence it is concerned with its self-maintenance and needs to secure the governance choice of its members upon which it relies to exist. It does so by leveraging the characteristics of the members’ transaction’s governance. We empirically confront our theoretical address studying two embedded cases: an agricultural cooperative and a retailer cooperative. Relying on the thematic analysis of 57 interviews, we confirm our theoretical propositions and argue the governance of the cooperative members’ transaction evolves because of the institutional drift of the cooperative. The consequences of this drift are strategic to the cooperative members. A number of contributions are derived from our theoretical and empirical address both in the literature on cooperatives and the literature on the analysis of institutions.

This study responds to the need for further research on worker co-operatives as an alternative business model following the resurgence of interest in co-operatives by many international organizations including the United Nations. The study particularly seeks to fill the gaps identified in the previous research studies with regard to worker co-operatives’ competitive environments and to their strategy formulation processes. The main objective of this thesis is to establish that an integrative strategy framework offers a more effective analysis of the challenge of competitiveness in worker co-operatives in Britain. Unlike most previous studies in this field, the point of departure for this thesis is the contention that the challenge of competitiveness in worker co-operatives in Britain can be better understood if their strategic variables are considered together in an integrative strategy framework. The thesis aims at finding the rationale for formulating strategy frameworks that integrate variables from both the external and the internal environments of the worker co-operatives in order to effectively achieve objectives. This thesis additionally seeks to establish that despite all the external and internal forces that work against the growth and development of worker co-operatives in Britain, they still perform very well and are satisfied with their performance. This would confirm that a non-hierarchical management structure based on the principles of democratic control actually works. It would also confirm that loyalty, commitment and greater participation from members (co-operative environment) is the main force behind worker co-operatives’ successful performance. The thesis utilizes a typology for strategy classification that identifies the strategic variables in both the external and the internal environments that are critical to the competitiveness of worker co-operatives in Britain. It specifically focuses on the strategic integration of the key variables in worker co-operatives’ environments and the strategic alignment of their internal environment (e.g. financial, physical and entrepreneurial) with their external environment (e.g. social, economic, political and legal). The thesis additionally examines how worker co-operatives are influenced by a unique environment that arises from their strong adherence to the universal cooperative principles and core values. This unique environment, known as the co-operative environment, consists of the multi-faceted relationships that exist between worker co-operatives and their members and among the members themselves. According to the Worker Co-operatives Statistical Review 2nd Revision 2005, which is published by Co-operatives-UK (the umbrella body for worker co-operatives), there are approximately 390 worker co-operatives in Britain. One hundred and thirty one (131) of these worker co-operatives participated in the research study. The research method adopted for the thesis integrated the quantitative data collection and analysis methods with the qualitative and, hence, more descriptive approaches. Interviews were conducted and survey questionnaires were also completed on various factors that influence the competitiveness of worker co-operatives. The study concludes that the use of an integrative strategy framework provides a richer picture of the challenge of competitiveness in worker co-operatives in Britain. It also concludes that many worker co-operatives attribute their satisfactory performance to loyalty, employee empowerment and unparalleled commitment from the members. This confirms that a non-hierarchical management structure based on the principles of democratic control actually works and that the revival of worker co-operatives in Britain will be maintained, and will probably expand.

Thesis (M.Dev) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / The aim of this study was to assess the performance of co-operative enterprises that have benefited from the Co-operative Incentive Scheme (CIS). Matabane Co-operative in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in Sekhukhune District was used as a case study. Both primary and secondary data were used to analyse the performance of this co-operative. The primary data were collected through a pre-tested questionnaire, while electronic and non-electronic media were used to collect secondary data. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents and because the number of beneficiaries of the co-operative was too small (i.e., 36) all were selected for this purpose. Only tables were used to analyse data in this study. The results obtained showed that the level of participation of females and youth in co-operatives is minimal. With regard to the level of education, the study found that all beneficiaries were literate. Of the total membership, 31% had passed secondary education, 22% had tertiary qualifications, while those who had passed primary education constituted 47%. The study also found that the co-operative had generated 36 jobs. Of this number, 14% were awarded to females as compared to 86% among their male counterparts. The youth constituted only 8% of the co-operative membership as compared to the 92% of the adults and the elderly combined. With regard to income, the study found that the co-operative has managed to generate about R1,5 million, the majority of which comes from the sale of livestock and maize, namely 44% and 28% respectively. The following challenges were established by this study: lack of access to markets, lack of sufficient land space for production, lack of support from government, lack of access to water, shortage of proper skills, and the high cost of electricity. The following recommendations are therefore made to policymakers: · A budget for the payment of stipends to beneficiaries should be made available. The budget for the Community Work Programme (CWP) should be used for this purpose. · The municipality should provide a subsidy for electricity to the co-operative. · The Provincial Departments of Agriculture should provide the co-operative with adequate infrastructure. · LIBSA and other government agencies should ensure the provision of ongoing training in technical, project management, recordkeeping and financial management skills to the beneficiaries of the co-operative. · LIBSA should assist the co-operatives in identifying markets and in ensuring that their produce meets the required quality standards. The assurance is hereby given by this study that the productivity of co-operatives would be enhanced if these policies were implemented successfully.