Literatura científica selecionada sobre o tema "Mondragon's cooperative experience"

This article presents a case study of the rise and fall of the Mondragon cooperative Fagor Electrodomésticos (1959-2013). Fagor, after playing a key role in the creation of the Mondragon cooperative experience, had been transformed into a multinational corporation competing in the global home appliance market. Given Fagor’s role as a leading cooperative, the general question of the viability of workers’ cooperatives is also at stake in its failure.

The Mondragon Cooperative Experience has been one of the worker-owned alternative organizations that has received the most attention in the academic world. Despite its economic success, this experience has also been wrought with its own share of tensions and internal paradoxes. Surprisingly, the perspective of worker–member–owners in the analysis of those inconsistencies in Mondragon has been given very little prominence. Similarly, the equivalence between the formal policies defined in that experience and the day-to-day activity has been widely taken for granted in the literature. This article aims to fill this gap and contribute to the literature by analyzing the extent to which Mondragon’s basic cooperative principles are applied in the daily practice from the perspective of worker–member–owners. To that end, in-depth interviews were conducted with worker–member–owners of Mondragon outside their working environment. An interpretative analysis provides evidence of a decoupling of cooperative principles from the workers’ daily activity. Furthermore, a tacit and non-formal principle frequently surfaces in the interviews: the principle of the primacy of secure membership and guaranteed employment. This seems to be the most solid tie that binds members to their organization, in a context with growing individualization and precarious employment conditions, together with a ubiquitous managerial discourse that encourages shallow forms of workplace participation. This work contributes to the broader field of organizational theory and sheds light on the dissociation process in formal policies of organizations governed by alternative founding principles. It also tries to contribute to the study of the sustainability of such alternative organizations.

In 2009, United Steelworkers (USW) and Mondragon signed an agreement to promote union co-ops: firms that combine democratic worker ownership and union membership. Eleven U.S. initiatives now seek to implement the USW-Mondragon union co-op model, prompting a debate about whether unions and worker cooperatives are stronger together. This article draws on a case study of the first such initiative in Cincinnati, Ohio, to put claims about the model in dialogue with aspirations and experiences of people on the ground. I synthesize six possibilities and dilemmas of union involvement in worker cooperative formation and argue that these considerations should structure the future debate.

Around two thousand people come to Mondragon every year, from all over the world, to experience a unique business experience. Prestigious academics, management "gurus", social leaders from emerging countries, people linked to counter-cultural movements in Western countries share a certain admiration for the reality they observe and similar questions: What have been the keys to such a singular and spectacular success? Is it possible to replicate the Experience in other parts of the planet?

Purpose: In this paper, the authors analyse some of the aspects that contribute to the better performance of Mondragon Corporation compared to other cooperatives and to the rest of the companies in the Basque Country from a systemic perspective.Design/methodology/approach: First, a systematic review of the literature on the factors that could explain the higher competitiveness of Mondragon Cooperatives compared to the rest of firms has been performed. Then, a draft framework representing the existing relationship between the factors has been proposed by the authors. Then, a contrast with five experts with different perspectives of Mondragon Corporation has been made. Finally, the contributions of the experts to the proposal has allowed to obtain a final framework.Findings: A framework is proposed that links and hierarchises the factors and establishes precondition relationships between them. This framework gives a special role to the basic intercooperative agreement structure as a condition to develop intercompany synergies. Research limitations/implications: The article analyses a very specific case such as Mondragon Corporation and the testing of the framework has been made by a limited number of experts/This research adds a new perspective to a rich literature on the factors that explain Mondragon Cooperatives competitiveness.Practical implications: This article gives insights into the factors that should be considered when trying to replicate the experience of Mondragon Corporation in other socioeconomic contexts.Social Implications: This research stresses the relevance of a shared set of values as a base for the construction of strong synergetic relations between companies.Originality/value: The existing literature related to the key factors for Mondragon Cooperatives’ competitiveness analysed them from an individual factor perspective. This research advances in the knowledge to understand the systemic interrelationship between them.

This article examines how a single entrepreneur-owner of a heavy manufacturing firm in the United States has been influenced by the experience of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain and the concept of servant leadership as articulated by Robert K. Greenleaf. The case that follows describes how this entrepreneur has attempted to not only sell his company to his employees at below market value but also to engage in a large scale training and development program so the employees may not only exercise ownership but also leadership and governance. His goal is to provide lifelong security and employment for the employees who made his company the success it is.

This study examines the historical development of corporate governance structures in First Nations communities in British Columbia, where development corporations are employed to assist privately-owned and community-owned entrepreneurial enterprises. First Nations entrepreneurial activity functions in an environment where business must market to a global economy while preserving traditional values, beliefs and other cultural elements. A brief history of First Nations and their enterprise development efforts is presented. Empirical research findings describe the close relationship between local community and corporate goals and identify conflicts of interest between political leaders and management of development corporations. The evidence demonstrates entrepreneurial success and economic development of First Nations communities rely on an independent decision-making process within business development corporations. An alternative business model is developed utilizing the empirical research, social enterprise literature and the unique regional cooperative model of the Mondragon region of Spain. The new model respects the land base and other environmental and social values while providing a framework for economic success. Exploration of this unique enterprise-to-region development model, which incorporates consideration for the natural environment and social and cultural values, offers lessons to other societies and regions that will assist in the movement toward an economic system based on concepts of sustainability.

La thèse propose une analyse socio-historique des matrices idéologiques du coopérativisme au Pays basque afin de comprendre les mécanismes générationnels affectant l'identité coopérative. La première partie présente un séquençage diachronique de quatre cycles historiques du mouvement coopératif : le coopérativisme d'avant-guerre, le coopérativisme de la nécessité, le coopérativisme du bien-être et le nouveau cycle coopératif. Tout au long de cette trajectoire, nous avons essayé d'analyser les matrices idéologiques du coopérativisme basque en nous concentrant sur la relation entre les agents sociaux, religieux, politiques et institutionnels et en tenant compte du rôle prédominant de l'Expérience Coopérative de Mondragon. Nous avons ainsi tenté de combler les lacunes académiques existantes. Dans la deuxième partie, à partir de l'analyse des nouvelles formes d'action coopérative (Egitea, « faire ») et des nouvelles appartenances identitaires (Izatea, « être »), nous avons analysé les caractéristiques du nouveau cycle historique. Ce nouveau cycle émerge de manière spécifique à chaque réalité territoriale du Pays Basque, bien qu'il partage certaines similitudes. La diversification des matrices idéologiques autour de nouveaux paradigmes (féminisme, écologisme, défense de la langue basque, euskera, ou de l'économie sociale et solidaire) en est la caractéristique principale. Cette analyse de l'identité coopérative se fonde sur la bibliographie existante à propos de la construction de l'identité moderne, en particulier chez Charles Taylor. Il s’agit alors d'essayer de préciser les éléments de construction de l’identité coopérative, compte tenu de sa dimension professionnelle et territoriale. L’enquête de terrain révèle un processus d'érosion de l'identité coopérative que nous avons qualifié de désaffection identitaire. Ce processus trouve son origine dans les transformations socio-historiques du coopérativisme et dans la mutation idéologique qui caractérisent le nouveau cycle coopératif. Nous signalons enfin les politiques de récupération identitaire qui se développent au sein du mouvement coopératif basque et, plus particulièrement, au sein du Groupe Mondragon
The thesis aims to provide a socio-historical analysis of the ideological foundations of cooperativism in the Basque Country to understand the shape of the cooperative identity. In the first part, we have diachronically sequenced the cooperative movement, dividing it into four historical cycles, among which we advocate for the emergence of a new cooperative cycle: Pre-war Cooperativism, Necessity Cooperativism, Welfare Cooperativism, and the New Cooperative Cycle. Throughout this parcours, we have sought to analyze the ideological foundations specific to each cooperative cycle, focusing on the relationship between social, religious, political, and institutional actors while considering the predominant role of the Mondragon Cooperative Experience. In doing so, we have attempted to fill a series of evident scholar gaps. In the second part, based on the analysis of new cooperative modes of action (Egitea) and new identity belongings (Izatea), we have examined the characteristics of the new historical cycle. This new cycle emerges with particularities in each territorial reality of the Basque Country. However, all the territorial perspectives share certain commonalities. The diversification of ideological foundations around new paradigms (feminism, environmentalism, the Euskera defense, or the emergence of the Social and Solidarity Economy paradigm) is the most apparent similarity. In this analysis of cooperative identity, we draw from existing literature on modern identity construction. Specifically, we analyze Charles Taylor's work, on identity construction according to professional and territorial elements. From the resulting fieldwork analysis, we also observe a process of erosion of cooperative identity. We have named this process identity disaffection. This process stems from the socio-historical transformations of cooperativism and the progressive ideological mutation characterizing the new cooperative cycle. Finally, we outline some identity recovery policies developed within Basque cooperativism and more specifically within the Mondragon Group
La tesis trata de ofrecer un análisis sociohistórico de las matrices ideológicas del cooperativismo en Euskal Herria para comprender los mecanismos de generación de la identidad cooperativa. En la primera parte, hemos secuenciado diacrónicamente el movimiento cooperativo dividiéndolo en cuatro ciclos históricos, entre los que defendemos la emergencia de un nuevo ciclo: el Cooperativismo de Anteguerra, el de la Necesidad, el del Bienestar y el Nuevo Ciclo Cooperativo. En este parcours hemos tratado de analizar cuáles han sido las matrices ideológicas propias de cada ciclo cooperativo, centrándonos en la relación entre los agentes sociales, religiosos, políticos e institucionales, y teniendo en cuenta el papel preponderante de la Experiencia Cooperativa de Mondragon. A su vez, hemos tratado de colmar una serie de evidentes lagunas académicas. En la segunda parte, a partir del análisis de las nuevas formas de actuación cooperativas (Egitea) y de las nuevas pertenencias identitarias (Izatea), hemos analizado las características del nuevo ciclo histórico. Este nuevo ciclo emerge de forma particular en cada realidad territorial de Euskal Herria, empero con ciertas similitudes comunes. La diversificación de las matrices ideológicas en torno a nuevos paradigmas (el feminismo, el ecologismo, la defensa del euskera o la Economía Social y Solidaria) es la más aparente similitud. En este análisis de la identidad cooperativa partimos de la bibliografía existente sobre la construcción de la identidad moderna y, concretamente, de la obra de Charles Taylor. Con ello tratamos de establecer cuáles han sido los elementos de construcción de la misma, considerando su dimensión profesional y territorial. Del análisis resultante del trabajo de campo, se observa un proceso de erosión de la identidad cooperativa que hemos bautizado como desafección identitaria. Este proceso tiene su origen en las transformaciones sociohistóricas del cooperativismo y en la progresiva mutación ideológica que caracterizan al nuevo ciclo cooperativo. Finalmente, apuntamos algunas políticas de recuperación de la identidad que se desarrollan en el cooperativismo vasco y más específicamente, en el seno del Grupo Mondragon
Tesiak Euskal Herriko kooperatibismoaren matrize ideologikoen azterketa soziohistorikoa eskaini nahi du, identitate kooperatiboa sortzeko mekanismoak ulertzeko. Lehenengo zatian, mugimendu kooperatiboa diakronikoki sekuentziatu dugu, lau ziklo historikotan banatuz. Ziklo horien artean, ziklo kooperatibo berri bat dago: Gerra aurreko kooperatibismoa, Beharraren kooperatibismoa, Ongizatearen kooperatibismoa eta Ziklo Kooperatibo berria. Parcours honetan ziklo kooperatibo bakoitzaren berezko matrize ideologikoak zein izan diren aztertzen saiatu gara, eragile sozial, erlijioso, politiko eta instituzionalen arteko harremanean zentratuz eta Arrasateko Esperientzia Kooperatiboaren paper nagusia kontuan hartuz. Horrela, hutsune akademiko nabarmenak betetzen saiatu gara. Bigarren zatian, kooperatiben jarduera-modu berrien azterketatik (Egitea) eta identitate-ezaugarri berrien azterketatik (Izatea) abiatuta, ziklo historiko berriaren ezaugarriak aztertu ditugu. Ziklo berri hau Euskal Herriko lurralde bakoitzean azaleratzen da bereziki, baina antzekotasun komun batzuekin. Paradigma berrien inguruko matrize ideologikoen dibertsifikazioa (feminismoa, ekologismoa, euskararen defentsa edo Ekonomia soziala eta solidarioa) da antzekotasunik nabarmenena. Identitate kooperatiboaren azterketa honetan identitate modernoaren eraikuntzari buruz dagoen bibliografiatik abiatzen gara, eta, zehazki, Taylorren obratik. Hori guztia haren eraikuntza-elementuak zein izan diren ezartzen saiatzeko, haren dimentsio profesionala eta lurralde-dimentsioa kontuan hartuta. Landa-lanetik ateratako azterketatik ikusten denez, nortasun kooperatiboa higatu egin da, eta identitatearen desafekzioa izena jarri diogu. Prozesu horren jatorria kooperatibismoaren eraldaketa soziohistorikoetan eta ziklo kooperatibo berriaren ezaugarri diren mutazio ideologiko progresiboan dago. Azkenik, euskal kooperatibismoan eta, zehazkiago, Mondragon Taldearen baitan identitatea berreskuratzeko garatzen diren politika batzuk aipatuko ditugu

This chapter examines an important employee ownership experience outside the Americas, but one that could usefully inform experiences in the Americas. It presents a summary of the Mondragon Corporation, its history, current structure, and ongoing challenges and dilemmas, as well as an introduction to one of its member companies, Soraluce, a worker cooperative in the machine tool sector. We review Soraluce’s business trajectory, organizational changes, recent educational efforts directed at fortifying both the business and its shared ownership identity, along with preliminary empirical data on the outcomes of these efforts.