Through adherence to the seven ICA principles, small community-based co-operatives can enhance their members’ experiences of empowerment in running their business.  For example, according to Principle 2 – Democratic Member Control, each member should be active in setting the co-op’s policies, and making important decisions.    

When a co-op becomes very large however, are these principles difficult to follow? For instance, what happens when a co-operative becomes so large that the vast majority of members don't exercise their voting rights? Is the principle of Democratic Member Control still relevant? 

 

In this webinar, Ghislain Paradis of IRECUS (s.coop/1fdz9), and formerly of Desjardins, argues that some ICA principles are based on idealism rather than realism; he suggests that large co-operatives cannot effectively adopt these principles in a way that would allow them to meet their needs in the global marketplace.

 

In response, we will hear from the MCDRN’s own Sonja Novkovic, of the Sobey of School Business at Saint Mary's Univeristy, whose research involves working with worker co-ops to improve their ability to operationalize the ICA principles and values.  Dr. Novkovic will argue that the ICA Principles remain just as valuable and relevant as co-ops grow.

 

After we hear from Ghislain and Sonja, two respondents will give their own input on the debate:

 

Note: All participants should be prepared to phone in as well as join online (for the visuals). Please prepare to join online 10-15 minutes before the webinar starts in order to allow the driver to load.

The webinar will provide an opportunity to understand the various ways to capture the impact of co-operatives. Many researchers have tried to measure impact in order to explain the full contribution of an economic activity and this webinar will provide a detailed overview of these various approaches. Co-op advocates have always championed the many layers of value that co-ops create in their communities, and with the proper research, there can be solid evidence to support these claims. 

 

George Karaphillis of Cape Breton University is currently undertaking a project measuring the economic impact of co-operatives in Nova Scotia. Nicoleta Uzea is a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Western Ontario and is undertaking a methodology scan of the various ways to capture economic, social and environmental impacts. Both of these projects are part of a larger research initiative within the Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network, the National Study on the Impact of Co-operatives. Dr. Fiona Duguid, Research Officer for the Canadian Co-operative Association will provide an overview of this new project. 

George Karaphillis is an Associate Professor as well as Director of the MBA in CED Program. He received his MBA from Virginia Tech. and his B.Eng from McGill University. George has previously been involved with the Social Economy and Sustainability Research Network, leading a project on financing the social economy. He is currently a Project Lead with the Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network. 

 

Nicoleta Uzea is a post-doctoral research associate with the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. She holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Saskatchewan.