Mondragon

Re: Mondragon: Fwd: New ILO Recommendation on the Promotion of Cooperatives

Title: Re: Mondragon: Fwd: New ILO Recommendation on the Prom

Robert/Race -

I think Fred is likely reading this traffic and will get back to you. I think that he and his colleague Luxio Ugarte are the most likely candidates to undertake this kind of research. They (Mondragon University) have also shown interest in using the empirical framework that Fred, Loren Rodgers and I have developed over the past 8-10 years with the Ownership Culture Survey (OCS). This research tool is now installed in a fairly representative base of 20-25 USA ESOP companies. This past summer we undertook a research project relating this data to productivity and profitability outcomes.

Information about the survey and about a related training tool concerning what we call "influence allocation" issues (Frontiers and Boundaries) can be found at www.ownershipassociates.com

Chris Mackin

Dear Chris

Thanks for your message. I spoke with Fred and Luxio during a vist to Mondragon last year, and it seems to me that they share my sense of the importance of securing a resumption of something along the lines of the Greenwood/Ganzalez action research project, albeit perhaps incorporating new technologies such as the 'influence allocation' materials to which you refer. Precisely where the carriage of the project is centred is in my view less important than two other factors, namely (a) ensuring that it is able to draw on the best the rest of the world has to offer by way of expertise, theoretical insights, wisdom and hands-on best practice and (b) that a start can be made as soon as is compatible with securing appropriate auspices and a sense of ownership on the part of the co-operatives. I'm not sure where this leaves the matter in an immediate sense, but the Bilbao conference is only a couple of months away and it should be possible within that time frame to (a) encompass a preparatory consultative process with the co-operatives and other potential stakeholders and (b) subject to Marc Mathieu's concurrence, have an appropriate item agendaed for discussion at the conference. Perhaps in the first instance the ball might be in Marc's court, in as much as he might care to take the initiative, by making an initial approach to MCC or the university? I'm happy to contribute in any way possible with whatever is seen as being appropriate and achievable, but I've also come to terms with the limits on what is possible from the opposite side of the world. Best wishes, Race Mathews

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Dr Race Mathews,
Senior Research Fellow,
Government and Governance Unit,
Faculty of Business and Economics
Monash University.

Postal Address:
123 Alexandra Avenue,
South Yarra, Vic, 3141,
Australia.

Phone/Fax: (03) 9826 0104.