Together we will reach new heights Our co-<strong>op</strong>erative IT solution includes everything needed to run a consumer co-<strong>op</strong>. Our mission is to help the independent co-<strong>op</strong> movement thrive. We do this by reducing your society’s costs and helping your co-<strong>op</strong> be as efficient as possible through technology. We are truly co-<strong>op</strong>erative – with lower prices for all consumer societies as more co-<strong>op</strong>s use VME technology.
Why is co-<strong>op</strong>erative culture important? CONNECTING, CHAMPIONING AND CHALLENGING THE GLOBAL CO-OP MOVEMENT SINCE 1871 Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester M60 0AS (00) 44 161 214 0870 www.thenews.co<strong>op</strong> editorial@thenews.co<strong>op</strong> EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rebecca Harvey rebecca@thenews.co<strong>op</strong> INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Anca Voinea | anca@thenews.co<strong>op</strong> DIGITAL EDITOR Miles Hadfield | miles@thenews.co<strong>op</strong> WRITER Jen Banks DESIGN Keir Mucklestone-Barnett ART & DESIGN PLACEMENT Owais Qazi INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH OFFICER Elaine Dean DIRECTORS Barbara Rainford (chair), David Paterson (vice-chair), Gavin Ewing, Tim Hartley, Beverley Perkins and Ray Henderson. Secretary: Richard Bickle Established in 1871, <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative <strong>News</strong> is published by <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative Press Ltd, a registered society under the <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative and <strong>Co</strong>mmunity Benefit Society Act 2014. It is printed every month by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. Membership of <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative Press is <strong>op</strong>en to individual readers as well as to other co-<strong>op</strong>eratives, corporate bodies and unincorporated organisations. The <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative <strong>News</strong> mission statement is to connect, champion and challenge the global co-<strong>op</strong>erative movement, through fair and objective journalism and <strong>op</strong>en and honest comment and debate. <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> <strong>News</strong> is, on occasion, supported by co-<strong>op</strong>eratives, but final editorial control remains with <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative <strong>News</strong> unless specifically labelled ‘advertorial’. The information and views set out in <strong>op</strong>inion articles and letters do not necessarily reflect the <strong>op</strong>inion of <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative <strong>News</strong>. @co<strong>op</strong>news co<strong>op</strong>erativenews Whether it manifests itself through shared values, attitudes or assumptions, culture can play a key role in determining an organisation’s behaviour. In this issue we look at co-<strong>op</strong>erative culture – what it is and how the values and principles of co-<strong>op</strong>eration are reflected in diff erent sectors. How is it reflected in approaches to leadership, education or personal lives? Ed Mayo explains how there is no one identity across diff e rent organisations, since organisational culture is strongly influenced by factors such as environment, colleagues and the nature of a co-<strong>op</strong>’s work (p28). And in our feature on Cec<strong>op</strong>’s 40th anniversary, we hear about some of the challenges its founding members faced when bringing together diff erent co-<strong>op</strong>erative cultures under one Eur<strong>op</strong>ean umbrella organisation (p36-37). Organisational culture is also influenced by the sector in which co-<strong>op</strong>s <strong>op</strong>erate and the size of the business. A new report argues that Canadian federation of credit unions Desjardins Group has moved away from its original mission and co-<strong>op</strong> culture due to increased competition from other banks and new consumer trends (p38-39). Why does culture matter? As Ed Mayo writes, when values are reflected in genuine behaviour, co-<strong>op</strong>erative culture can bring authenticity. Employees who work for organisations whose values they share are also more engaged and tend to accomplish more, which means that culture can help co-<strong>op</strong>s thrive. This issue we also look at the cross over in values between co-<strong>op</strong> culture and diff erent religions, hear about a university course looking specifi cally at co-<strong>op</strong> culture, and how their unique way of organising helped co-<strong>op</strong>s to survive the fascist regime of Mussolini’s Italy. ANCA VOINEA - INTERNATIONAL EDITOR <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>erative <strong>News</strong> is printed using vegetable oil-based inks on 80% recycled paper (with 60% from post-consumer waste) with the remaining 20% produced from FSC or PEFC certified sources. It is made in a totally chlorine free process. AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> | 3