Co-operative Enterprise
Module description
Summary:
In this module, students work in groups to develop a co-operative business plan that could be launched on graduation. This could be anything where there is an identified primary social need (e.g. housing) or secondary social need (e.g. leisure). Students are given step by step guidance about how to form a co-operative business by a range of invited guest speakers with expertise in different areas of co-operation. Through the process of developing a co-operative business plan, the students will be required to engage with the aims of the module.
Additional Information:
Internationalisation
Co-operatives are found throughout the world and the principles enshrined by the International Co-operative Alliance form the basis of the business models developed in this module.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a key consideration in the viability of the business plans developed in this module, in line with the seventh principle of co-operation set out by the ICA, which states: ‘Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members’.
Employability
The module will be of value to students seeking to work in environments where knowledge of co-operative principles and working practices are important. For example, government posts, NGOs and businesses that transact with co-operatives. You will also develop team work skills and co-operative solutions to common problems like ‘free riders’ and leadership conflict.
Full module specification
| Module title: | Co-operative Enterprise |
|---|---|
| Module code: | BEM3038 |
| Module level: | 3 |
| Academic year: | 2016/7 |
| Module lecturers: |
|
| Module credit: | 15 |
| ECTS value: | 7.5 |
| Pre-requisites: | None |
| Co-requisites: | None |
| Duration of module: |
Duration (weeks) - term 2: 11 |
Module aims
The aims of this module are to:
- introduce students to expert guest speakers who are involved in supporting co-operative development
- explain the importance of co-operative values and principles to member based businesses
- explore how co-operatives as a social economic model can contribute to community development
- provide an in-depth analysis of different types of member owned business
- equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience to develop a co-operative business plan that aligns with co-operative values and principles
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. articulate the elements that make co-operatives distinctive organisations vis-à-vis, state run enterprises, investor owned businesses and social purpose enterprises (e.g. charities).
- 2. identify opportunities in which co-operative enterprises might be best placed to meet social needs.
- 3. design and communicate a co-operative business plan, using oral presentations and written documents, that is congruent with co-operative values and principles.
- 4. critically evaluate the effectiveness of different co-operative enterprises and their associated legal, financial and organizational forms.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. relate, in writing and verbally, debates about co-operative enterprise to wider trends in economy, society and culture, including the provision of public services and the changing role of the state.
- 6. connect the practitioner and academic worlds vital to the success of co-operative enterprise, in the presentation of theory, concept and evidence.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. identify the value of specific skills that support co-operative enquiry. These skills involve individuals developing an awareness about the challenges faced by the co-operating group, effectively evaluating their personal capabilities in relation to those possessed by other group members, and taking on different roles at different times in the collaborative process in the best of interests of the group; for example, with respect to teamwork, leadership, empathy, and inter and intra group collaboration.
- 8. exercise autonomy through independent learning including the effective use of time and resources to deliver a group presentation and contribute to a business plan.
- 9. demonstrate appropriate and innovative use of ICT and IT.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 116 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Contact hours | 20 | lectures |
| 10 | Tutorials | |
| 4 | Workshops |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Discussions | Varies from session to session | 1-9 | Verbal |
| Class Exercises | Varies from session to session | 1-9 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Paper | 30 | 2500 words | 1-7, 9 | Written |
| Group Presentation | 30 | 30% Group presentation of 20 minutes comprising per student input of c.750 words or equivalent. | 1-9 | Verbal & written feedback |
| Group business plan | 40 | no more than up to 6000 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Paper | Individual Paper - 2000 words | 1-7. 9 | |
| Group Business Plan and Presentation | Individual Business Plan - 3000 words | 1-7. 9 |
Syllabus plan
Defining Co-operatives
1. Co-operatives as Social Enterprise
2. Co-operative Organisational Forms
3. Co-operation: The Philosophy of Working Together
Creating Co-operatives
4. Social Needs and Economic Justification
5. Opportunities for Co-operative Enterprise
6. Legal Frameworks
7. Marketing
8. Capitalisation
9. Economic Forecasting
10. Group Workshop
11. Group Workshop
Communicating Co-operatives
12. Presenting Your Business Plan
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Birchall, J. (2011) People-Centred Business: Co-operatives, Mutuals and the Idea of Membership, Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan
ESRC (2009) ESRC Seminar Series: Mapping the public policy landscape. The third sector – discussions around key public policy issues pp. 27 – 32. Swindon: ESRC.
Hall, J.K., Daneke, G.A., Lenox, M.J. (2010) ‘Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurship: Past Contributions and Future Directions’ Journal of Business Venturing 25 (5) 439-448
Mayo, E., Moore, H. (2001) The Mutual State: How local communities can run public services, New Economics Foundation
Murray, R. (2011) Co-operation in the Age of Google: A review for Co-operatives UK – draft for comments, [downloaded 20/02/2012 http://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/downloads/Co-operation%20in%20the%20Age%20of%20Google%20for%20consultation_1.pdf ]
Gijselinckx, C., Develtere, P. (2008) ‘The Co-operative Trilemma: Co-operatives between market, state and civil society’, Working Papers on Social and Co-operative Entrepreneurship [downloaded 20/02/2012 http://www.cooperatiefondernemen.be/wp/WP%20SCE%2008-01.pdf ]
Ridley-Duff, R. J., Bull, M. (2011) Understanding Social Enterprise: Theory and Practice. London: Sage Publications
Ridley-Duff, R. J. (2009) ‘Cooperative Social Enterprises: Company Rules, Access to Finance and Management Practice’, Social Enterprise Journal 5(1), 50-67
Ridley-Duff, R.J. (2007) ‘Communitarian Perspectives on Social Enterprise’, Corporate Governance 15(2), 382-394
Pestoff, V. (2009) ‘Towards a Paradigm of Democratic Participation: Citizen Participation and Co-production of Personal Social Services in Sweden’, Annals of Public and Co-operative Economics 80(2), 197-224
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Co-operatives UK
- Simply Finance - a comprehensive guide to the different options for financing a community enterprise.
www.uk.coop/resources/documents/simplyfinance [Downloaded 20/02/2012] - Simply Governance - A comprehensive guide to understanding the systems and processes concerned with the running of a sustainable community enterprise.
www.uk.coop/simplygovernance [Downloaded 20/02/2012] - Simply Start Up - A guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates.
www.uk.coop/simplystartup [Downloaded 20/02/2012] - Simply Legal - a comprehensive guide to the legal forms and organisational types for community enterprises.
www.uk.coop/simplylegal [Downloaded 20/02/2012]
The Co-operative Group
http://www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub/
The Co-operative Movement and Related Institutions
http://www.employeeownership.co.uk/
http://cooperative-curriculum.wikispaces.com/
Origin date
12/03/2012
Last revision date
13/01/2015