There are libraries full of books written about hierarchical business methods, practices, and models. I’m curious to learn more about the practical application of alternative business models.

I’m looking for history books that showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly of collaborative business models. When, where, and how did some succeed? When, where, and how did some fail?

I’m looking for analysis that compare and contrast hierarchical and non-hierarchical businesses directly via metrics like failure rate, employee turnover, community impact, annualized growth, etc. and indirectly by investigating challenges and trade-offs unique to different organizational structures.

Does anyone know any good books about cooperatives?

    • JeffreyOP
      2·
      3 years ago

      Thanks for the suggestion! On the surface it looks like such a cool organization, I picked up a copy of William & Kathleen Whyte’s Making Mondragon, I’m looking forward to reading it after the holidays.

  • juh
    3·
    3 years ago

    Not about cooperatives but maybe about the way to run them: I would recommend the book “We the people” about sociocracy.

    Buck, John Jr, and Sharon Villines. We the People. Washington, DC: Sociocracy.Info Press, 2007.

  • coleman
    2·
    3 years ago

    I read Democracy At Work by Richard Wolff a decade ago. It’s way more lightweight than what you’re asking for, but it’s not a rah rah all-positive book. It lays out the problem of capitalist organization, and how employee ownership can solve problems for workers.

    https://www.democracyatwork.info/

    Also look into resources from https://www.usworker.coop/home/

    If you reach out to people in those organizations, they may have access to some more hardcore economic papers that you’re looking for.