Democracy, co-operation, and success: Practical implications from the Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa case

Abstract

Are democracy and success compatible in a firm? In this work we show how Spain's Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa (MCC) has made it possible. MCC can be considered a world leader in cooperativism. It represents a unique experience in the use of democratic and participatory methods in management. We analyze the key elements of MCC's democratic management model, developed around areas such as corporate culture, organizational structure, and strategic planning. Finally, we outline some practical implications of introducing a greater level of democracy into organizations, drawn from the experience of MCC