Self-management and participatory schemes in co-operatives : a comparative study of self-management in industrial co-operatives in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

This research study investigates the extent to which participatory schemes determine member participation and control in industrial cooperatives in Ghana. Recent studies on co-operative organizations in developing countries have indicated that the problems of self-management in co-operatives are due to low member participation in decision making and control over the affairs of co-operatives. These studies, coming from mainly sociological and anthropological studies, have further suggested that the low member participation and control in co-operatives are due to the problems in the implementation of the principles and ideals of co-operatives in developing countries. The studies have further argued that principles and ideals of co-operatives are difficult to implement because the are incompatible with the traditional social structures and norms in developing countries. A central argument of this study is that the problems of member participation and control in co-operatives should not be attributed solely to the influences of environmental factors in developing societies. The study points out that the degree of member participation and control in a co-operative will also be related to properties of the participatory schemes in the co-operatives. That is, the structures and processes along which participation takes place. The findings of the research study indicate that fundamental determinants of member participation and control are the structural attributes of participatory schemes in the co-operatives. The findings of the study also suggest that the participatory schemes in the cooperatives are influenced by the organizational conditions in the cooperatives. On the basis these findings, the research has contributed to our knowledge of the organization and the functioning of co-operatives in developing countries. Furthermore, the research has demonstrated the possibilities of the extension of modern organization theory to the study self-help and related self-managed enterprises in developing countries.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Ofei, Kwadwo Ansah

Language dc:language

en