Book

Managing cooperation at Mondragon

University Microfilms InternationalAnn Arbor, Mich.Published In 1989 • Pages: 8, 6, 298

By: Clamp, Christina Anne.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This is a detailed analysis of the Mondragon system of worker cooperatives in the Basque area of Spain. This system is analyzed as a test case of Robert Michel's 'iron law of oligarchy' theory. Clamp challenges this theory and presents an intensive study of cooperative leadership based on a combination of interviews, field observations, and internal documents. This discussion is followed by an analysis of the capital structure and organization of the cooperatives, involving an examination of the management, the role of women and the response of the cooperatives to the recession of the 1970s (introductory, pp. vii-viii). The degree to which oligarchy exists in the cooperatives is evaluated in terms of these substantive areas. The author discusses changes in personnel and in the cooperative structure as the result of the recession and shows how these were consistent with the goals of the organization. In conclusion Clamp states that oligarchy is variable in nature, being high in some areas and low in others. 'Mondragon has shown itself capable of responding flexibly to demands from its internal and external environments while maintaining social goals as a priority' (introductory, p. viii).
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Research methods
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Labor supply and employment
Business and industrial organization
Cooperative organization
Gender status
cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Basques
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2000
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Europe
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Southern Europe
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
Book
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Sociologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
John Beierle ; 1990-1991
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1982
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
ca. 1950s - 1982
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Mondragon, Guipuzcoa Province, Spain
NotesAdditional notes
[by] Christina Anne Clamp
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Boston College Graduate School, 1986
UM 8616093
Includes bibliographical references (p. 291-298)
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Basques