Research Ideas
Priorities and ideas from other researchers that you can incorporate in your work.
In 2011-12, CCA and CCCM collected 50 surveys from researchers, co-op practitioners and research centres. These surveys identified the top priorities for future research.
New types of emerging co-operatives
Additional interest could be in multi-stakeholder co-operatives and co-operatives providing local services in rural areas. Furthermore, an interest in co-operatives developing in new sector. Thirdly, there is a need to look into best practices in innovative co-operatives as well as new models of international partnerships among co-operatives (networks, consortiums, etc.).
Member engagement and loyalty
A few key interests emerging from the survey with regards to this priority were: voluntary behaviour, reciprocity, co-operative identity, cohesion and member/employee satisfaction.
Youth (16-30) engagement in the co-operative movement
Additionally, the importance of knowing how youth are engaged on co-operative boards of directors.
Contribution of the co-operative model to the socio-economic development of population groups
Specifically looking at the impact of co-operatives on families, seniors, youth skill development, recent immigrants and aboriginal communities.
Sustainable development in our co-ops
Including sustainability reporting for co-operatives and developing greater understanding of sustainable business practices.
Comparing the financial performance of co-ops to that of the private sector
Looking at traditional and non-traditional growth metrics and how co-operatives perform in various sectors against the private sector.
Public policies aimed at co-operatives
Specifically, social, economic and agricultural policy related to co-operatives. Furthurmore, an interest in the resource utilisation theory applied to public policy aimed at co-operatives or a look at how co-operatives position themselves with respect to public policy.
Governance models and board composition
Specifically, organizational democracy, and interest in collective approaches to micro-business development using peer group models.
Co-operative theory in the contemporary context
Applying co-operative theory to the three following topics: international co-operative networks, human capital (the co-operative model as a tool to serve humans) and social justice.
The international dimension
Sub-topics of inquiry included how co-operative business, solidarity and politics are being globalized; exploration of contributions of the co-operative movement to a “fair” (équitable) globalization process; and research into management practices of co-operative managers from various countries.
Ideas emerging from the 2013 strategic co-op research meetings
Domestic
- Succession planning
- Local service-delivery
- Co-operative innovation for regional development
- Health co-operatives
- Mergers and federations
- Educating for co-operation (schools who do co-op education engaging with co-ops)
- Management and governance
Focus on research on co-ops and international development
- Transfer of best practices on raising capital
- Social innovation drivers
- Public/private partnerships
- Management of natural resources by co-ops
- Co-op governance, member participation
- Youth engagement, employment (informal-formal)
- Non-hierarchal models/consensus
- Education (students, general public, policy makers)
- Appropriate technology in developing nations (social innovation)
- Informal to formal economies
- Food sovereignty
- Worker co-op development and the role of unions
- Purchasing policies/procurement
- Ongoing sustainability of co-ops once started
- Savings clubs and credit unions
- Governments creating enabling environments (what does this look like?)
- Supply chain (co-ops in the value chain)
- Producer co-ops adding value
- Gender/participation of women in co-ops/economic empowerment
uSask's Top Co-op Issues of 2016
The University of Saskatchewan’s Center for the Study of Co-operatives release a list each year with some of the top issues the co-op sector faces. These issues can serve as inspiration for topics of research or help contextualize your work. Click the picture to see a pdf version.
Read the 2012 Report
