Co-operation is back in vogue. The principles developed by the Rochdale Pioneers in the UK over 166 years ago, are now the foundation for a global economy supporting half of the world’s population, a co-operative sector in the UK to which one in five of us belong and the government’s new coalition leadership.
To mark the beginning of Co-operatives Fortnight, the UK’s first ’formula for co-operation’, launched today (Saturday, 20 June 2010) at Westminster Central Hall in Central London, reveals the attributes and qualities needed by those organisations, businesses and governments who seek to harness the potential of co-operation in business and economic life.
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The formula for co-operation has been developed by leading Innovations Specialist Ian McDermott from International Teaching Seminars and Jason Miller of Tinder-Box business coaching to mark Co-operatives Fortnight 2010 (19 June – 3 July 2010).
Using the seven principles of co-operation, the pioneering formula is the result of an extensive study into the seven principles of the co-operative movement. It determines the personal and group components of shared commitment, common interest and mutual trust needed for co-operation to occur in both an organisation and an individual.
Ian McDermott, co-author of the formula, comments: “Co-operation lies at the heart of all collaborative achievement. Three elements are essential for successful co-operation and when all three elements of shared commitment, common interest and mutual trust are present, you get what economists call a multiplier effect. That is to say the effect of each is compounded: each multiplies the effect of the other.”
“The skills of co-operation are some of the most sought after skills in the 21st century – something we are currently seeing in the new coalition government,” says Jason Miller of Tinder-Box business coaching and co-author of the report.
“The ability to co-operate effectively stimulates new ways of thinking and organising while challenging those involved to be innovative and devise collaborative frameworks. This formula begins to articulate those qualities.”
Ed Mayo is the Secretary General of Co-operatives UK and comments: “All too often, competition and co-operation are seen as opposites. The reality is, that in order to compete effectively, we must co-operate. The lack of co-operation in the UK at present is costing £32bn; this is a formula that the UK economy can no longer afford to ignore.
“There is a new agenda of co-operation, with Co-operatives UK already highlighting the co-operative alternative across many sectors of society – from pubs to football clubs, healthcare to agriculture, credit unions to community owned shops.”
The formula for co-operation is the first of its kind to be launched in the UK and is launched in the form of a preliminary report which aims to develop and promote further understanding of co-operation.
Download the report here.
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