Enacted or idealistic co-operative values?

Co-operatives differ from other forms of business due to their strong values-based nature, but it is nevertheless recognized that there is a significant gap between international co-operative values and the practical management of co-operatives. According to the values base, management naturally requires that co-operatives as organizations have a common sensemaking of co-operative values. With this present research, we create a deep understanding of how the managers of large co-operatives make sense of the values related to the co-operative ideology. As a result of our qualitative empirical research, we present how Finnish managers of large co-operatives understand the values-based nature of co-operatives in two ways – enacted and idealistic – and construct an ideology of co-operatives around four values: equality, financial responsibility, democracy, and regional responsibility. At the co-operative level, the understanding of values is constructed as a shared, incongruous, partially shared, and contradictory sensemakings. The findings reveal that the values-based nature of co-operatives is recognized but that it is tense and fragmented, and we suggest strengthening management training and information to members to strengthen the unique identity of co-operatives.