Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis

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dc.contributor.advisorMaree, Johannen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorErasmus, Zimitrien_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-24T11:15:18Z
dc.date.available2016-02-24T11:15:18Z
dc.date.issued1991en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: pages 608-625.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis study is a sociological analysis of participatory-democratic organisations in 'third world' contexts. Firstly, it assesses the degree of participatory democracy in each enterprise studied. Secondly, it explores whether cooperative development is a process. Thirdly, it assesses the applicability of existing theory in the field for organisations in 'third world' contexts. The data used is predominantly qualitative, though quantitative information is utilised. Qualitative data is gathered from in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires, observation and the examination of primary sources. Empirical information is analysed in the light of theoretical constructs reviewed and practical constraints identified by other researchers in the field. The key construct is an 'ideal-type' participatory-democratic organisation. Significant findings include the following: (a) cooperatives in 'third world' contexts are formed and joined primarily for material reasons; (b) specific constraints include a severe lack of basic education among cooperators, relationships of dependency between co-ops and service organisations, and a 'survival' consciousness among cooperative members; (c) the nature of relationships between cooperatives and service organisations have significant implications for co-op development; (d) there is a relationship between organisational structures and viability as an economic unit and (e) members in different positions in the enterprise have different conceptions of cooperation. The study concludes that cooperative development is a process involving different stages characterised by different degrees of participation in decision-making, viability, organisational development and cooperative consciousness.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationErasmus, Z. (1991). <i>Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17231en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationErasmus, Zimitri. <i>"Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17231en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationErasmus, Z. 1991. Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Erasmus, Zimitri AB - This study is a sociological analysis of participatory-democratic organisations in 'third world' contexts. Firstly, it assesses the degree of participatory democracy in each enterprise studied. Secondly, it explores whether cooperative development is a process. Thirdly, it assesses the applicability of existing theory in the field for organisations in 'third world' contexts. The data used is predominantly qualitative, though quantitative information is utilised. Qualitative data is gathered from in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires, observation and the examination of primary sources. Empirical information is analysed in the light of theoretical constructs reviewed and practical constraints identified by other researchers in the field. The key construct is an 'ideal-type' participatory-democratic organisation. Significant findings include the following: (a) cooperatives in 'third world' contexts are formed and joined primarily for material reasons; (b) specific constraints include a severe lack of basic education among cooperators, relationships of dependency between co-ops and service organisations, and a 'survival' consciousness among cooperative members; (c) the nature of relationships between cooperatives and service organisations have significant implications for co-op development; (d) there is a relationship between organisational structures and viability as an economic unit and (e) members in different positions in the enterprise have different conceptions of cooperation. The study concludes that cooperative development is a process involving different stages characterised by different degrees of participation in decision-making, viability, organisational development and cooperative consciousness. DA - 1991 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1991 T1 - Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis TI - Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17231 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/17231
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationErasmus Z. Organisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysis. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 1991 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17231en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Sociologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherIndustrial sociologyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherProducer cooperatives - South Africa - Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subject.otherProducer cooperatives - Zimbabween_ZA
dc.titleOrganisational democracy and economic viability in producer cooperatives in the Western Cape Region of South African and in Zimbabwe : case studies and comparative analysisen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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