Division of Labour, Life Cycle and Democracy in Worker Co-operatives

Case studies of three long-standing Canadian worker co-operatives suggests that task specialization and the creation of a division of labour is a natural feature of the maturation process, and that it need not impair or weaken organizational democracy. The specific impact of a division of labour on democratic processes, however, is found to be moderated by the particular form it takes, and on the co-operative's readiness to confront the problems of co-ordination, administration and integration that arise. A functional division of labour tends to promote interdependence and foster a more collaborative approach to decision-making than a divisional design, and may have some particular advantages for worker co-operatives, but both approaches require ongoing attention to social and structural mechanisms that will sustain an integrated whole.