Researchers Dr Frank Siedlok and Dr Lisa Callagher said it was time to find out how the 149 Kiwi companies registered as co-operatives tick, what they were doing to improve their competitiveness in this country and abroad – and what lessons could be learnt to help all co-ops to do better.
“Several high profile co-operatives show that through strategies focused on added-value products or services, innovation and knowledge-sharing, they can successfully compete against large private sector organisations and multinationals,” Siedlok said.
“Yet, there are many misconceptions about just how innovative and entrepreneurial they are. We want to better understand the mechanisms that can make co-ops more competitive.”
As well as representing a significant part of New Zealand’s economy, co-operatives were considered to be more resilient to economic recession.
The survey, funded by the IceHouse-University of Auckland Business School Research Fund, would provide a comprehensive picture of how contemporary co-operatives, as member-owned and controlled organisations, operate to provide purchasing, marketing and distribution, and other support to their members, and the ways they improve theirs and their members’ competitiveness.
The results would be shared with co-operative businesses and used to inform both policy and university curriculum.
“Current research is preoccupied with the structural aspects of co-ops, and fails to provide systematic research of the factors contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship,” Callagher said.
“Every day one in four New Zealanders deal with a co-op. They are a bigger part of our life than we realise and we need to make society more aware of their role.”
Ian Macintosh
Co-operative Business NZ
“We want to move beyond structural explanations and show how co-ops are a viable business model that can work very well.”
Ian Macintosh, Co-operative Business NZ chief executive, which represents co-operatives and mutuals and provides needed support to the survey, shared those views.
“Every day one in four New Zealanders deal with a co-op. They are a bigger part of our life than we realise and we need to make society more aware of their role,” he said.
For the study to make a difference it was important that as many co-operatives as possible took part in the survey, which had been mailed out to the 149 companies registered as co-operatives.
“Quality up-to-date information is vital to help us better understand this most important type of organisation,” Siedlock and Callagher said.
“We appreciate the return of as many completed surveys as possible.”
Alternatively, co-ops yet to respond could complete the survey online here.
The team is also looking for co-operative members to share their views. Members who wish to participate can find more information at www.co-opinnovation.auckland.ac.nz.
They can also contact Siedlock and Callagher directly at: f.siedlok@auckland.ac.nz, 09 923 2744 or l.callagher@auckland.ac.nz, 09 932 1738.
