Skip to main content
Printable page generated Friday, 29 March 2024, 1:19 AM
Use 'Print preview' to check the number of pages and printer settings.
Print functionality varies between browsers.
Unless otherwise stated, copyright © 2024 The Open University, all rights reserved.
Printable page generated Friday, 29 March 2024, 1:19 AM

5. Applying the framework in your own context

Introduction

The final step of the units is for you to reflect on your own experiences of co-operatives – whether through your direct involvement as a co-operative member or through work in a group or organisation that supports or links to co-operatives.

As I noted at the start, although the case studies in this unit are about co-operative unions in Malawi, some of the experiences will be familiar. In addition, the resilience framework can be used in any context.

In this light, in your last two hours of study, try out the following activity.

5.1 Reflecting on your experience

Activity 7 Ways of using the framework

Think of a co-operative experience well known to you – whether your own co-operative/co-operative union or another one. (It can be the same one you considered when you carried out Activity 4, if you wish, which can be found in section 2.4).

You can try an exercise similar to the ones you have been doing on Case Studies 1-4. However this time I suggest you use a SWOC analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Constraints. So your table might look something like this:

Co-operative or Co-operative Union X Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Constraints
Membership
Collective skills
Networks
Innovation (aim to identify process, product, function and/or chain; you can also think about ‘social’ innovation)
Role of government

You might want to try this activity on your own. Alternatively try it with colleagues/co-workers. If you do the latter, it is likely to generate useful discussion. (You and your colleagues/co-workers may see some things differently!)

If this activity is a useful one for your co-operative/union or one that you are supporting, you might even want to add rows, for example: Actions to be taken, Responsibility for actions, How will they be monitored? There are many other questions that could be asked, such as what resources are to be obtained and how, and so on. The point is this framework can have a useful application and be extended, depending on the needs of the situation.

Your feedback would be welcome! Email Hazel Johnson (Open University, UK) and/or Linda Shaw (Co-operative College, UK): Hazel Johnson and/or Linda Shaw