ABSTRACT
Cooperation and competition are both basic human impulses – twin approaches that must be deployed in a well-balanced combination if an enterprise aims to remain successful in the long term. Cooperative enterprises show how real value can be created through lasting relationships, where people agree to work together on an equal basis and share equally the fruits of their labor. The duality between competition and cooperation is also mirrored in the range of business organizations. The chapter discusses the stories of two such cooperative organizations, both of them owned by their workers. Two cooperative organizations are: Mondragon Corporation; and Equal Exchange. Mondragon may be a commonly cited example of solidarity, cooperation, and dense and long-lasting relationships. The basic imperative of Equal Exchange continues to be to create real value through improving the quality of life of these small producers and their families, and to enter into business relationships with them that are more than mere commercial transactions.
