Comparing organizational democracy in Norway and Mondragon: Lessons learned for other nations and initiatives

Abstract

We have been asked to compare and contrast the Norwegian system of industrial democracy with the Mondragon federated corporation of worker cooperatives to arrive at a realistic appraisal of what can be learned from both systems and to discern the lessons to be learned for other nations and other initiatives. In doing so, the kinds of lessons that are needed for the emerging system of broad-based employee share ownership and industrial participation in the United States will be introduced as a part of our analysis. We are hoping that our colleagues and readers can benefit from the books and empirical research sponsored by Rutgers University’s Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing1 and our sister Journal of Participation and Employee Ownership.