Co-Operative Societies – SS2 Marketing Lesson Note (Third Term)

A cooperative society is an association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned enterprise. Among the commonest cooperative societies are the worker cooperatives (managed by the people who work in the organisation) and consumer cooperatives (managed by people who use the goods or services of the organisation).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define a cooperative society;
• name two common types of cooperative society;
• state who manages a worker cooperative and who manages a consumer cooperative;
• list some roles listed in this note.

What are the roles of cooperative societies?

1. They assist the group in understanding the differences that divide it if a consensus cannot be reached.
2. They help members work together better, understand their common objectives, and plan how these objectives could be accomplished through discussions and meetings.
3. A facilitator takes no position and stays “neutral” for the sake of transparency.
4. With their expertise in the process, they help the group to make better decisions, structure agendas and solve critical problems.
5. He respects others and is aware and deliberate about the layers of human differences within the group.

Evaluation

1. What is a cooperative society?
2. Name two common types of cooperative society.
3. Who manages a worker cooperative?
4. Who manages a consumer cooperative?
5. State two roles of cooperative societies from the note.

Assignment

Explain the difference between a worker cooperative and a consumer cooperative.