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GuideIntermediate

Democratic Management: A Practical Guide for Managers and Others

A DAWI guide to democratic management practices organized around power, information, people, and money, with tools and examples for worker co-ops and democratic workplaces.

Source: Democracy at Work InstituteAdded June 12, 2026Published 2021
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Why it matters

Worker co-ops often fail when ownership is democratic but management practices stay unclear. This guide focuses on the actual operating practices that make workplace democracy work.

Best for

Managers, coordinators, and worker-owners trying to move from ideals to repeatable governance and management habits.

This is one of the strongest practical resources for the middle layer between governance and day-to-day work. It is especially helpful for co-ops that have already formed and now need better systems for information-sharing, decision rights, accountability, and money decisions. It is also useful for democratic ESOPs and other human-centered organizations that want to deepen employee participation.

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