Guide·Intro
Circles in Sociocracy: An Effective Organizational Structure
Sociocracy For All
An introduction to circle structures, domains, operational roles, linking, and how sociocracy distributes governance across an organization.
Sociocracy
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Showing 68 of 140 published resources.
Reset search and filtersGuide·Intro
Consent Decision Making
Sociocracy For All
A practical explanation of consent decision-making, including the difference between preference, tolerance, and objection.
Sociocracy
Guide·Intro
Employee Ownership Trusts
Project Equity
Project Equity’s overview of EOTs, including how the model works, why it is flexible, and how it can provide employees with profit sharing and a voice in governance.
Transition and successionEmployee Ownership Trust
Guide·Intermediate
How to Design a New Circle Structure for an Existing Organization
Sociocracy For All
A step-by-step Sociocracy For All guide for transitioning an existing organization into linked, nested circles.
Sociocracy
Book·Intermediate
Many Voices One Song: Shared Power with Sociocracy
Sociocracy For All
A comprehensive Sociocracy For All handbook covering consent, circles, roles, meeting process, implementation, and examples.
Sociocracy
Article·Intro
Mondragon: About Us and Cooperative Principles
Mondragon Corporation
Mondragon’s official overview of its cooperative principles, including democratic organization, sovereignty of labor, participation in management, and intercooperation.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Guide·Intro
Sociocracy in Co-operative Organisations
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK guide explaining sociocracy for co-ops, including consent decision-making, circle working, double-linking, open elections, benefits, drawbacks, and templates.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Resource hub·Intro
Sociocracy Resources
Sociocracy For All
A broad Sociocracy For All resource hub with primers, books, articles, videos, and topic guides on consent, circles, meetings, roles, selection, proposals, feedback, and implementation.
Sociocracy
Guide·Intro
Sociocracy: Basic Concepts and Principles
Sociocracy For All
A clear introductory overview of sociocracy as a governance system based on consent, circles, roles, linking, rounds, and continuous improvement.
Sociocracy
Case study·Intermediate
Sociocratic Governance in Unicorn Grocery Co-op
Sociocracy For All
A detailed case study of Unicorn Grocery, a worker-owned grocery co-op in Manchester using sociocracy in its governance.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Template·Intermediate·New Zealand
The Loomio Co-op Handbook
Loomio Cooperative
An open handbook documenting how Loomio runs as a non-hierarchical worker cooperative.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Article·Intro
What Is a Worker Cooperative?
Democracy at Work Institute
A Democracy at Work Institute explainer defining worker cooperatives through shared worker ownership and democratic control.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Guide·Advanced·California, United States
2021 California Worker Cooperative Law Practice Guide: For Lawyers Advising Worker Cooperative Corporations
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A SELC practice guide written for attorneys advising worker cooperative corporations.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Research·Advanced
2021 Cooperative Governance Research Initiative: Worker Co-op Report
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
A University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives report summarizing governance structures, practices, and culture among U.S. worker co-ops based on survey data.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Tool·Advanced
Board Excellence Toolkit and Candidate Directory
National Center for Employee Ownership
An NCEO toolkit focused on improving ESOP company boards, especially through independent director recruitment and onboarding.
GovernanceESOP
Guide·Intro
Building Your Worker Co-op Board
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
A USFWC Co-op Clinic mini guide on the role, composition, and accountability of worker co-op boards.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Case study·Intermediate
Case Studies: Business Conversions to Worker Cooperatives
Project Equity
Project Equity case studies of businesses that converted to worker cooperatives, including examples such as Big Timberworks, Namaste Solar, Pattycake Bakery, and Real Pickles.
Transition and successionWorker cooperative
Tool·Intro
Co-op Clinic Mini Guides & Tools
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
A USFWC collection of short guides and tools on worker co-op fundamentals, including member engagement, boards, structure, decision-making, onboarding, member removal, and meeting templates.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Research·Advanced
Co-operative Governance: Fit to Build Resilience in the Face of Complexity
International Cooperative Alliance
An ICA governance paper on how cooperatives can balance democratic principles, flexibility, resilience, and complexity.
GovernanceOther cooperative or member-owned
Case study·Intro
Co-operatives Using Sociocracy
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK page highlighting co-ops that have implemented sociocracy, including Equal Care Co-operative, Outlandish, Unicorn Grocery, VME, and others.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Framework·Advanced
Commons-Oriented Open Cooperative Governance Model
Platform Cooperativism Consortium Resource Library
A governance and economic model for self-sustaining, mission-oriented, distributed organizations.
GovernancePlatform cooperative
Video·Intermediate
Conflict Resolution
Democracy at Work Institute
A DAWI-hosted AORTA resource outlining a conflict-resolution process that can be used by cooperatives.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Tool·Intro
Consent Decision Making for Co-operatives
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK guide to consent-based decision-making, domains, review dates, decision records, and iterative governance.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Tool·Intermediate
Consent Decision-Making Pattern
Sociocracy 3.0
The S3 pattern page for consent decision-making, describing a facilitated group process that invites objections and improves proposals.
Sociocracy
Framework·Intro
Cooperative Identity, Values & Principles
International Cooperative Alliance
The International Cooperative Alliance’s official statement of cooperative identity, values, and seven principles, including democratic member control and member economic participation.
GovernanceOther cooperative or member-owned
Research·Advanced
Data Cooperatives: Democratic Models for Ethical Data Stewardship
arXiv
A research paper reviewing data cooperatives as democratic models for collectively managing and benefiting from data.
GovernancePlatform cooperative
Guide·Intro
Decision Making
Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
A CWCF guide to decision-making in worker co-ops, including member meetings, board roles, management accountability, and the need for clear authority.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Guide·Intermediate
Democratic Management: A Practical Guide for Managers and Others
Democracy at Work Institute
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.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Guide·Intermediate
Double Linking
Sociocracy For All
A Sociocracy For All article explaining how leader and delegate links connect nested circles and support information flow.
Sociocracy
Guide·Intermediate·United States
Duties of the ESOP Committee
National Center for Employee Ownership
An NCEO article explaining the ESOP committee’s role in plan administration, fiduciary decision-making, and employee communications.
GovernanceESOP
Template·Intro·United Kingdom
Editable Sociocracy Templates to Get You Started
Co-operatives UK
A Co-operatives UK template page offering practical downloads for co-ops beginning to use sociocratic governance practices.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Reference·Advanced·United States
Equal Exchange Bylaws
Equal Exchange
A real-world example of articles of incorporation and bylaws from Equal Exchange, one of the better-known U.S. worker cooperatives.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Article·Intermediate·United States
Forming a Worker Coop: LLC or Cooperative Corporation?
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A SELC article explaining key tradeoffs between forming a worker cooperative as an LLC or as a cooperative corporation.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Article·Intermediate
Full-Circle Meetings
Sociocracy.info
A Sociocracy.info article on the importance of full-circle meeting structure, delegated decision-making, and circle participation.
Sociocracy
Research·Intermediate
Good Employee Ownership
Employee Ownership Association
A UK report on the practices, governance, and cultural conditions that support effective employee ownership.
GovernanceEmployee Ownership Trust
Tool·Intro
Good Governance Guide to Loomio
Loomio
A practical guide for using Loomio to support transparent board, committee, and collaborative governance processes.
Governance
Research·Advanced
Governing for the Common Good: The Possibilities of Sociocracy in Nonprofit Organizations
VOLUNTAS / Springer Nature
An academic article examining sociocracy in nonprofit organizations and the opportunities and inequalities that can emerge in practice.
Sociocracy
Guide·Intermediate·United States
Guide to Worker Cooperative Bylaws and Operating Agreements
Democracy at Work Institute
A DAWI guide explaining how governing documents can codify democratic ownership, governance structure, growth, and conflict-resolution pathways.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Video·Intro·United States
Intro to Cooperative Governance and Management
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A 30-minute SELC teach-in and supporting materials introducing governance, management, board roles, and power distribution in worker cooperatives and worker self-directed nonprofits.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Research·Advanced
Laboratories of Oligarchy? How the Iron Law Extends to Peer Production
arXiv
An academic paper examining whether peer production projects become more oligarchic as they grow.
GovernancePlatform cooperative
Research·Intermediate
Making Employee Ownership Work: A Benchmark Guide
Rutgers Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership
A benchmark guide summarized by Rutgers CLEO comparing employee-owned company practices across engagement, reward, governance, ownership culture, and social responsibility.
GovernanceESOP
Guide·Intro
Meetings and Consensus
Democracy at Work Institute / South Mountain Company
A practical resource from South Mountain Company with tips for effective meetings and consensus decision-making in worker cooperatives.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Template·Intermediate·United States
Sample Legal Documents for Cooperatives
USDA Rural Development
A USDA circular with sample cooperative legal documents, including bylaws and related governance provisions.
GovernanceOther cooperative or member-owned
Template·Intermediate·United States
Sample Worker Cooperative Bylaws
Democracy at Work Institute
An editable sample bylaws document for worker cooperatives that can help groups avoid starting their governance documents from scratch.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Article·Intro
Saying Yes to Working and No to Stumbling Blocks
Sociocracy For All
A Sociocracy For All article focused on objections: what they are, why they matter, and how they can improve proposals rather than stop decisions.
Sociocracy
Resource hub·Intro
School for Democratic Management
School for Democratic Management
A DAWI program and resource hub focused on practical democratic management tools, assessments, activities, and training.
Governance
Article·Intermediate
Sociocracy and Platform Co-op Governance
Medium
A practitioner article exploring how sociocracy can support platform cooperative governance, especially where scale, transparency, and member voice are difficult.
SociocracyPlatform cooperative
Template·Advanced·International / global
Sociocracy For All Governance Agreement
Sociocracy For All
A real governance agreement from Sociocracy For All showing how domains, circles, authority, operations, and budget responsibilities can be documented.
Sociocracy
Guide·Intro
Sociocracy in Cooperatives
Sociocracy for All
A Sociocracy for All resource explaining why sociocracy can fit cooperative governance and how consent, circles, and peer learning can support co-ops.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Article·Intermediate
Sociocracy in Large Groups
Sociocracy For All
A Sociocracy For All article explaining why large groups should not try to make every decision together and how circles can support scale.
Sociocracy
Article·Intro
Sociocracy in Small Groups
Sociocracy For All
A Sociocracy For All article on how small teams can use sociocratic practices and what may need adaptation at very small sizes.
Sociocracy
Video·Intermediate
Sociocracy in Worker Co-ops Roundtable
Grassroots Economic Organizing
A worker co-op roundtable from the International Co-operative Governance Symposium discussing sociocracy, hierarchy, flat governance, and cooperative practice.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Article·Intro
Sociocracy: The Worker Co-op Operating System
CooperationWorks
A CooperationWorks article arguing that sociocracy can help worker co-ops avoid informal hierarchy, scale beyond consensus, and build transparent governance practices.
SociocracyWorker cooperative
Guide·Intro·Canada
Starting a Worker Co-op
Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
A Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation starting point with links to a handbook and sections on incorporation, decision-making, business planning, and co-op principles.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Article·Intermediate
The Cooperative AI Conference: When Workers Take the Wheel
Platform Cooperativism Consortium
A Platform Cooperativism Consortium reflection on cooperative AI, shared infrastructure, democratic governance, and worker-led technological agency.
GovernancePlatform cooperative
Book·Advanced·United States
The ESOP Company Board Handbook, 3rd Ed.
National Center for Employee Ownership
An NCEO handbook for board members in ESOP companies, covering board responsibilities, best practices, governance issues, and ESOP-specific board concerns.
GovernanceESOP
Book·Advanced·United States
The Inside ESOP Fiduciary Handbook, 4th Ed.
National Center for Employee Ownership
NCEO's fourth-edition handbook on the legal responsibilities, valuation questions, appraiser relationships, board-trustee interactions, and insurance concerns facing inside ESOP fiduciaries.
GovernanceESOP
Guide·Intermediate·United States
The Rights of ESOP Participants
National Center for Employee Ownership
An NCEO article describing participant rights, including voting rights, disclosure, diversification, distributions, and benefit protections.
GovernanceESOP
Guide·Intro
The Worker Co-operative Code
workers.coop
A worker-co-op-specific code explaining how cooperative principles apply to worker-owned businesses, including governance, membership, work, capital, and participation.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Guide·Intermediate·United States
Think Outside the Boss: How to Create a Worker-Owned Business, 7th Ed.
Sustainable Economies Law Center
A legal and practical manual from SELC, EBCLC, and the Green Collar Communities Clinic on starting and operating a worker-owned business.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Book·Advanced·United States
Using an Employee Ownership Trust for Business Transition
National Center for Employee Ownership
A detailed NCEO publication on how EOTs work, how they compare to ESOPs, and how companies can structure, finance, govern, and operate after an EOT transition.
Transition and successionEmployee Ownership Trust
Book·Advanced
We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy, 2nd Edition
Sociocracy.info
The 2017 second edition of a foundational book on sociocracy and dynamic governance, covering history, theory, principles, meeting methods, implementation, bylaws examples, and decision guides.
Sociocracy
Article·Intro
What Is Sociocracy and Why Does Democracy Need It?
Sociocracy.info
A Sociocracy.info overview explaining sociocracy as both a social ideal and an organizational governance method rooted in equality, transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.
Sociocracy
Article·Intermediate
When Co-op Principles Go Digital
Platform Cooperativism Consortium
A Platform Cooperativism Consortium article on cooperative identity in the digital economy, including scaling through replication, federation, social franchise, and protocols.
GovernancePlatform cooperative
Guide·Intro
Worker Cooperative FAQ
Democracy at Work Institute
A plain-language DAWI overview of what worker cooperatives are, how they differ from other models, and how ownership and voting typically work.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Presentation·Intro
Worker Cooperative Governance and Management
Democracy at Work Institute
A presentation from USFWC and DAWN advisors covering the basics of worker cooperative governance and management.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Research·Advanced
Worker Cooperatives: Pathways to Scale
The Democracy Collaborative / Project Equity
A research report by Hilary Abell on barriers and success factors for scaling worker cooperatives, including cooperative culture, training, management, capital, and governance.
GovernanceWorker cooperative
Framework·Intro
World Declaration on Worker Cooperatives
CICOPA / CECOP
CICOPA’s international declaration defining worker cooperatives and the core characteristics of democratic worker ownership.
GovernanceWorker cooperative