Co-Direction, An Alternative Feminist Mode of Organization in the Social Economy: An Exploration of Practices and the Potential for Social Transformation

Authors

  • Valérie Michaud École des sciences de la gestion de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8482-2890
  • Myriam Saucier École des sciences de la gestion de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cjnser531

Keywords:

co-leadership, leadership, organizing, social economy, social innovation, feminism

Abstract

Despite their transformational aims, many social economy organizations (SEOs) adopt rather classical organizational structures. Typically, they are managed by a general manager, who is him/herself supervised by a board of directors. Despite transformational aims, many social economy organizations (SEOs) adopt rather mainstream organizational structures. Typically, they are managed by a general manager, who is him/herself supervised by a board of directors. However, we observe an emerging, alternative organizing mode: that of co-leadership. In such cases, the general manager function and its associated responsibilities are shared between two (or more) people in various configurations. How do such models emerge? How do co-leaders organize themselves concretely? What are the pros and cons of co-leading? Through a qualitative exploratory study of eight SEOs in which co-leading was experimented, our research proposes answers to these questions, which were initially asked by practitioners. This approach then allows us to contribute to the literature on co-leading by presenting some particularities of SEOs, and further, to reflect on the potential for social transformation of an organizational social innovation.

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Author Biographies

Valérie Michaud, École des sciences de la gestion de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM)

Valérie Michaud, PhD, est professeure titulaire au département d’Organisation et ressources humaines de l’École des sciences de la gestion du l’Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM), 315 rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal (QC), H2X 3X2. Courriel : michaud.valerie@uqam.ca.

Myriam Saucier, École des sciences de la gestion de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM)

Myriam Saucier est candidate à la maîtrise en sciences de la gestion (spécialisation management) à l’ESG UQAM, 315 rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal (QC), H2X 3X2.

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Published

2022-05-06