Some of the key issues that often correlate, coincide, or are caused by the elements of "Cooperative Development" in a cooperative are as follows -
CAPITAL
Many elements of cooperative development require some level of capital infusion. Whether a cooperative can access enough capital or not for a planned project or unanticipated crisis logically and greatly shapes the outcome of any given incident of development within a cooperative. Less obviously to many, the source of that capital – and the conditions related to its use – profoundly impact whether the development initiative strengthens or degrades a group’s Cooperative Identity. For example and as mentioned in this section, when capital is solicited within the cooperative’s community in incremental and personal ways, relationships and morale are strengthened as a result and the cooperative is not compelled to change how it functions or the design of how it aims to function.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
In instances of development in a cooperative that involve taking on additional responsibilities, expanding or changing the enterprise’s activities, or engaging new people, it is absolutely imperative that the development members’ skills is at pace with the organizational development. True ownership requires full understanding of what one possesses, so if a cooperative develops so quickly members lose sufficient understanding of how and why the enterprise is doing what it does, it can have deleterious results. For example, if a cooperative takes on a group of new members in order to expand their operations, but does not have sufficient orientation and training opportunities for those members, it can foster conflict due to misunderstandings, result in unknowingly bringing on individuals with uncooperative personalities and behaviors, and - as a result - degrade the Cooperative Identity of the enterprise.
RELATIONSHIPS OF...
For many of the coopyouth interviewed, phases of development were bolstered or made wholly successful by virtue of solidarity with other cooperatives or cooperators and members of the broader community. For others, relationships of coercion with regulatory or financial institutions hindered or nearly halted their cooperative development initiative. Just like for individuals, the importance of relationships with others becomes especially apparent for cooperatives when one is trying to grow, improve, or facing crisis.