The Silver Lining of Co-operation: Self-defined rules, common resources, motivations, and incentives in co-operative firms

Building on evolutionary theory, we take rules and practices as the coordinators of the activities undertaken by self-organised principals. Rules and practices represent shared and established ways of dealing with specific operational issues that help the alignment of individual and organisational objectives. In our case, rules and practices can be considered as evolving technologies designed to harmonise what organisations and individuals value and strategically pursue. Rules and practices can either discourage unwanted behaviours or reinforce desired ones, such as inclusive attitudes, reciprocity, respect and fairness, learning,and autonomy, thus reinforcing members intrinsic motivations.