MODULE 4

Conflict Management and Enabling of a ‘Perfect’ Ending

1. Introduction – Challenge of Managing Conflict and Ending/Exiting Collaborative/Cooperative Arrangements

Collaborative/Cooperative farming initiatives are dependent on functioning relationships between all partner farmers (and their families).

Reference: All of the Case Studies provide examples of collaboration/cooperation

The establishment of collaborative/cooperative initiatives focuses on getting the collaboration ‘up and running’ and getting people working together towards a common goal and typically do not focus on negative issues such as managing disagreement, risk, failure and a partner exit strategy.

  • Ensure its success.
  • Build the trust of partners.
  • Ensure a greater understanding of the issues that could impact negatively on the collaboration.
  • Allow for partners to be more prepared for the unexpected.
  • The exit of one member from a small collaboration/cooperative (e.g. one farmer exits a partnership arrangement) could require the ending of the arrangement.
  • While the exit of one member from a larger cooperative with possibly 100 or more members may require an exit process but not the ending of the cooperative.
  • Similarly the nature and causes of conflict may be different depending on the number of members involved.
  • Agree clear ground rules for working together.
  • Agree on common goals and expectations.
  • Establish good approach to formal and informal communication.
  • Identify possible problems/challenges/issues in advance.
  • Develop a plan for addressing possible problems/challenges/issues if they arise.
  • Agree a process/approach to mediation/conflict resolution.
  • Commit to seeking to attempt overcome problems with ending as a last resort.

Example: Clear rules and transparency were identified as important for the Oro de Canava olive cooperative – Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza (S.C.A.) Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

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SELF-ASSESMENT

This questionnaire will allow you to evaluate the competences acquired by studying the module.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
CO-FARM: Enhancing COoperation amongst FARMing entrepreneurs
Project Number: 2016-1-IE01-KA202-016870

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