Understanding Cooperatives
Unit 6 - The Cooperative Business Team: Manager and Employees - Coordination & Operations


Handout 6.2 - The Business Team and Related Responsibility, Authority, and Accountability  
 

Business Team Group

Responsibility

Authority

Accountability to

Members

For overall democratic control of the cooperative

All authority not delegated in the articles and bylaws to directors
 

 

Themselves

Board of directors

For specified democratic control of the cooperative as defined in articles and bylaws

 

All authority not delegated to the general manager as day to day operational authority

 

The membership and the State and Federal government laws and regulation

 

General Manager (CEO) 

For operational management and control not reserved for the board of directors in the bylaws by board policy

 

 

Day to day authority not delegated to department heads/assistant managers

 

The board of directors
 

Department head(s)/assistant manager(s)

For operational management of department or business unit not reserved by the general manager

 

Day to day authority as delegated by general manager

 

The general manager

 

 


Rural Development USDA: Understanding Cooperatives - Unit 6  [Back to Unit 6]