Part of the series Management for Professionals
Available April, 2025 here: https://link.springer.com/book/9783031779787
Workers‘ Buyout (WBO) for company succession:
Alternative organizational models and their positive effects.
What opportunities does WBO offer in practice?
Abstract
Workers‘ buyout (WBO), the co-ownership of a company by the workforce as a cooperative, is a model that has been used successfully around the world to safe companies in crisis. The aim of the thesis is to show how WBO can also be used for company succession and under what conditions it creates the basis for an approach to holistic innovation.
Based on the study of the active cooperative scene in Italy, it will be shown which framework conditions contribute to the success of cooperatives in general, and WBO in particular; Italy has abt. 60,000 cooperatives, Germany 8,000. Case oose, a company that has transformed itself into a self-organized cooperative, examines which organizational elements and structures contribute to innovative strength in companies, and built innovations as their platform haqoo.
It will become apparent that WBO offers potential for creating a sustainable economy, redefining economic success and distributing the added value generated. Co-ownership enables former employees to participate in fundamental decisions. The international cooperative principles promote cooperative work, mutual support and the development of ecosystems. This creates ideal conditions for a holistic development and implementation of social innovations, and at oose, this can be also multiplied externally via haqoo.
This article highlights how WBO not only secures businesses in transition but also fosters sustainable economic practices and innovation-driven enterprises. By integrating cooperative principles and self-organized structures, WBO can redefine economic success, ensuring a more equitable distribution of value. The case of oose, alongside the broader Italian cooperative experience, demonstrates how co-ownership nurtures resilience, collaboration, and ecosystem-based innovation. Ultimately, this thesis underscores WBO as a powerful tool for shaping the future of work and enterprise, offering a viable alternative for business succession and long-term sustainability.
By Claudia Henke
