Podcast: Professor Murray Fulton – University of Saskatchewan
[ E14 ]In this episode of Co-op Leader Conversations, Professor Murray Fulton, Fellow in Co-operatives and Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, explores why some large co-operatives fail while others endure for generations.
Drawing on his influential research paper When Big Co-ops Fail, Murray explains a common pattern seen across failed co-operatives: loss of confidence in the co-operative model, drift away from member focus, and attempts to emulate investor-owned firms. Over time, this erodes organisational attention, weakens patronage and undermines trust.
Murray contrasts this with examples of successful recovery, including Federated Co-operatives Limited, which restored performance by narrowing its focus, enforcing operational discipline and strengthening system-wide consistency. He also explores the realities of capital in co-operatives, including the trade-offs involved in external funding and the importance of demonstrating tangible member value when asking for capital support.
The conversation then turns to governance. Murray reflects on lessons from the failure of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, highlighting the risks when boards struggle to challenge management assumptions or recognise early warning signs. He outlines the growing need for boards to combine co-op literacy with broader skills in markets, technology and geopolitics.
Conversation themes
Why large co-operatives lose their way
Early warning signs of strategic drift
Capital constraints and member trust
Board capability and governance discipline
Preparing co-ops for long-term volatility
Why this matters
This episode is essential listening for co-operative directors and executives. It provides a clear framework for identifying risk early and reinforces the importance of focus, governance strength and confidence in the co-operative model.
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