Towards Cooperative Inter Organizational Information Systems
Louis Cousin’s report examines how cooperative associations can shape the emergence of inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) in ways that reflect cooperative values rather than reinforcing the power dynamics of platform capitalism. Drawing on Nancy Fraser’s theory of social justice, theories of interoperability standards, organizing vision, and meta-organization theory, Cousin argues that the choice between open and proprietary digital standards is fundamentally a justice question. While cooperative principle 6 (inter-cooperation) may push associations toward protective, member-only proprietary systems, cooperative principle 7 (concern for the community) calls for open standards capable of broader social transformation. The COVID-19 crisis illustrated the real cost of closed systems when a French healthcare cooperative’s data couldn’t be shared with civil society organizations. Cousin concludes that cooperative resilience ultimately depends on open, interoperable digital infrastructure.
Cite:
Cousin, Louis. Towards Cooperative Inter Organizational Information Systems. New York City: Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy, 2022.