Meaning and attributes of cooperation

Cooperation is the working together of people to achieve a common purpose or goal.  It is the working together of two or more persons to achieve a common goal or objective in the family, school, community, Business center, town and the country. Co-operation is needed in all fields of human Endeavour. In the office, co-operation is needed between the boss and the workers. The boss must lead very well and the workers must obey their boss.

EVALUATION

1. What is cooperation?

Attributes of Cooperation

The following are the attributes of cooperation:

1. Sharing: For co-operation to be meaningful, people should share things together so that things will go well for the society. Sharing of ideas, views and opinions should be the attitude of people who are cooperative.
2. Support: People must support one another to achieve a common goal and this is the only way to make co-operation to be meaningful. As individuals in the society, we need help from one another to achieve our respective goals.
3. Obedience: When there is cooperation in any society there must be obedience to the rules and regulations of the society which will lead to meaningful development.

EVALUATION

1. State and explain two attributes of cooperation

Factors that Promote or Encourage Cooperation

Co-operation takes place in a society where all or most of these factors exist. The following are some of these factors:

1. The first important factor is that there must be rules and regulations in the home, school, church, workplace, community and the state so that conflicts and misunderstanding in the society will be reduced
2. There should be social justice in the society. Everybody must be treated fairly by judges. Magistrates and those in authority, in order to achieve this, there should be equal pay for equal volume of work done.
3. Bribery and corruption must be wiped out in the organization and society. In a place where these twin evils exist, things are never done well.  People will sacrifice the goals of the society of personal or selfish wishes.
4. Tolerance must exist in the society or organization. The principle of live and let live must be allowed or permitted in the society.  We should allow our fellow human beings to state their own views freely in any matter under discussion.
5. A society where tribalism, nepotism, and sectionalism exist cooperation cannot take place there. The people must be treated equally and merit should be the yardstick.
6. Unity is another factor that must exist before co-operation can take place. The people must work as a team and live in harmony. A situation where people see one another as enemies, cooperation cannot take place.
7. People must respect the rights of others. They should understand that where a person’s right ends another person’s right starts. If it is not respected co-operation cannot exist among such people.
8. Needs: When the needs of the people are met, there will be co-operation. A favorable cost of living must be provided for.
9. Goals: There must be some set goals which must be aimed at. When there are set goals, efforts will be made for it realization.

EVALUATION

1. What is dishonesty?
2. Give and explain three consequences of dishonesty.
3. List 8 factors that promote co-operation.
4. Mention three factors that encourage cooperation.