Teaching Case 'How Does Steward Ownership Work'

Teaching Case How does steward-ownership work?
How Patagonia - and other companies - protect their mission

How do we prepare students for an economy that not only creates financial value, but also has a positive social and ecological impact? The Centre for Economic Transformation of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) in collaboration with We Are Stewards introduces steward-ownership - a teacher's guide & teaching case.

Steward-ownership separates economic rights (profit) from voting rights (decision-making), so that a company can continue to operate sustainably without being dependent on short-term shareholder profits. Large companies such as Patagonia recently opted for this model to safeguard their social mission. But what does this mean in practice? And what alternatives are available for traditional shareholding models?

In this teaching case, we make students aware of the role that corporate ownership plays in the transition to a fair and sustainable economy. We look at the traditional form of shareholding and discover how steward-ownership offers an alternative for profit maximization for a few at the expense of the well-being and prosperity of many. While maintaining space for entrepreneurship.

This teaching case offers an accessible introduction to steward-ownership and is developed for students in the economic and social domain. Teachers can get started right away with:

- A teacher's manual with explanations and lesson objectives.
- An animated infographic that clearly explains the concept.
- Six interactive work formats, including group discussions, role-playing games and a pressure cooker.
- A main text for students, supplemented with in-depth chapters, tailored to HR, social entrepreneurship and legal issues.

The case fits with various courses in the economic and social domain of HBO and Universities from third year Bachelor to Master level. The knowledge gained is relevant for students who are going to work in the business world or are going to start their own business. They are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of classic forms of ownership. They are also aware of alternative possibilities for ownership that fit seamlessly with a new economy.

With this lesson, you prepare students for a future in the new economy, and let them experience how steward-ownership can be part of the solution! You can download the case free of charge and use it in your lesson tomorrow.

You can download all the documents in English and Dutch through Teaching Case How does steward-ownership work? How Patagonia - and other companies - protect their mission - HvA Research Database.