We the Owners: Learn More

Learn More About the Companies

"We the Owners" showcases the journeys of three companies committed to employee ownership. Read about these special companies, and the paths they have taken since the film's debut.

The case studies are suitable for classroom teaching.

The Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing would like to thank the employee-owners at DPR Construction and Namaste Solar who shared information about the companies and/or who took part in interviews for their time and support of this project.

These case studies and discussion guide have been designed solely for educational purposes and should not be construed as providing advice on the management of any firm.

Recommended Resources from the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership & Profit Sharing 

Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership (CLEO)

Free online library of resources about employee ownership.

> Visit the CLEO website

 

Our Share: Employee Ownership as a Wealth Sharing Tool

Introduction to employee ownership with short engaging videos.

> Explore the Coursera online course


 

The Citizen's Share 

Book that presents the idea that broad-based ownership—where employees have a stake in the businesses where they work—can create a more equitable, democratic society with better economic outcomes.

> Learn more about the book

 

More on Employee Ownership

Employee Ownership is when a company is owned, either in part or in whole, by its employees. While employee ownership comes in many shapes and sizes - including the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), various forms of stock ownership, co-operatives, profit sharing and many other combinations - the underlying goal is unwavering: to motivate and incentivize employees through ownership as a mechanism for increased company performance.

Thriving successfully in a global economy requires new business models and strategies to keep the "American Dream" - opportunity and economic prosperity – alive and well. Employee Ownership is one such business model that, in times of both economic challenges and prosperity, lays the groundwork for a sustainable enterprise. In We the Owners, several successful models of employee ownership are profiled and explored to unveil how these approaches to voice, vote and shared ownership positively impact wealth creation and distribution.

Whether you are a student learning about this, an entrepreneur starting-up a company, or an existing business considering employee ownership, we hope this documentary will be the beginning of a robust dialogue about the power of employee ownership, and we encourage you to tap into the resources (cases, videos, books, service organizations) compiled on this page and on our supplemental resources page to learn more. 

Interview with Mary Ann Beyster, Executive Producer of
We the Owners

Courtesy of “Conversations with Harold Hudson Channer," March 2014

> Watch the Making of We the Owners

> Watch Common Questions about Themes in We the Owners