Paradoxes of talent in the co-operative movement: Reflections from Mondragon

Abstract

This article examines the concept of talent in worker cooperatives, using the MONDRAGON Corporation as an analytical case. Drawing on paradox theory, the paper proposes an interpretation of talent as a multidimensional phenomenon marked by inherent tensions, extending linear or dichotomous approaches commonly found in mainstream talent management literature. Methodologically, the work adopts a qualitative and inductive design based on a review of academic literature and corporate documentation. The analysis positions the core tensions identified in the literature—innate/developable, exclusive/inclusive, object/subject, input/outcome and transferable/contextual—in dialogue with MONDRAGON’s cooperative principles and values,from which a set of theoretical propositions for future empirical testing is derived. The findings broaden existing debates by exploring talent in an organisational context that has received limited scholarly attention, offering insights for rethinking its meaning and management in cooperative models that integrate democratic and economic logics. Overall, the paper contributes to both academic and practical reflections on talent development within organisations committed to sustainability and participation.