In the cooperative system, the line of authority is formed, theoretically, by a process of member participation, headed by the general assembly of associates, the board of directors, the supervisory board and management (Law 79 of 1988). That is, the principle of authority that governs these companies has an element of strong consistency in participatory democracy (Moncayo and Villalobos, 2016). Therefore, it would be an authority not imposed but built democratically by the associates that make up the company.