Here is a place for news and information about Cooperatives (Co-ops), Democratic Workplaces, Collectives, Communes, Intentional Communities, Eco-Vilages, etc. This community is the continuation/alternative to r/cooperatives on Reddit.
Regional/National Groups:
US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Northwest Cooperative Development Center
Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (No Boss)
Worker-Owned and Run Cooperative Network of Greater Boston (Workin')
Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives (Vawk) NYC NoWC (Nic-knock)
Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Austin Cooperative Business Association
Alberta Community & Co-operative Association
Education & Development:
[Democracy at work](Democracy at work)
[Co-op Law](Co-op Law)
International Co-operative Alliance
[Cooperative Fund of New England]
(https://cooperativefund.org/)
[Shared Capital, formerly North Country Development Fund](Shared Capital, formerly North Country Development Fund)
California Center for Cooperative Development
University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
[Democracy at Work Network](Democracy at Work Network)
Fund for Democratic Communities
Sustainable Economies Law Center
(PDF File) A Technology Freelancer's Guide to Starting a Worker Cooperative
[North American Students of Cooperation](North American Students of Cooperation)
News/Blogs:
Co-operate And No One Gets Hurt
Grassroots Economic Organizing
Other Forums/Lists: r/Cooperatives
I think human nature is such that any cooperative can work up to a limited size, kind of like primitive tribes - up to 150 people. In order to do your part honestly, you have to know most/all members personally, otherwise an incentive to slack on the job is too tempting...
And then one sees the manager/coordinator, sitting on their ass in air conditioned office, while most others are sweating outside (in case of farms) or in the workshop/garage...
You're right that cooperatives above a certain size can't be direct democracies. I do think we need to be able to cooperate at scale in a democratic way, like representative democracy - otherwise how do countries work? (Not very well some might argue) but if we don't develop an alternative to the googles and amazons of the world then we'll never outcompete the current system.
Direct democracy is possible at scale with technology.