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Participation and Goal Achievement of Multiparty Collaborative Systems Dealing with Complex Problems: A Natural Experiment

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  • Petru Lucian Curșeu

    (Department of Organization, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands
    Department of Psychology, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Sandra G.L. Schruijer

    (Utrecht School of Governance, Utrecht University, 3511 ZC Utrecht, The Netherlands
    TIAS School for Business and Society, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Multiparty collaborative systems often deal with wicked sustainability challenges. Previous research has emphasized the important role of stakeholder representation and participation in comprehensive sustainability decisions. We report the results of an empirical test of the effect of stakeholder participation on systemic goal achievement and on multiparty dynamics in a natural experiment, using the results obtained through two simulations in which 44 professionals participated. In one of the simulations a ‘party exclusion dynamic’ evolved. As the two simulations had a similar baseline, the same number of participants distributed in a similar manner among seven stakeholder parties in each simulation, we could test the effect of stakeholder participation on goal achievement and systemic dynamics, using the other simulation as a comparison. Our results show that stakeholder exclusion prevents systemic goal achievement, disrupts collaboration and induces systemic powerlessness.

Suggested Citation

  • Petru Lucian Curșeu & Sandra G.L. Schruijer, 2020. "Participation and Goal Achievement of Multiparty Collaborative Systems Dealing with Complex Problems: A Natural Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:987-:d:314313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patrik Thollander & Jenny Palm & Johan Hedbrant, 2019. "Energy Efficiency as a Wicked Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Melissa Jackson & Rodney A. Stewart & Kelly S. Fielding & Jessie Cochrane & Cara D. Beal, 2019. "Collaborating for Sustainable Water and Energy Management: Assessment and Categorisation of Indigenous Involvement in Remote Australian Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-30, January.
    3. Petru Lucian Curseu & Sandra Schruijer, 2018. "Cross-Level Dynamics of Collaboration and Conflict in Multi-Party Systems: An Empirical Investigation Using a Behavioural Simulation," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Livia Fritz & Claudia R. Binder, 2018. "Participation as Relational Space: A Critical Approach to Analysing Participation in Sustainability Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-29, August.
    5. Camaren Peter & Mark Swilling, 2014. "Linking Complexity and Sustainability Theories: Implications for Modeling Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-29, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Louisa J.M. Jansen & Patrick P. Kalas, 2020. "Improving Governance of Tenure in Policy and Practice: A Conceptual Basis to Analyze Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Multi-Stakeholder Transformative Governance Illustrated with an Example from Sou," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-30, November.
    2. Sandra G. L. Schruijer & Petru Lucian Curșeu, 2021. "Distrust, Identification and Collaboration Effectiveness in Multiparty Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Camelia-Cristina Dragomir & Diana Foriş & Aurel Mihail Ţîţu & Tiberiu Foriş, 2020. "The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Collaboration for Sustainability: A Model of Commissioning Intervention in the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Territorial Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Aulia Akbar & Johannes Flacke & Javier Martinez & Martin F.A.M. van Maarseveen, 2020. "Spatial Knowledge: A Potential to Enhance Public Participation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-30, June.
    5. Sandra Schruijer, 2020. "The Dynamics of Interorganizational Collaborative Relationships: Introduction," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-9, August.

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