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Sustaining Inter-organizational Relationships Across Institutional Logics and Power Asymmetries : The Case of Fair Trade

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Nicholls

    (EM - EMLyon Business School)

  • Benjamin Huybrechts

Abstract

This paper explores an empirical puzzle, namely, how inter-organizational relationships can be sustained between organizations that draw upon distinctive--and potentially conflicting--institutional logics under conditions of power asymmetry. This research analyses cases of these relationships and suggests some key conditions underlying them. Examining relationships between 'Fair Trade' organizations and corporate retailers, a series of contingent factors behind the dynamic persistence of such relationships are proposed, namely: the presence of pre-existing 'hybrid logics'; the use of boundary-spanning discourses; joint tolerance of conflict; and co-creation of common rules. These four elements are supported by a fifth mediating factor, i.e. the presence and use of a Fair Trade certification system in the collaboration. The latter appears as a central vehicle facilitating cross-logic relationships--it can be seen as a 'boundary object' embodying a series of narratives and discourses that are open to multiple interpretations corresponding to the dominant institutional logics of each partner organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Nicholls & Benjamin Huybrechts, 2016. "Sustaining Inter-organizational Relationships Across Institutional Logics and Power Asymmetries : The Case of Fair Trade," Post-Print hal-02312323, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02312323
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Moran & Libby Ward-Christie, 2022. "Blended Social Impact Investment Transactions: Why Are They So Complex?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(4), pages 1011-1031, September.
    2. Minelle E. Silva & Breno Nunes, 2022. "Institutional logic for sustainable purchasing and supply management: Concepts, illustrations, and implications for business strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1138-1151, March.
    3. Alvina Gillani & Smirti Kutaula & Leonidas C. Leonidou & Paul Christodoulides, 2021. "The Impact of Proximity on Consumer Fair Trade Engagement and Purchasing Behavior: The Moderating Role of Empathic Concern and Hypocrisy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 557-577, March.
    4. Björn C. Mitzinneck & Marya L. Besharov, 2019. "Managing Value Tensions in Collective Social Entrepreneurship: The Role of Temporal, Structural, and Collaborative Compromise," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 381-400, October.
    5. Pradeep Kumar Hota, 2023. "Tracing the Intellectual Evolution of Social Entrepreneurship Research: Past Advances, Current Trends, and Future Directions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(3), pages 637-659, January.
    6. Christiana Weber & Helen Haugh & Markus Göbel & Hannes Leonardy, 2022. "Pathways to Lasting Cross-Sector Social Collaboration: A Configurational Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 613-639, May.
    7. Claudia Savarese & Benjamin Huybrechts & Marek Hudon, 2020. "The Influence of Interorganizational Collaboration on Logic Conciliation and Tensions Within Hybrid Organizations: Insights from Social Enterprise–Corporate Collaborations," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/311573, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Tasneem Sadiq & Rob van Tulder & Karen Maas, 2022. "Building a Taxonomy of Hybridization: An Institutional Logics Perspective on Societal Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Alex Gillett & Kim Loader & Bob Doherty & Jonathan M. Scott, 2019. "An Examination of Tensions in a Hybrid Collaboration: A Longitudinal Study of an Empty Homes Project," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(4), pages 949-967, July.
    10. Alinaghian, Leila & Razmdoost, Kamran, 2021. "How do social enterprises manage business relationships? A review of the literature and directions for future research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 488-498.
    11. Jones, Janice & Seet, Pi-Shen & Acker, Tim & Whittle, Michelle, 2021. "Barriers to grassroots innovation: The phenomenon of social-commercial-cultural trilemmas in remote indigenous art centres," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    12. Claudia Savarese & Benjamin Huybrechts & Marek Hudon, 2021. "The Influence of Interorganizational Collaboration on Logic Conciliation and Tensions Within Hybrid Organizations: Insights from Social Enterprise–Corporate Collaborations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(4), pages 709-721, November.
    13. Jisong Kim & Chang-Sik Kim & Mina Jo, 2023. "Cross-Country Analysis of Willingness to Pay More for Fair Trade Coffee: Exploring the Moderating Effect between South Korea and Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-22, November.
    14. Costin Lianu & Irina Gabriela Radulescu & Simona Corina Dobre Gudei & Cosmin Lianu & Veronica Mindrescu, 2022. "Cohesion Forces Determinants in Cluster Development: A Study Case for Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, March.
    15. Wendy Phillips & Elizabeth A. Alexander & Hazel Lee, 2019. "Going It Alone Won’t Work! The Relational Imperative for Social Innovation in Social Enterprises," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(2), pages 315-331, May.
    16. Juelin Yin & Dima Jamali, 2021. "Collide or Collaborate: The Interplay of Competing Logics and Institutional Work in Cross-Sector Social Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 673-694, April.

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