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Private environmental governance through cross-sector partnerships: Tensions between competition and effectiveness

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Listed:
  • Tobias Hahn

    (Kedge BS - Kedge Business School)

  • Jonatan Pinkse

    (Energy Management - MTS - Management Technologique et Strategique - EESC-GEM Grenoble Ecole de Management)

Abstract

We analyze the suitability of cross-sector partnerships as an effective mechanism for private environmental governance. By focusing on the interaction between firms within cross-sector partnerships, we analyze how competition between firms affects partnership effectiveness. Marrying insights from the private governance literature with institutional theory and the resource-based view, we identify under which conditions firm-level competition for legitimacy and capabilities, respectively, undermines or enhances effectiveness of cross-sector partnerships to address environmental issues. In doing so, our argument develops the various factors that moderate the relationship between competition and effectiveness for different types of partnerships. We contend that the effectiveness of cross-sector partnerships for governing global environmental issues depends considerably on whether competitive forces at the firm level are aligned with the collective benefits of partnerships. We discuss the consequences for designing effective cross-sector partnerships as well as the implications of a firm perspective on private governance.

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  • Tobias Hahn & Jonatan Pinkse, 2014. "Private environmental governance through cross-sector partnerships: Tensions between competition and effectiveness," Working Papers hal-00961234, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-00961234
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: http://hal.grenoble-em.com/hal-00961234
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    Cited by:

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    2. René Bohnsack & Ans Kolk & Jonatan Pinkse & Christina M. Bidmon, 2020. "Driving the electric bandwagon: The dynamics of incumbents' sustainable innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 727-743, February.
    3. Amelia Clarke & Andrew Crane, 2018. "Cross-Sector Partnerships for Systemic Change: Systematized Literature Review and Agenda for Further Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 303-313, June.
    4. Domenico Dentoni & Verena Bitzer & Greetje Schouten, 2018. "Harnessing Wicked Problems in Multi-stakeholder Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 333-356, June.
    5. Lea Stadtler, 2018. "Tightrope Walking: Navigating Competition in Multi-Company Cross-Sector Social Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 329-345, March.
    6. Siarhei Manzhynski & Frank Figge, 2020. "Coopetition for sustainability: Between organizational benefit and societal good," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 827-837, March.
    7. Henry, Leona A. & Möllering, Guido, 2019. "Collective Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Trust as an Organizing PrincipleDate submitted: September 30, 2017Revised version accepted after double blind review: October 18, 2018," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 30(2-3), pages 173-191.
    8. Munten, Pauline & Vanhamme, Joëlle & Maon, François & Swaen, Valérie & Lindgreen, Adam, 2021. "Addressing tensions in coopetition for sustainable innovation: Insights from the automotive industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 10-20.
    9. Wen Pan Fagerlin & Minoru Shimamoto & Ran Li, 2019. "Boundary Objects as a Learning Mechanism for Sustainable Development Goals—A Case Study of a Japanese Company in the Chemical Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-26, November.
    10. Sergej Gricar & Barbara Rodica, 2016. "Academia-Industry Nexus Management," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 11(4), pages 309-326.
    11. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Van de Graaf, Thijs, 2018. "Building or stumbling blocks? Assessing the performance of polycentric energy and climate governance networks," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 317-324.
    12. Naeem Ashraf & Alireza Ahmadsimab & Jonatan Pinkse, 2017. "From Animosity to Affinity: The Interplay of Competing Logics and Interdependence in Cross-Sector Partnerships," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(6), pages 793-822, September.
    13. Meier, Leonie, 2017. "Beating the Microbead: How private environmental governance has influenced the regulatory process of banning microbeads in the UK," MarXiv wpr8k, Center for Open Science.
    14. 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.
    15. Pisani, Niccolò & Kourula, Arno & Kolk, Ans & Meijer, Renske, 2017. "How global is international CSR research? Insights and recommendations from a systematic review," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 591-614.
    16. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2018. "A Paradox Perspective on Corporate Sustainability: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Aspects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 235-248, March.
    17. Smink & Joost Koch & Eva Niesten & Simona Negro & Marko Hekkert, 2015. "Institutional entrepreneurship in the emerging renewable energy field; incumbents versus new entrants," Innovation Studies Utrecht (ISU) working paper series 15-01, Utrecht University, Department of Innovation Studies, revised Jun 2015.
    18. Frances Bowen, 2019. "Marking Their Own Homework: The Pragmatic and Moral Legitimacy of Industry Self-Regulation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 257-272, April.

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