IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/vnm/wpdman/230.html

Navigating Heterogeneity In Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Author

Listed:
  • Clara Emefa ASEMPAPA

    (Venice School of Management, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)

  • Andjela PAVLOVIC

    (Venice School of Management, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)

  • Francesco ROSATI

    (Center for Technology Entrepreneurship, Technical University of Denmark; Venice School of Management, Ca' Foscari University of Venice)

  • Francesco RULLANI

    (Venice School of Management, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)

Abstract

Cross-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships are crucial for tackling the global challenges we face today, but often struggle when partners vary in goals, values, or contexts. This study introduces progressive intermediation as a mechanism that enables collaboration without requiring universal consensus. Drawing on a qualitative case study, we show how intermediaries bridge communication gaps through reframing by translating from structured objectives to experience-based narratives depending on the actors involved. A dyadic and intermediated network structure can foster alignment, inclusivity, and empowerment by adapting communication across diverse actors rather than enforcing homogeneity. By conceptualising progressive intermediation, the paper offers a practical framework for designing partnerships that align heterogeneous actors to promote meaningful local participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Clara Emefa ASEMPAPA & Andjela PAVLOVIC & Francesco ROSATI & Francesco RULLANI, 2025. "Navigating Heterogeneity In Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships," Working Papers 12, Venice School of Management - Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    • Handle: RePEc:vnm:wpdman:230
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.unive.it/web/fileadmin/user_upload/dipartimenti/DMAN/pubblicazioni_scientifiche/working_papers/2025/2025wp12.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2025
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. G. Abord-Hugon Nonet & T. Gössling & R. Tulder & J. M. Bryson, 2022. "Multi-stakeholder Engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals: Introduction to the Special Issue," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 945-957, November.
    2. Alireza Ahmadsimab & Imran Chowdhury, 2021. "Managing Tensions and Divergent Institutional Logics in Firm–NPO Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 651-670, January.
    3. Christian Voegtlin & Andreas Georg Scherer & Günter K Stahl & Olga Hawn, 2022. "Grand Societal Challenges and Responsible Innovation," Post-Print hal-03466563, HAL.
    4. Christian Voegtlin & Andreas Georg Scherer & Günter K. Stahl & Olga Hawn, 2022. "Grand Societal Challenges and Responsible Innovation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 1-28, January.
    5. Sarah Easter & Matt Murphy & Mary Yoko Brannen, 2023. "Negotiating Meaning Systems in Multi-stakeholder Partnerships Addressing Grand Challenges: Homelessness in Western Canada," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(1), pages 31-52, February.
    6. Julia Grimm & Rebecca C. Ruehle & Juliane Reinecke, 2024. "Building Common Ground: How Facilitators Bridge Between Diverging Groups in Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 194(3), pages 583-608, October.
    7. John Selsky & Barbara Parker, 2010. "Platforms for Cross-Sector Social Partnerships: Prospective Sensemaking Devices for Social Benefit," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(1), pages 21-37, July.
    8. Eric Quintane & Gianluca Carnabuci, 2016. "How Do Brokers Broker? Tertius Gaudens, Tertius Iungens, and the Temporality of Structural Holes," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(6), pages 1343-1360, December.
    9. Domenico Dentoni & Verena Bitzer & Stefano Pascucci, 2016. "Cross-Sector Partnerships and the Co-creation of Dynamic Capabilities for Stakeholder Orientation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 35-53, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Devi Vijay & Héloïse Berkowitz & Benjamin Huybrechts & Luc Audebrand & Marcos Barros & Marianna Fotaki, 2025. "Another World is Possible, It's Already Here: A Review and Research Agenda on Alternative Organizing," Working paper serie RMT - Grenoble Ecole de Management hal-05132352, HAL.
    2. Odeh Al-Jayyousi & Hira Amin & Hiba Ali Al-Saudi & Amjaad Aljassas & Evren Tok, 2023. "Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Kyoko Sasaki & Wendy Stubbs & Megan Farrelly, 2023. "The relationship between corporate purpose and the sustainable development goals in large Japanese companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2475-2489, September.
    4. Mohsen Farhadloo & Saman Asvadi & Kash Khorasani, 2025. "Potential vulnerabilities associated with emerging technologies: insights from a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 1717-1760, June.
    5. Blessing Dirani & Ranzi Mazenge Rusike & David Damiyano & Josphat Nyoni, 2025. "Developing a framework for the improvement of stakeholder management plans," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 14(7), pages 108-125, November.
    6. Qiuyue Shao & Xiaoping Zhao & Shouming Chen & Jing Zhao, 2025. "CEO Pay Caps, Political Promotion Incentives, and Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Publicly Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Tilo Böhmann & Angela Roth & Gerhard Satzger & Carina Benz & Daniel Beverungen & Andreas Boes & Christoph Breidbach & Martin Gersch & Gerhard Gudergan & Jens Hogreve & Christian Kurtz & Barbara Langes, 2025. "Continuous value shaping: A boundary concept for innovating service innovation approaches," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Andreas Hesse & Karin Kreutzer & Marjo-Riitta Diehl, 2019. "Dynamics of Institutional Logics in a Cross-Sector Social Partnership: The Case of Refugee Integration in Germany," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 679-704, October.
    9. Toohey, Kristine & Beaton, Anthony, 2017. "International cross-sector social partnerships between sport and governments: The World Anti-Doping Agency," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 483-496.
    10. Jacobsen, Lina Fogt & Frank, Darius-Aurel & Søndergaard, Helle Alsted & Peschel, Anne Odile, 2025. "From diversity to distinction: Exploring the role of diversity and inclusion related to consumer perceptions of company innovativeness and attractiveness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    11. Clement, Jessica & Alarda, Lama & Ochojski, Artur & Crutzen, Nathalie, 2025. "Engaging marginalized communities in multi-level transformative innovation policy: The case of the Just Transition Fund," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    12. Ehlers, Melf-Hinrich & El Benni, Nadja & Douziech, Mélanie, 2025. "Implementing responsible research and innovation and sustainability assessment in research projects: A framework and application," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(2).
    13. Ika, Lavagnon A. & Locatelli, Giorgio & Drouin, Nathalie, 2024. "Policy-driven projects: Empowering the world to confront grand challenges," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 835-842.
    14. Amanda Williams & Lara Anne Blasberg, 2022. "SDG Platforms as Strategic Innovation Through Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 1041-1057, November.
    15. Dinh, Jeannette Mai & Isaak, Andrew Jay & Yahyaoui, Yasmine, 2024. "Investing for good – Uncovering crowd investors' motivations to participate in sustainability-oriented crowdlending," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    16. Ye, Dandan & Yuan, Ruizhi & Luo, Jun & Liu, Martin J. & Yannopoulou, Natalia, 2025. "Responsible artificial intelligence (AI) for responsible innovation in Chinese manufacturing: From the affordance–actualization theory," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    17. Panizzon, Mateus & Janissek-Muniz, Raquel, 2025. "Theoretical dimensions for integrating research on anticipatory governance, scientific foresight and sustainable S&T public policy design," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    18. Lu Jiang & Jianxin You & Jiaojiao Yu & Tao Xu & Yixi Xue, 2025. "Driving Factors of Corporate Responsible Innovation: An Exploratory Multiple-Case Study of Technological Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-25, May.
    19. Valentinov, Vladislav, 2025. "Stakeholder theory: A radical institutionalist view," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 59(4), pages 1001-1015.
    20. Jérémy Lévêque & Kevin Levillain & Blanche Segrestin, 2023. "The Profit-with-purpose Corporation Confronted to Grand Societal challenges: Insights From the Study of a Formulation Process," Post-Print hal-04130125, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vnm:wpdman:230. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Daria Arkhipova (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/mdvenit.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.