Collaboration in Sustainability Networks: a Case Study of Interactions between a Network & Its Stakeholders

Abstract: In battling climate and sustainability issues, including associated business risks, companies have established networks aiming to reach synergies in terms of shared strategic advantages such as interaction methods and operational processes. Previous research has failed in understanding the drivers and constraints among member companies in sustainability networks as well as their relation to external stakeholders. Thus, the overall purpose of this thesis is to explore how actors collaborate in sustainability networks and what potential forms of collaboration that are possible between a sustainability network and its stakeholders? To explore this, the thesis presents a case study of the Haga Initiative network, consisting of eight prominent companies and associated stakeholders.As results this thesis describes the views of member companies and selected stakeholders on possible collaborations. In terms of internal collaborations the potential contributions to the individual organizations are connected with learning of network values stemming from both individual and organizational drivers and constraints. When looking at the approach to external collaborations, one can distinguish between three phases: A preparatory phase, a direct impact phase and an indirect impact phase. The forms of collaborations identified here by the network related mainly to knowledge and resource sharing.