Interorganizational Collaboration for Regional Sustainability

TLDR

Interorganizational collaboration can enhance regional sustainability by fostering shared understanding of economic, social, and environmental challenges, yet ideological differences and organizational interests often render the process tense and politically charged. The study critically interprets an interorganizational collaboration aimed at regional sustainability. The authors conduct a critical‑interpretive analysis of the collaboration’s processes and outcomes. The investigation reveals both the promise and challenges of the collaboration, showing how sustainable development pressures shape its dynamics.

Abstract

This article presents a critical-interpretive investigation of an interorganizational collaboration for regional sustainability. It highlights the potential and problems in such a process and exposes how sustainable development influences collaboration. Through collaborating, members can develop a better understanding of the economic, social, and environmental issues affecting their region’s sustainability and challenging their organizations’ legitimacy. By sharing experiences and expectations of sustainable development, members can also develop better relationships and respond to various pressures for sustainable development. However, the ideological foundations of sustainable development philosophy can make such collaboration an extremely tense and political process. As members explore solutions that integrate environmental, economic, and social sustainability dimensions in the local and regional context, they may also strive to preserve or enhance their organizational interests. Ultimately, they may compromise on fairly easy or abstract solutions that can build their organization’s reputation and legitimacy rather than serve the wider remit of sustainable development.