Cross-sector dialogue for sustainability: to partner or not to partner?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the topic and review the contributions of the special issue papers on cross-sector dialogue for sustainability. The paper also presents avenues for further research. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a review of the current literature on cross-sector partnership and dialogue. It explores the current issues in cross-sector partnerships through a discussion of the papers accepted for the special issue, their focus, findings and key contributions. Findings It highlights three main key research themes and learnings from the special issue papers: a high level of “hybridity” of collaboration forms, which involve important tensions; a need to understand partnership in its context and the importance of the individual level in cross-sector collaboration. Practical implications The authors call for attention to be paid to two forms of myopia: a tendency to view partnerships primarily from a resource-based view (without much attempt to measure societal impact) and a reluctance to be explicitly critical (despite empirical evidence of some suboptimal aspects of partnerships). Social implications The authors call for researchers to move away from a resource-based approach to one that is situated in exploring the value derived from partnerships in the broader societal context. The authors suggest some avenues for further research to move the discussion beyond the partnership imperative. Originality/value The paper outlines the need to critically revisit the very essence of what real partnership means and whether dialogue is really taking place.

How will AI text generation and processing impact sustainability reporting? Critical analysis, a conceptual framework and avenues for future research

“…Moodaley and Telukdarie (2023) also highlight a lack of literature reviews that relate to the intersection of non-financial reporting (sustainability reporting in particular) and AI. However, the authors note that several research papers (Kang et al , 2020; Ning et al , 2021) have used AI technology (in particular NLP) to analyse the large quantities of complex narrative information typically found in sustainability reports (Louche et al , 2021). This has also been extended to include references to the UN SDGs (Amel-Zadeh et al , 2021).…”

CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: COUNTER-ARGUING OPTIMISM

“…The articles published in this special issue address various forms of partnerships used in different sectors, within sectors, across sectors, and internationally. Finally, these same articles demonstrate the variety of factors or contingencies related to cross-sector partnerships leading to their formation, enabling these partnerships' development and results at the micro, meso, and macro levels (Louche et al, 2021).…”

“…or not to partner". Louche et al (2021) explain that the articles published in this special issue offer a theoretical contribution to the partnership and intersectoral dialogue between civil society organizations, companies, and their associated supply chains. The articles published in this special issue address various forms of partnerships used in different sectors, within sectors, across sectors, and internationally.…”

“…Pedersen et al (2021) advocate rethinking sustainability concerning the limits of existing concepts and the logic of transitions between actors, processes, and results to reach recognizably sustainable solutions. To Louche et al (2021), the studies that jointly address cross-sector partnerships and sustainable development tend to accept the representativeness of these collaborative arrangements provided for by the seventeenth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. According to Louche et al (2021), there need to be more publications that suggest or propose alternative paths to sustainable development or that reveal the pitfalls behind this imperative, according to which the only path to sustainability is a partnership.…”

“…To Louche et al (2021), the studies that jointly address cross-sector partnerships and sustainable development tend to accept the representativeness of these collaborative arrangements provided for by the seventeenth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. According to Louche et al (2021), there need to be more publications that suggest or propose alternative paths to sustainable development or that reveal the pitfalls behind this imperative, according to which the only path to sustainability is a partnership. For Louche et al (2021), cross-sector partnerships and sustainable development discussions fail to reveal the tensions hidden by results and benefits admitted as socially responsible.…”