Temporal Strategic Knowledge-sharing Nets as Instances of Sustainability Governance in Practice

Abstract

This paper builds on the notion that sustainability governance is not only about relationships between public and private actors, but also the implementation of overarching sustainability goals with regard to operational practice. Thus, it regards accountability both in terms of relationships and performance outcomes. By introducing the case of a temporal strategic net in Sweden, it explores how multisector business actors and the state work together to improve understandings of the translation of national sustainability objectives into organisational outcomes. Here, the net provides an example of sustainability governance that rests on the interaction of accountability relationships between policy-makers and business practitioners, which has consequent intra-organisational and societal effects. It finds that such nets can be characterised as discursive spaces to share best practice, with the potential to improve operational knowledge and performance. However, clear goals from the outset are prerequisite to their success. Overall, the paper makes two contributions. First, it helps define sustainability governance for SEA research. This is deemed necessary given that sustainability governance in SEA research is arguably still in its beginnings. Second, it proposes the potential of strategic ‘knowledge-sharing’ nets both conceptually in research and operationally in practice as sustainability governance structures.