Sustainability objectives and collaboration lifecycle in cluster organizations

Abstract

In our paper, we combine two issues, collaboration in cluster organizations and sustainability, aiming to answer the question: Does complex governance structure of cluster organizations support members in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives? Based on four case studies of cluster organizations and a still novel abductive approach, we present the ways in which sustainability was executed in their functioning. Our study shows that the role of cluster organizations in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives varied with regard to their collaboration life cycle. The “Formation” stage laid the foundations for collaboration and relational governance, the “Growth” stage aimed at improving the economic performance of cluster members, while the “Extension” stage impacted more cluster stakeholders with regard to the economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives. Nevertheless, stakeholders’ self-interest induced collaboration, whereas relational governance was its essential feature. Moreover, the potential of cluster organizations’ governance structures was not fully exploited in the context of sustainability, their structures have played a role in raising awareness, but it was more the competitive factors that drove companies to engage in an activity because they wanted to stay in the market, change the conditions and keep up with trends. Our research also provides practical implications for various cluster organizations’ stakeholders.