Organizing for Sustainability: Why Networks and Partnerships?

Abstract

Purpose

This chapter introduces the volume’s theme by considering how the forces of globalization and complexity are leading organizations to reshape and redesign themselves, how meeting the challenges of sustainable effectiveness and shared value require multiorganization networks and partnerships, and how networks and partnerships develop, function, and can produce both private benefits and public goods.

Design/methodology/approach

We apply findings from social and political evolution frameworks, partnership and collaboration research, and design for sustainability concepts to induce the likely conditions required for sustainable effectiveness from a network perspective.

Findings

Successful partnerships and collaborations in service of sustainable effectiveness will require individual organizations to change their objective function and build new and varied internal and external capabilities.

Originality/value

The chapter sets the stage for the volume’s contributions.

Citation

Mirvis, P.H. and Worley, C.G. (2014), "Organizing for Sustainability: Why Networks and Partnerships?", Building Networks and Partnerships (Organizing for Sustainable Effectiveness, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2045-0605(2013)0000003005