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Between Intensity and Diversity: Leveraging the Role of Place in Cross-Sector Partnerships

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Abstract

We seek to advance place-sensitive theory on cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) by investigating how partners cope with difficult place characteristics that affect their collaboration. To this end, we conduct an in-depth case study of a disaster relief CSP in which the partners had to cope with what we label place intensity of disasters, as well as with what emerged as place diversity of pre-/post-disaster contexts. Our findings illustrate the collaborative effects of these different place contexts and reveal two practices of CSP place work by which the partners sought to leverage their cross-fertilizing potential: They used the pre-/post-disaster contexts to anticipate and prepare for the place intensity and conveyed such intensity to pre-/post-disaster contexts to manage the place diversity and sustain the collaborative commitment. These insights advance CSP research, first, by outlining places’ agentic forces and exposing their different collaborative effects. Second, by introducing practices of cognitive and emotional CSP place work, we show how partners may integrate places into their CSP management to better handle their adverse effects.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Special Issue Editor Helen Haugh, the two anonymous reviewers, and the participants of the MOTI research seminar at the Grenoble Ecole de Management for their helpful feedback.

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  1. Grenoble Ecole de Management, 12 Rue Pierre Sémard, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Lea Stadtler

  2. INSEAD, Technology and Operations Management Area, Boulevard de Constance, 77300, Fontainebleau, France

    Luk N. Van Wassenhove

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  1. Lea Stadtler
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Correspondence to Lea Stadtler.

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Stadtler, L., Van Wassenhove, L.N. Between Intensity and Diversity: Leveraging the Role of Place in Cross-Sector Partnerships. J Bus Ethics 184, 773–791 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-05367-3

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