The role of structural and relational governance in creating stable innovation networks: Insights from sustainability-oriented Dutch innovation networks

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to explore the role of structural and relational governance in conditions of innovation uncertainty and network heterogeneity in sustainability-oriented innovation networks. The explorative analysis of eighteen innovation networks leads to two important findings. It demonstrates the importance of internalization of stakeholders in the network to create stability in the newly established coalitions and to assure continuation of sustainability-oriented innovation. Also, it demonstrates that even in conditions of innovation, complementarity of structural and relational governance is important. Structural governance (formalization) increases clarity and understanding about partners' differences, reduces uncertainty and increases rational commitment in uncertain and heterogeneous conditions. Relational governance (trust) has a complementary role in this, because it requires time to develop trust in newly established innovation networks with limited previous cooperation. In addition to structural governance (rational commitment), relational governance (trust) is important to prevent attrition in the highly uncertain conditions.

Inter-organisational knowledge networks: synthesising dialectic tensions of university-industry knowledge discovery

“…The relational perspective is grounded in the relational dynamic and social exchange theory (Blau, 1964), where a network is dynamically evolving through multiple transactions, its partners are perceived as trustworthy and on-going relational management is important in explaining performance. Tepic et al (2011) identify structural governance mechanisms, explicit in agreed documentation, as a trade-off between incentives and administrative control. Conversely, relational governance mechanisms emerge as a consequence of social relationship exchanges, based on implicit understandings rather than formalised position.…”

Coordenação Em Sistemas Agroalimentares: Um Levantamento Bibliométrico Entre 2009 E 2015

“…Os estudos internacionais apontam para a importância da geração de confiança para melhor coordenação (GARBADE et al, 2015); para a certificação como mecanismo de coordenação (BAHLMANN;SPILLER, 2009;VINHOLIS et al, 2014); para a importância da eficiência das instituições no alcance da coordenação (CALEMAN; ZYLBERSZTAJN, 2011); para a adoção de formas plurais na busca de coordenação (CARRER et al, 2014); pela indicação de que estruturas mais complexas fazem-se necessárias diante de elevada especificidade de ativos STRANDHAGEN, 2015;PASSUELLO et al, 2015); e, principalmente, pela adoção de formas híbridas como alternativas em busca da coordenação (SAUVÉE, 2013;BRITO et al, 2015). Nesse ponto, em complementaridade com os resultados nacionais, grande parte dos trabalhos internacionais apontam espírito cooperativo e a confiança entre os agentes na busca de inovação (TEPIC et al, 2011;NIJHOFF-SAVVAKI et al, 2012;RAMPERSAD et al, 2012;TEPIC et al, 2012;PIRES et al, 2013;GARBADE et al, 2015). Essas análises apontam que os grupos que se organizam dessa forma têm maior capacidade de realizar inovações, seja pelo compartilhamento de custos, de conhecimento, de escala e escopo, entre outros.…”

Governance of sustainable innovation: Moving beyond the hierarchy-market-network trichotomy? A systematic literature review using the ‘who-how-what’ framework

“…Leising et al, 2018). Thus, formalisation (Tepic et al, 2011), reporting and accountability (Berkowitz, 2018), transparency, open dialogue and continuous feedback (Dewberry and Sherwin, 2002) have been suggested as effective strategies for trust-building and ensuring the stability of relationships within the networks of stakeholders. For this purpose, a clear direction regarding objectives, goals, actions and principles is needed (Ely et al, 2013;Leach et al, 2012;Partidário et al, 2007).…”

“…Total = 15 articles (Knight et al, 2015;Oluwole Akadiri and Olaniran Fadiya, 2013;Planko et al, 2017Planko et al, , 2016Tepic et al, 2011;van Osch and Avital, 2010) Total = 6 articles (Bossink, 2009;Lieberherr and Truffer, 2015;Sáez-Martínez et al, 2014;Smith et al, 2016;Verhagen et al, 2008).…”