Collaboration among SMEs: Lessons Learned from a CSR Focused Platform

Lasma Rabaud (), Jean-Marie Courrent () and Anne-Sophie Fernandez ()
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Lasma Rabaud: MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - UM - Université de Montpellier
Jean-Marie Courrent: Labex Entreprendre - UM - Université de Montpellier, MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - UM2 - Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) - Montpellier Business School
Anne-Sophie Fernandez: UM - Université de Montpellier

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Abstract: In recent years, several scholars study what is called the ‘wicked sustainability problems' pointing to the interdependencies between social actors and stressing that "cross-sector collaborations can co-create the knowledge and momentum that is needed" (Pedersen et al., 2021). This realization has led to increased attention on the nature and benefits of interorganizational relationships (IORs) within and beyond the business sector. Collaborative relationships between large organizations and their stakeholders have emerged as an institutionalised tool to address sustainability challenges. Research suggests that firms are more likely to achieve business benefits from these collaborations when they go beyond simple philantropic cash donations, integrating expertise, access to strategic knowledge, and in-kind resources (Hess et al., 2002; Austin, 2000; Selsky & Parker, 2005). When it comes to small and medium enterprises (SME) , literature on sustainability driven collaboration is rather limited. Although social responsibility among SMEs have been a flourishing topic of discussion over the last twenty years (Soundararajan et al., 2018), knowledge on interorganizational relationships (IORs) among SMEs on CSR is fragmented. To counter the lack of knowledge on this topic, we propose to explore the process in which small firms collaborate with their peers within a CSR focused collaborative platform. This study is designed to answer the following research question: How cross-sector collaboration is organized among small firms? With this question in mind, we aim to explore the underlying dynamics of the formation and the collaborative processes among SMEs within a cross-sector partnership.

Keywords: CSR; SME; Collaboration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-04-03
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Published in IABS 2025, International Association for Business and Society, Apr 2025, Maastricht (Netherlands), Netherlands

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05222019

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