Strategic Value of Agricultural Business Networks in Sustaining Common Goods

Ludovico Bullini Orlandi, Elena De Martino, Cecilia Rossignoli and Sabrina Bonomi
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Ludovico Bullini Orlandi: Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
Elena De Martino: Ferroli S.p.A. 37047 Verona, Italy
Cecilia Rossignoli: Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
Sabrina Bonomi: Faculty of Law, E-Campus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: This article aims to highlight the positive relationship between the organizational form of the agricultural business network and common goods, thus seizing their strategic value for the company in terms of protection, development, and sustainable use. The common goods analyzed in this research are of different origins: natural, such as the local environment and biodiversity, and artificial, such as cooperation and communication. To this end, a four-year longitudinal study was conducted to study the relationship between agricultural business networks and common goods. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the literature, which highlights the following as main themes: the sharing of values, the importance of trust and reputation, the central role of adaptive management, learning as participation, and environmental sustainability. The chosen case highlights how agricultural business networks can be considered both an effective tool in the protection and sustainable use of common goods and a tool that allows the development of the commons. Both these aspects have a strategic value for an organization that can derive significant benefits both from common goods developed and from the implemented organizational form and simultaneously protect the environment with strong positive externalities for itself and the community.

Keywords: common goods; business network; inter-organizational processes; network organizations; sustainability; adaptive management; learning as participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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