Power asymmetry and incentives: A practical approach to corporate commitments in multi-stakeholder initiatives
Type de matériel :
89
In the context of power asymmetries and antagonisms in multi-stakeholder initiatives, corporate commitments are considered critical factors for promoting institutional sustainability objectives. This study draws on power-dependence theory to highlight the types of incentives used to promote the common good in the face of power asymmetries in multi-stakeholder initiatives; it also demonstrates how members use these incentives to foster corporate engagement. OrbiMob—a multi-stakeholder initiative in Clermont-Ferrand (France)—forms the main research object of this article. The incentives identified include: the ability to work through shared problems and achieve common ambitions, the acquisition of special status, the recognition of the vital role of powerful stakeholders, and the presence of a charismatic facilitator. This study helps shed light on the workings of multi-stakeholder initiatives, as it highlights the types of incentives used to harness power asymmetry for the common good, and demonstrates how members use these incentives to get powerful actors on board. The results of this study highlight the need for researchers and practitioners to rethink their approach to promoting corporate commitments in the context of the power imbalances inherent in multi-stakeholder initiatives. This study also contributes to the literature on power dependence, highlighting the need to “grant special status to valued members,” and to recognize their indispensability in order to secure the involvement of powerful actors in asymmetric power relationships.
Réseaux sociaux