A influência das redes de cooperação no desenvolvimento de iniciativas de sustentabilidade

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the influence of cooperation networks on the development of sustainability initiatives. A set of preliminary characteristics of the cooperation networks and factors to adopt sustainability emerged from the literature review. The methodology employed was multiple cases study of cooperation networks in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the three economic sectors were studied: service, trading and industry, giving an amount of nine cooperation networks. Nine cooperation networks were studied and twenty seven people were interviewed. The results indicate thirteen factors that influence the adoption of sustainability initiatives in cooperation networks: competitive advantage, exchange of experience, ecological awareness, stakeholders’ influence, organizational reputation, legislation, involvement of the board of directors, cooperation network's size, cooperation networks’ life time, independent sustainability team, trust, collective competence and government’s incentive. The factors competitive advantage and independent sustainability team were originated from the fusion of a characteristic and a factor. Furthermore, three exclusive characteristics of cooperation networks are now considered factors that influence the adoption of sustainability initiatives: exchange of experience, trust and collective competence.