ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on archival data, a content analysis of corporate performance reports and in-depth interviews with 16 representatives of organisations that participated in corporate–stakeholder collaborations to identify the responsibilities that both partners must carry to ensure the effectiveness of cross-sectoral environmental relationships. It aims to answer the following questions. In what ways are corporations and environmental on-governmental organisations (NGO) collaborating? What motivates corporations and external stakeholders to work together on internal environmental issues? What do participants in corporate–NGO environmental collaborations perceive to be the most important responsibilities of both parties in making the interactions effective? In cross-sectoral environmental collaborations, as in corporate alliances, partners must find ways to create reciprocal value, learn from each other, establish legitimacy and overcome distrust. The chapter shows that both corporate and NGO respondents consistently identified three crucial sets of mutual responsibilities: creating value through learning; establishing legitimacy; and developing trust.
