Collaborative Governance 2.0

Abstract

This paper explores how existing collaborative governance arrangements in the context of corporate responsibility (e.g., the Global Reporting Initiative and Social Accountability 8000), need to collaborate themselves more directly in order to enhance their impact. The objective of this paper is twofold: primarily, the article explores existing and potential linkages between multi-stakeholder standards; on the other hand its second function is to explore the potential for standard convergence. This paper offers a structured discussion of potential linkages between multi-stakeholder standards and thus complements the literature where such initiatives are discussed (usually without much mentioning of linkages). Practitioners will find the discussion useful to explore how their participation in a variety of initiatives can be better coordinated.

Keywords: corporate responsibility standards, collaborative governance, multi-stakeholder initiatives, regulation