Business and Collaborative Networks: Production, Creation and Shared Value

Dear Colleagues,

The goal of this Special Issue is threefold. First, it presents perspectives and findings on value co-production and co-creation of value and knowledge that takes place in interactions within inter-organizational systems such as in B2B settings, which are the most researched, but also, and more interestingly, business and collaborative networks, clusters and business ecosystems. It is fundamental for an organization, group or individual to relate their activities and resources, including their social and business relationships, to those of other companies, organizations or people in order to improve their relationships and business; organizational, group or individual performance; and sustainability.
The scope of value co-production and co-creation includes knowledge, I&D, learning, design, innovation, cooperation, resources and entrepreneurship. Although previous research underlines the relevance of value co&co and its applications, it does not illuminate what exactly constitutes the act of co-creating value or how this organizational practice contributes to advancing the organization’s development, especially with the use of new interactive or other high technologies. Digital interactions demand special attention to co-creation activities in highly immersive systems such as Virtual Reality (VR). Research about the processes, models, agents, activities or resources involved; relationships; network dynamics; or measurement scales is scarce in those dyadic and network systems. Research on virtual reality, AI or big data companies is crucial, even more so in a pandemic environment that is enhancing virtual relationships. Therefore, more research on the value co-creation processes is required to better understand this process in which multiple agents or actors participate.

Second, a cluster is a “geographical concentrations of interconnected companies, specialty providers, service providers, companies in related industries, and associated institutions in a particular field that compete, but also cooperate.” However, this does not mean that centralized regions do not need international connections. Numerous studies have analyzed the importance of internationalization and clusters, although separately. A review of the existing literature reveals strong confirmation of the advantages of clusters in regional development, but less attention has been paid to the role of internationalization in cluster development. Despite these advantages, there are some limitations that highlight the importance of the internationalization of the cluster. First, limitations in the acquisition of raw materials and low-cost labour increase the cost of inputs. Furthermore, due to the limited capacity of local markets, for clusters to survive, they must expand into new markets to market their products and services. On the other hand, in the long term, the use of inconsistent internationalization strategies can both weaken and disintegrate the clusters. Therefore, to understand and clarify these contradictions in the binomium between clusters/business networks and internationalization, more research is needed.

Thirdly and finally, stakeholders have become increasingly concerned about the ethical, social and environmental performance of companies, forcing them to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to remain competitive. However, criticism of the use of CSR has not ceased since this marketing strategy has been considered a means to appease negative comments and the problems caused. According to the "Creating Shared Value" concept (CSV), companies can create social and economic value through the creation of new products, company activities and through the formation of a business network, generating greater benefits and value for both the companies involved and society. Therefore, new research is needed to support its correct use and support its value, as well as its meaning, components and effects that differ from those of CSR or value creation in business networks and ecosystems or B2C environments. There are few articles that look at the concept of CSV in clusters, business networks or business ecosystems. Thus, this Special Issue also aims to analyze the concept of CSV in business networks to determine how shared value is created, trying to identify the components and variables of the construct, its antecedents, processes and consequences.

Prof. Dr. Marcelo Royo-Vela
Dr. Ákos Varga
Dr. Balázs Lengyel
Guest Editors

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• business networks
• collaborative networks
• value co-production
• value co-creation
• internationalization
• shared value
• sustainability