New processes of governance: cases for deliberative decision‐making?

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the new forms of governance that are emerging to facilitate corporate sustainability. Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology draws on multiple case study research, examining the research question through the lens of two case examples: a government/industry partner program, itself comprising multiple cases, and an industry consultative committee. Findings - While these cases involve different motivations for collaborative decision‐making, they each involve inter‐organisational decision‐making. Such decision‐making requires the establishment of new processes of governance. Research limitations/implications - More case examples need to be explored and subjected to more detailed discourse analysis. Practical implications - Suggestions for new decision‐making models that could be usefully taken up by governments and corporations to address stakeholder disputes. Originality/value - The paper makes suggestions for appropriate forms of governance by process if sustainability outcomes are to be achieved that are acceptable to a range of corporate stakeholders.