The management and fair treatment of lower-tier suppliers, i.e., external stakeholders, poses great challenges in global value chain (GVC) due to their distance with the central organization, i.e. lead firms. Surprisingly, the stakeholder literature has not engaged in extensive research regarding the concept of fair treatment of stakeholders. Moreover, the stakeholder approach has been very little integrated to the GVC literature. Such lack of attention on how stakeholders receive the actions, activities and efforts led by an organization, especially in a global context, we argue, is an important shortcoming for both theoretical and practical understanding of stakeholder theory and its potential. This omission fails to account for the crucial stakeholder perception of the firm-stakeholder relationship. Therefore, we stress the need to define and understand the construct of fair treatment of stakeholders in a global context that is a GVC. We adopt a postcolonial lens to shed light on exploitative relationships and revisit stakeholder theory to emphasize its transformative power. We further theorize about a critical stakeholder theory by proposing a process model fair treatment of stakeholders emphasizing its operationalization. In doing so, we contribute in advocating for and extending a postcolonial stakeholder theory to shed light on its moral and strategic potential and in refining its use in a global scale. We extend our understanding on the nature of the relationship between stakeholder work, fair treatment of stakeholder and stakeholder’s perception of impact. Finally, the GVC literature also benefits from a new approach to govern the multiplicity and variety of stakeholders, in a critical perspective.

Wicked problems—complex, persistent societal challenges such as decarbonization of the built environment and affordable housing—require cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) involving actors from business, government, civil society, and academia. Despite their potential, CSPs often struggle to deliver innovative solutions due to conflicting values and misaligned incentives. Innovation intermediaries play a crucial role in aligning these diverse stakeholders, yet their strategies for managing such complex collaborations remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap by employing a comparative retrospective case study approach within an action research framework. Focusing on energy retrofits for Dutch dwellings and predictive digital twins for social housing, the research explores how innovation intermediaries can develop and refine strategies to overcome CSP challenges. Through action-learning cycles and stakeholder interviews, the study aims to co-create actionable frameworks that enhance intermediary effectiveness, providing valuable insights for managing CSPs addressing urgent societal issues.

The Congolese population sees entrepreneurship not only as a means of livelihood but also as a way to create wealth, value, and jobs, thanks to the emergence of a hopeful entrepreneurial environment following the liberalization of the mining sector in 2002. This has allowed for the development of various structures, projects, and support programs for entrepreneurs [nurseries, incubators, venture capital, etc.], leading to the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in which many businesses have emerged. Several research studies have analyzed the issue of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. (Mack & Mayer, 2016; Spigel, 2017; Theodoraki & Messeghem, 2017; Roundy et al., 2018; Malecki, 2018; Stam et Van de Ven, 2021; Roshan et al., 2023; Audretsch et al., 2024). However, in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this work has shortcomings. Notably, the absence of theoretical contextualization regarding the rooting of perceptions and practices in local cultures. The generic approach [model] of entrepreneurship supports services that are not suited to local realities. According to Kamdem et al. (2016), "it is important today for African researchers in business sciences to reflect on the uniqueness of the African context, allowing for a revisiting of entrepreneurial practice models in order to better align them with the context." And finally, empirically speaking, the majority of these companies are made up of small and medium-sized enterprises (CIIP, 2019, p. 1), thus highlighting their importance. However, their growth rate is low (CIIP, 2019, p. 2) despite the availability of support services for entrepreneurs, raising the question of the effectiveness of the existing entrepreneurial ecosystem in meeting the growth needs of SMEs. Thus, this thesis aims to analyze the interactive dynamics of the elements of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the ACK, identify the determinants of SME growth as well as the challenges to be overcome, and propose a model of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is conducive to the growth of local SMEs and is adapted to the context. To achieve these objectives, we have chosen a pragmatic constructivist epistemology, a mixed approach, and a case study methodology based on abductive reasoning. We will use several categories of data. In particular, the primary data to be collected through semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys with SMEs and other stakeholders, and the secondary data that will come from reports and databases. We will proceed with thematic content analysis, multiple regression, and networks using software such as SPSS to process quantitative data and NVivo. The expected results will include an understanding of the interactions between the various actors in the ecosystem and their impact on the growth of SMEs, the identification of key success factors and obstacles to the growth of SMEs, and finally, the proposal of an entrepreneurial ecosystem model tailored to the needs of local SME growth.

In this discussion proposal, I seek to reorient the conversation about business responsibility using a structural justice approach. First, I introduce the concept of structural injustice, drawing on the work of Iris Marion Young. Second, I will analyze business responsibility using a structural injustice approach, focusing on three specific examples: (1) artisanal cobalt mining in Congo, (2) low-wage work, and (3) pollution by businesses operating in vulnerable communities. Third, I discuss responsible business responses to structural injustices as both individual and collective responsibilities. I conclude with implications for future research.

This 'work-in-progress' empirical paper draws upon, predominantly, 22 in-depth interviews of international companies operating across Asia as well as sustainable development reports, to investigate the actual activities that such companies are carrying out to support the socioeconomic Sustainable Development Goals and inequalities locally.