Interorganizational relationships play an increasingly important role in the provision of goods and services. Particularly innovative industries such as the creative industries or the biotechnology industry have always been organized in networks. Automotive and apparel production takes place in global production networks, which consist of ramified chains of supplier relationships. At the same time, regionally based networks and regional clusters play a central role in a wide variety of value chains, for example in the healthcare industry. Practice and research have shown, however, that cluster initiatives are only filled with life when network relationships form between different regionally neighboring organizations. Just as important as networking within a region and industry, however, is the networking of different clusters with one another. This can certainly take place regionally: under the keyword "cross-clustering", targeted value creation opportunities are explored at the interface of different clusters. Successful clusters are also well networked internationally and form so-called international cluster networks. Interorganizational networks differ from individual enterprises in that there is no direct hierarchical control. Network relationships, on the other hand, are characterized by mutual dependence, reciprocity or trust. This constellation opens up opportunities such as flexibility, but is also accompanied by specific governance challenges, which we examine from an organizational theory perspective. A look at the governance of network relationships therefore plays a central role in many of our research projects, for example in the Garment Supply Chain Governance Project or in the Organized Creativity Project. In the past, our institute director Elke Schüßler, together with Jörg Sydow (Freie Universität Berlin), evaluated the cluster development of the cultural and creative industries in North Rhine-Westphalia and the music and event industry in the city of Cologne. Institute member Robert Bauer has accompanied the development of the "Innovation City Linz".

Selected Publications:

Sydow J., Schüßler E., Helfen M.:
Managing global production networks: Towards social responsibility via inter-organizational reliability?, in Biggiero, L., de Jongh, D., Fischer, D., Priddat, B. P., Wieland, J., & Zicari, A.: Economics – the Relational View: Interdisciplinary Contributions to an Emerging Field of Research, Springer, Cham, Seite(n) 133–158, 2022

Helfen M., Schüßler E., Sydow J.: 
How can employment relations in global value networks be managed towards social responsibility?, in Human Relations, Vol. 71, Nr. 12, Seite(n) 1640-1665, 2018

Gärtner C., Duschek S., Ortmann G., Schüßler E., Müller-Seitz G., Hülsbeck M.: 
Emergence of responsiveness across organizations, networks, and clusters from a dynamic capability perspective, in Journal of Competence-based Strategic Management, Vol. 9, Seite(n) 7-32, 2017

Sydow J., Schüßler E., Müller-Seitz G.: 
Managing Interorganizational Relations: Debates and Cases, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2016

Schüßler E., Decker C., Lerch F.: 
Networks of clusters: A governance perspective., in Industry & Innovation, Seite(n) 357-374, 2013

Dobusch L., Schüßler E.: 
Theorizing path dependence: A review of positive feedback mechanisms in technology markets, regional clusters and organizations, in Industrial and Corporate Change, Vol. 22, Seite(n) 617-647, 2013

Schüßler E., Wessel L., Gersch M.: 
Taking stock: Capability development in inter-organizational projects, in Schmalenbach Business Review, Vol. 64, Seite(n) 171-186, 2012

Schüßler E.: 
Strategische Prozesse und Persistenzen: Pfadabhängige Organisation der Wertschöpfung in der Bekleidungsindustrie, Kohlhammer, Berlin, 2009