Removing Rose-Tinted Glasses: Uncovering the Dark Side Effects of Cross-Sector Partnerships

While cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) are widely celebrated for addressing societal challenges, their potential negative effects on communities, environmental ecosystems, and society at large are often overlooked. This oversight obscures our awareness and understanding of recurring patterns, not only in the various types of negative societal effects, but also in the mechanisms through which CSPs may generate these effects, and the partnership-related antecedents. Through a qualitative meta-analysis of 39 studies we synthesize existing empirical evidence and examine the negative societal effects of CSPs. Our analysis reveals the what (effects), how (mechanisms), and why (antecedents) of these “dark side” effects, thereby linking societal, intervention, and organizational perspectives on tackling complex societal challenges. We discuss the implications of our analytical framework for CSP research, practice, and the broader study of organizations’ dark side.