Implementing sustainability in our world requires many actors to build a multiplicity of nested collaboration systems, which are understood as issue-based systems of (institutional) actors aiming to change the status quo (usually a common good) for the better.
A collaboration system can be an organization (company, government institution, civil society organization, research institution or educational institution). It can also be a multi-stakeholder initiative or partnership of actors collaborating across institutions to achieve change for the common good.
In well-functioning collaboration systems, the diversity of stakeholders
brings in concerns, interests and expertise, and learns from one another about their respective thematic knowledge and geographic context.