Coopetitive dynamics, really? Towards an interaction perspective on coopetition

Abstract

Prior research has traditionally understood the dynamic nature of coopetition as shifts between relational states of coopetition over time and has treated coopetition interplay and coopetitive dynamics tautologically. This understanding is problematic because it fails to capture the continuous flux of changes in coopetitive relationships based on the finer details of partners' situated interactions on the micro-level. To overcome this limitation, this conceptual paper introduces the interaction perspective on coopetition, which allows us to uncover the microfoundations of the cooperation-competition interplay that bring about shifts in coopetitive relationships. By focusing researchers' attention on managers' reflecting-in-action, coopetition work that propels temporal interactions, and the relational embeddedness of their interactions, the interaction perspective helps us better understand the dynamic nature of coopetition and uncover the coopetitive dynamics feeding into the coopetition interplay and triggering moves towards new relational states. This paper makes four key contributions to the coopetition literature, outlines methodological implications of the suggested interaction perspective, and identifies avenues for further research.