Abstract
A foundational assumption of competitive dynamics research holds that competition in product markets antecedes awareness of competitive threats, and thus factor market threats are most salient among product market rivals. However, changing economic and technological conditions of digital arenas are enabling threats to encroach from seemingly unrelated domains. Addressing the problem of factor market blind spots (i.e., competitive threats in factor markets without corresponding product market overlap), this study applies a sensemaking lens to develop a model for attentional triangulation, which integrates multilevel, relational cues—firm status, dyadic category similarity, and triadic closure—for triangulating areas of high factor market threat despite low product market awareness. We find support for our hypotheses using a multiplex network sample that combines customer-oriented competitive relations and personnel mobility network data in the information technology arena during 2008-2015.
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