Pushing coopetition research further: Understanding, relevance, and operationalization of the attributes of coopetition strategies and coopetitive relationships

Abstract

PURPOSE: Although coopetition was defined three decades ago and is intensively investigated, its theoretical and research cognition remains far from thoroughly understood. The lack of conceptual consistency prevents researchers from conducting comparable research, leading to more generalizable results, and thus from building coherent knowledge. This study addresses the above shortcoming by the development of operationalizations of two types of attributes assigned to coopetition: strategic attributes characterizing coopetition strategies and relational attributes characterizing coopetitive relationships. METHODOLOGY: In our study, we adopted a two-step research process consisting of qualitative verification of a list of 8 coopetition attributes (2 strategic and 6 relational) identified in prior literature as relevant for coopetition success and the development of integrative conceptualization and measurement approaches for them. The verification was conducted through focus group interviews with scholars experienced in coopetition research and senior managers from firms adopting coopetition strategies. The measurement approaches for the positively verified attributes were developed through the integration of (1) approaches used so far in coopetition literature, (2) approaches used to date in the literature on the features of inter-organizational relationships, and (3) approaches that emerged during the focus group interviews. FINDINGS: This study shows two strategic (i.e., dynamics and paradoxicality) and six relational (i.e., asymmetry, complexity, intensity, mutual dependence, strength, and tensions) coopetition attributes as heterogeneously relevant for coopetition success and offers multi-item operationalizations for them derived from a combination of prior literature and qualitative research. IMPLICATIONS: Our paper shows strategic and relational attributes of coopetition as theoretically and practically relevant for coopetition success. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: As a contribution, this study offers scientifically grounded operationalizations of eight attributive success factors of coopetition. The developed measurement proposals can find valuable applications in two ways. First, coopetition researchers can use them in their studies, and a consistent measurement approach will allow for the comparison of research results, bringing us closer to drawing more general conclusions. Second, coopetition practitioners can use these proposals when managing coopetition, for instance, to evaluate, monitor, and intentionally shape them to make coopetition (more) successful.