Brazilian Administration Review

Coopetition in the Business Landscape: Shaping Strategies, Paradoxes, and Future Prospects

Jefferson Marlon Monticelli — 2024-04-12

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, coopetition has emerged as a powerful strategy for organizations seeking sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Coopetition is a blend of cooperation and competition between inside or within firms, or across industries (Bengtsson & Kock, 2014). The increased interest in coopetition research stems from its widespread existence as a common industry practice and its inherent paradoxical nature (Gernsheimer et al., 2024; Leite et al., 2018). This special issue is inspired by the different themes and approaches to coopetition research, focusing on its multiple implications. Although there is a substantial advancement on coopetition, both theoretically and management- like, still exist gaps that require further development. These gaps include delving into the societal impacts of coopetition, its role to generate sustainable development, the dynamics of multimarket coopetition, the intra-firm coopetition, and its consequences within firms, as well as the complex processes to implement coopetitive strategies within firms’ networks.

Coopetition and Cooperation in the Shipping Industry: A Study on the Brazilian Coast

Luis Henrique dos Santos Lemos — 2024-02-08

Objective: competition and cooperation occur in different areas of the market. The shipping industry is one of the areas characterized by strong competition and operational cooperation with the objective of operational improvement. Through mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, the shipping industry has advanced with its business and sought better results. Methods: we analyzed coopetition strategies between global actors of shipping industry in the Brazilian market. We used the multiple case study method with the four main shipping lines in the world based on semi-structured interviews and data from official documents. Results: the results indicate that the shipping lines often employ the strategy of joint services and slot service in partnership with other shipping companies. Market coverage, customer needs, and reduced operating costs were identified as the main motivations for coopetition in the shipping industry. Conclusions: we particularly reveal the coopetition strategies of the shipping companies evaluated in the Brazilian market and their plans to continue operating in this strategic region for the shipping industry.

Exploring the Adoption of Intraorganizational Coopetition in Competitive Environments: Implications for the Banking Sector

Rafaela Nascimento Bühler — 2024-03-28

Objective: this article investigates the dynamics of intraorganizational coopetition within a Brazilian public bank, examining how competition, cooperation, and coopetition coexist within the same institution. Methods and Results: through a qualitative deductive approach using a case study method, it was found that collaborative practices among branches and superintendencies validate the propositions that competition, cooperation, and coopetition can coexist in the same environment. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of coopetition for the operational efficiency and commercial performance of the bank, addressing the impact of organizational climate, knowledge sharing, and concealment, along with the challenges and benefits associated with intraorganizational coopetition. Conclusions: this research offers valuable insights for managers and contributes to the understanding of coopetition in competitive settings like the banking sector.

Untangling Coopetitive Dynamics: A Microanalysis of Collaborative and Competitive Tensions in an Ecosystem

Carlos Olavo Quandt — 2024-04-02

Objective: this study explores the complex dynamics of collaboration and competition within the Delta ecosystem, a mature, networked environment characterized by diverse coopetitive behaviors. The study interprets reality through a continuous process of reconstruction of meaning, using the theoretical lens of sensemaking. Methods: an intrinsic case study methodology is adopted, using the relationships between participants as the unit of analysis and triangulating primary and secondary data. Data collection integrates semi-structured interviews, desk research, and a sensemaking technique for pattern identification. Results: three key patterns of tension emerged: the interplay between identity formation and self-determination, the dichotomy of ‘islands’ and ‘archipelagos,’ and the nuances of performance asymmetries. Within this ecosystem, coopetition is evident as groups pool resources and insights, while competitive tensions arise from participants’ similarities and performance differences, spurring innovation but also potential conflict. Conclusions: the study delineates the nuanced interplay of competitive and collaborative forces within that coopetitive ecosystem, emphasizing their impact on value creation, thereby shedding light on specific patterns of tension that arise from these coopetitive dynamics.

Coopetition through Multisided Platforms Business Model: A Case Study of FEBRAFAR Value Cycle

Alvaro Antônio Bueno de Camargo — 2024-04-04

Objective: comprehend the challenges and solutions faced by a non-technological and non-profit organization, acting within a coopetitive environment, in the construction of a multisided platform business model. Method: utilizing a qualitative case study approach, we investigated FEBRAFAR, a multisided platform of drugstore retailers, manufacturers, and service providers. Data collection and analysis was based on the following categories: (a) the methods through which the platform generates value for its diverse customer segments, (b) the intricate contours of its value configuration endeavor, and (c) its strategies for value appropriation to ensure both sustainability and growth. Results: the challenges in establishing an efficiently functioning multisided platform business model included: getting resources; member's attraction; and resistance to adopting best management practices. The solutions contained the development of value creation techniques for its varied customer segments by reducing transactional friction with customers and suppliers, a comprehensive value configuration process, and value appropriation that promote sustainability and growth to these drugstore chains. Conclusion: the paper shows how FEBRAFAR got the solution of value creation and appropriation of the platform business model by orchestrating the interactions of competing entities within the stakeholder ecosystem that engage in collaboration. By establishing clear rules and interaction protocols, a multisided platform can facilitate coordination among competing entities, thereby enabling collaborative value co-creation for all involved stakeholders. This finding contributes to the broader understanding of strategic management in multisided platforms, particularly in non-technology contexts.

Tensions in Coopetition between Gypsy and Non-gypsy Breweries in the Light of Actornetwork Theory

Elisa Priori de Deus — 2024-04-15

Objective: The search for market expansion challenges Brazilian craft breweries. Based on coopetition strategies, many join in seeking to overcome these challenges. The challenge for gypsy breweries is even more significant, as they must produce beer in a non-gypsy brewery. Some tensions emerge from this relationship, such as space availability and costs. Methods: From the actor-network theory, we analyze the relationship between gypsy and non-gypsy breweries, deepening the analysis of their tensions. Based on a case study with craft breweries in Rio de Janeiro State. Results: As the results highlighted, the tension between them starts at a level not mentioned in the literature on coopetition. Conclusions: This extension expands the existing literature on coopetition by highlighting the influence of nonhuman elements (e.g., factory, resources, equipment, and operations) in shaping inter-organizational relationships, with the factory being the main generator of this tension. The study offers insights into how actors (human and nonhuman) navigate, interact, and negotiate tensions to achieve mutual goals. By applying ANT to analyze coopetition dynamics, the study contributes to the theoretical framework by demonstrating how this approach can enhance understanding of complex mechanisms, processes, and relationships through which coopetition dynamics unfold in practice.