The purpose of this paper is to resolve conceptual ambiguities in the field of network coopetition concerning the core concept of simultaneity (simultaneous cooperation and competition) and the scope of analysis (actors in the network or the network itself). This study aims to solve the ambiguities by developing a framework that allows for a classification of types of network coopetition.
The authors employ a conceptual differentiation approach to construct a typology for network coopetition. On the basis of prior theoretical and empirical research, they identify the sources of conceptual ambiguity in the context of network coopetition and suggest a framework that distinguishes between two dimensions: the extent of simultaneity and the analytical focus.
The authors’ framework identifies three distinct types of network coopetition: (1) partial coopetition network, (2) coopetition in a network, and (3) pure coopetition network. A pure coopetition network is a rare, rather ideal type characterized by complete network awareness and the absence of myopia, whereas the other types appear to be much more common in practice.
This paper directly responds to recent calls for more precise typologies to overcome conceptual vagueness in coopetition research. It contributes to the literature by introducing a more precise vocabulary that disentangles the complex dynamics of network coopetition. The typology that the authors introduce aims at resolving ambiguities in the literature and thus at enhancing the comparability of future empirical studies. Researchers and practitioners are enabled to better understand the relative network situation.
