Practitioner Note: A Meta-Analysis on Coopetition and Performance Relationship

ABSTRACT

Purpose: We argue consistent with the knowledge-based theory that variances in the outcome of firms’ coopetition strategy depend on the characteristics of industries. Industry characteristics are one of the reasons for the heterogeneity of existing research. Design/methodology/approach:  This article conducts a meta-analysis on the relationship between coopetition and performance. Empirical evidence was collected from 86374 firms nested in 49 independent samples. Meta-regression was used for moderator analysis. Findings: Empirical evidence from 86374 firms nested in 49 independent samples reveals a positive relationship between coopetition and performance. Industry positively moderates the relationship between coopetition and innovation. In contrast, we neither find a significant relationship between the intensity of coopetition and performance nor for industry’s moderation on the coopetition- performance association. Originality/value/contribution: In the field of coopetition, there is a lack of literature that uses meta-analysis to integrate existing empirical studies. The present article provides a more detailed perspective in explaining the heterogeneity prevailing in the coopetition and performance relationship. This paper ends with a series of limitations and avenues for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Coopetition
• performance
• meta-analysis
• knowledge-based theory
• industry

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (71872167), Zhejiang Basic Public Welfare Research Project (LGF21G020001), and Distinguished Graduate Thesis Cultivation Fund of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University.