IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/gjofsm/v23y2022i3d10.1007_s40171-022-00306-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding Coopetition Within Multinational Corporations: The Perspective of Relationship Between Subsidiaries

Author

Listed:
  • Wioletta Mierzejewska

    (Warsaw School of Economics)

Abstract

Coopetition has been the topic of a widespread discussion in the recent years. However, not all problems and types of the coopetition have been sufficiently recognized. Research on the interfirm coopetition is very well developed, whereas intrafirm coopetition is still emerging. The study fulfills this gap by exploring in the quantitative manner the intensity and areas of the coopetition within 81 multinational corporations (MNCs). It is one among few studies concerning the coopetition within MNCs and it complements the previous studies on relations between subsidiaries within whole MNCs. Findings of the study reveal that between subsidiaries, like between independent firms, the mixture of cooperation and competition can be found. However, the cooperation prevails and the competition is not a frequent relation. Thus, the dominant type of coopetition within MNCs is the cooperation-driven coopetition. Additionally, the study finds that the cooperation emerges in primary and support activities, whereas the competition mainly in support activities of the value chain. Consequently, the study provides better understanding of coopetitive relations between subsidiaries within MNCs and expands knowledge on the intrafirm coopetition by underlining the differences between inter- and intrafirm coopetition.

Suggested Citation

  • Wioletta Mierzejewska, 2022. "Understanding Coopetition Within Multinational Corporations: The Perspective of Relationship Between Subsidiaries," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(3), pages 371-385, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s40171-022-00306-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s40171-022-00306-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40171-022-00306-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40171-022-00306-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julian Birkinshaw, 1996. "How Multinational Subsidiary Mandates are Gained and Lost," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 27(3), pages 467-495, September.
    2. Joanna Cygler & Włodzimierz Sroka & Marina Solesvik & Katarzyna Dębkowska, 2018. "Benefits and Drawbacks of Coopetition: The Roles of Scope and Durability in Coopetitive Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Ferraris, Alberto & Bogers, Marcel L.A.M. & Bresciani, Stefano, 2020. "Subsidiary innovation performance: Balancing external knowledge sources and internal embeddedness," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    4. Luo, Yadong, 2007. "A coopetition perspective of global competition," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 129-144, June.
    5. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Subsidiary Specific Advantages in Multinational Enterprises," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 6, pages 77-90, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Fauli-Oller, Ramon & Giralt, Magdalena, 1995. "Competition and Cooperation within a Multidivisional Firm," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 77-99, March.
    7. Chen, Xu & Luo, Zheng & Wang, Xiaojun, 2019. "Compete or cooperate: Intensity, dynamics, and optimal strategies," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 76-86.
    8. Liu, Yang & Jiao, Jie & Xia, Jun, 2019. "Subsidiary Networks and Foreign Subsidiary Performance: A Coopetition Perspective," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 111-143, March.
    9. Igor Gurkov, 2015. "Russian Manufacturing Subsidiaries of Western Multinational Corporations: Support from Parents and Cooperation with Sister-Subsidiaries," HSE Working papers WP BRP 37/MAN/2015, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    10. Anil K. Gupta & Vijay Govindarajan, 2000. "Knowledge flows within multinational corporations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 473-496, April.
    11. Ciabuschi, Francesco & Dellestrand, Henrik & Kappen, Philip, 2012. "The good, the bad, and the ugly: Technology transfer competence, rent-seeking, and bargaining power," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 664-674.
    12. Oliver Gernsheimer & Dominik K Kanbach & Johanna Gast, 2021. "Coopetition research-A systematic literature review on recent accomplishments and trajectories," Post-Print hal-03514794, HAL.
    13. Claessens, Stijn & Fan, Joseph P.H. & Lang, Larry H.P., 2006. "The benefits and costs of group affiliation: Evidence from East Asia," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 1-26, March.
    14. Henrik Dellestrand & Philip Kappen, 2012. "The effects of spatial and contextual factors on headquarters resource allocation to MNE subsidiaries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(3), pages 219-243, April.
    15. Chiambaretto, Paul & Massé, David & Mirc, Nicola, 2019. "“All for One and One for All?” - Knowledge broker roles in managing tensions of internal coopetition: The Ubisoft case," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 584-600.
    16. Ricarda Bouncken & Johanna Gast & Sascha Kraus & Marcel Bogers, 2015. "Coopetition: a systematic review, synthesis, and future research directions," Post-Print hal-02018068, HAL.
    17. Tippmann, Esther & Sharkey Scott, Pamela & Reilly, Marty & O’Brien, Donal, 2018. "Subsidiary coopetition competence: Navigating subsidiary evolution in the multinational corporation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 540-554.
    18. John Cantwell & Ram Mudambi, 2005. "MNE competence‐creating subsidiary mandates," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1109-1128, December.
    19. Luo, Yadong, 2005. "Toward coopetition within a multinational enterprise: a perspective from foreign subsidiaries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 71-90, February.
    20. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Andrew Parker, 2017. "Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 455-482, June.
    21. Zhang, Feng & Jiang, Guohua & Cantwell, John A., 2019. "Geographically Dispersed Technological Capability Building and MNC Innovative Performance: The Role of Intra-firm Flows of Newly Absorbed Knowledge," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 1-1.
    22. Carlos Devece & D. Enrique Ribeiro-Soriano & Daniel Palacios-Marqués, 2019. "Coopetition as the new trend in inter-firm alliances: literature review and research patterns," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 207-226, April.
    23. Ricarda Bouncken & Johanna Gast & Sascha Kraus & Marcel Bogers, 2015. "Coopetition: a systematic review, synthesis, and future research directions," Post-Print hal-02945341, HAL.
    24. Florian Becker-Ritterspach & Christoph Dörrenbächer, 2011. "An Organizational Politics Perspective on Intra-firm Competition in Multinational Corporations," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 533-559, August.
    25. Paul Chiambaretto & David Massé & Nicola Mirc, 2019. "“All for One and One for All?” - Knowledge broker roles in managing tensions of internal coopetition: The Ubisoft case," Post-Print hal-02104540, HAL.
    26. Henrik Dellestrand & Philip Kappen & Olof Lindahl, 2020. "Headquarter resource allocation strategies and subsidiary competitive or cooperative behavior: achieving a fit for value creation," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    27. Wojciech Czakon & Anne Sophie Fernandez & Anna Minà, 2014. "Editorial - From paradox to practice: the rise of coopetition strategies," Post-Print hal-02050290, HAL.
    28. Julian Birkinshaw & Mats Lingblad, 2005. "Intrafirm Competition and Charter Evolution in the Multibusiness Firm," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(6), pages 674-686, December.
    29. Dörrenbächer, Christoph & Gammelgaard, Jens, 2010. "Multinational corporations, inter-organizational networks and subsidiary charter removals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 206-216, July.
    30. Dorn, Stefanie & Schweiger, Bastian & Albers, Sascha, 2016. "Levels, phases and themes of coopetition: A systematic literature review and research agenda," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 484-500.
    31. Hong, Jacky F.L. & Snell, Robin Stanley, 2015. "Knowledge development through co-opetition: A case study of a Japanese foreign subsidiary and its local suppliers," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 769-780.
    32. Wojciech Czakon & Mariusz Rogalski, 2014. "Coopetition typology revisited - a behavioural approach," International Journal of Business Environment, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(1), pages 28-46.
    33. Wojciech Czakon & Devi Gnyawali & Frédéric Le Roy & Manish K. Srivastava, 2020. "Coopetition Strategies: Critical Issues and Research Directions," Post-Print hal-02517434, HAL.
    34. Shiwangi Singh & Sanjay Dhir & Stuart Evans & Sushil, 2021. "The Trajectory of Two Decades of Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management and Flexibility Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(4), pages 377-401, December.
    35. Martine R Haas & Jonathon N Cummings, 2015. "Barriers to knowledge seeking within MNC teams: Which differences matter most?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 36-62, January.
    36. Ram Mudambi & Pietro Navarra, 2004. "Is knowledge power? Knowledge flows, subsidiary power and rent-seeking within MNCs," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(5), pages 385-406, September.
    37. Michael J. Enright & Venkat Subramanian, 2007. "An organizing framework for MNC subsidiary typologies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 895-924, December.
    38. Birkinshaw, Julian & Hood, Neil & Young, Stephen, 2005. "Subsidiary entrepreneurship, internal and external competitive forces, and subsidiary performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 227-248, April.
    39. Cerrato, Daniele, 2006. "The multinational enterprise as an internal market system," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 253-277, June.
    40. N. A. Phelps & C. Fuller, 2000. "Multinationals, Intracorporate Competition, and Regional Development," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 224-243, July.
    41. Y. L. Doz & C. K. Prahalad, 1991. "Managing DMNCs: A search for a new paradigm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(S1), pages 145-164, June.
    42. Keith Walley, 2007. "Coopetition: An Introduction to the Subject and an Agenda for Research," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 11-31, January.
    43. Yamin, Mo & Andersson, Ulf, 2011. "Subsidiary importance in the MNC: What role does internal embeddedness play?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 151-162, April.
    44. Boehe, Dirk Michael, 2007. "Product development in MNC subsidiaries: Local linkages and global interdependencies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 488-512, December.
    45. repec:cup:maorev:v:15:y:2019:i:01:p:111-143_00 is not listed on IDEAS
    46. Ulf Andersson & Mats Forsgren & Ulf Holm, 2015. "Balancing Subsidiary Influence in the Federative MNC: A Business Network View," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Mats Forsgren & Ulf Holm & Jan Johanson (ed.), Knowledge, Networks and Power, chapter 16, pages 393-420, Palgrave Macmillan.
    47. Wojciech Czakon & Anne-Sophie Fernandez & Anna MinÃ, 2014. "Editorial - From paradox to practice: the rise of coopetition strategies," International Journal of Business Environment, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wioletta Mierzejewska & Maria Aluchna & Emilia Tomczyk, 2023. "Do coopetition and cohesion of business groups stimulate their innovation performance?," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(2), pages 153-168, June.
    2. Mierzejewska Wioletta, 2023. "Does coopetition pay off? Benefits of intra-organizational coopetition within business groups," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(2), pages 150-167, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mierzejewska Wioletta, 2023. "Does coopetition pay off? Benefits of intra-organizational coopetition within business groups," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(2), pages 150-167, June.
    2. Jong Min Lee, 2022. "MNCs as dispersed structures of power: Performance and management implications of power distribution in the subsidiary portfolio," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 126-155, February.
    3. Tippmann, Esther & Sharkey Scott, Pamela & Reilly, Marty & O’Brien, Donal, 2018. "Subsidiary coopetition competence: Navigating subsidiary evolution in the multinational corporation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 540-554.
    4. Reilly, Marty & Scott, Pamela Sharkey & Tippmann, Esther & Mangematin, Vincent, 2023. "Sustaining competence creation in the multinational enterprise: The role of piloting in subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    5. Patrycja Klimas & Ali Ashraf Ahmadian & Morteza Soltani & Meisam Shahbazi & Ali Hamidizadeh, 2023. "Coopetition, Where Do You Come From? Identification, Categorization, and Configuration of Theoretical Roots of Coopetition," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    6. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    7. Xie, Qiuhao & Gao, Ying & Xia, Nini & Zhang, Shuibo & Tao, Guowu, 2023. "Coopetition and organizational performance outcomes: A meta-analysis of the main and moderator effects," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Galli Geleilate, Jose-Mauricio & Andrews, Daniel S. & Fainshmidt, Stav, 2020. "Subsidiary autonomy and subsidiary performance: A meta-analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    9. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    10. Fonseca Cristina & Meneses Raquel, 2020. "Motivations for Coopetition Strategies between Banks and Fintechs," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 282-293, July.
    11. Florian Becker-Ritterspach & Christoph Dörrenbächer, 2011. "An Organizational Politics Perspective on Intra-firm Competition in Multinational Corporations," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 533-559, August.
    12. Liu, Ting & Li, Xizhuo, 2022. "How Do MNCs Conduct Local Technological Innovation in a Host Country? An Examination From Subsidiaries' Perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    13. Wioletta Mierzejewska & Maria Aluchna & Emilia Tomczyk, 2023. "Do coopetition and cohesion of business groups stimulate their innovation performance?," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(2), pages 153-168, June.
    14. Gillmore, Edward, 2022. "Mandate dynamics and the importance of mandate loss for subsidiary evolution," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    15. Chatzopoulou, Erifili-Christina & Dimitratos, Pavlos & Lioukas, Spyros, 2021. "Agency controls and subsidiary strategic initiatives: The mediating role of subsidiary autonomy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    16. Eduard Gabriel Ceptureanu & Sebastian Ion Ceptureanu & Violeta Radulescu & Stefan Alexandru Ionescu, 2018. "What Makes Coopetition Successful? An Inter-Organizational Side Analysis on Coopetition Critical Success Factors in Oil and Gas Distribution Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
    17. Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh & Giroud, Axèle & Andersson, Ulf, 2014. "The interplay of networking activities and internal knowledge actions for subsidiary influence within MNCs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 122-131.
    18. Lee, Hyoungjin & Chung, Chris Changwha & Beamish, Paul W., 2019. "Configurational characteristics of mandate portfolios and their impact on foreign subsidiary survival," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(5), pages 1-1.
    19. Tina C Ambos & Sebastian H Fuchs & Alexander Zimmermann, 2020. "Managing interrelated tensions in headquarters–subsidiary relationships: The case of a multinational hybrid organization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(6), pages 906-932, August.
    20. Corbo, Leonardo & Kraus, Sascha & Vlačić, Božidar & Dabić, Marina & Caputo, Andrea & Pellegrini, Massimiliano M., 2023. "Coopetition and innovation: A review and research agenda," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s40171-022-00306-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.