Toward a Typology of Coopetition: A Multilevel Approach

Most articles studying coopetition focus on horizontal relationships between homogenous actors using a single level of analysis. However, several recent theoretical contributions have emphasized that coopetition is a more complex phenomenon and could imply vertical relations or heterogeneous actors. We contribute to this debate on the nature of coopetition by constructing a typology of coopetition. This typology is the result of an abductive process in which we mobilize the concept of "level." Using the airline industry, we combine activity levels and organizational levels to identify seven forms of coopetition. Finally, we discuss the implications of a multilevel analysis to gain a better understanding of coopetition.