Introduction

Subject matter literature defines coopetition as operations within the realm of strategic management, relationship marketing, business networks, building industrial quarters or managing the value chain. In the simplest way possible, coopetition is defined as the relationship between companies in which cooperation and competition take place simultaneously. Relational dynamics amongst different actors may take the form of competition, coexistence, cooperation, and coopetition. Coopetition can be distinguished by simultaneous value creation and appropriation. It may happen at different levels, starting from employees and workers of the same enterprise (individual coopetition) through divisions, departments or subsidiaries (intra-organisational coopetition) up to the level of independent enterprises (inter-organisational coopetition). Most publications in the subject matter literature are devoted to inter-organisational coopetition but there are almost no writings available that would examine coopetition within business groups. Coopetition in business groups is treated as intra-organisational coopetition. Research studies in this area are still relatively scarce and in most cases they focus on multinational enterprises (MNE). Yet, by looking at business groups operations we can surely conclude that together with cooperation we can observe the emergence of rivalry amongst companies within particular groups.

The paper is intended to present theoretical considerations focused on coopetition and its determinants in business groups based on the examination of subject matter literature. It is divided into three parts which introduce us to the substance of coopetition, examine the phenomenon in the context of business groups, and identify the major determinants of cooperation and competition taking place simultaneously in business groups.