PLA Podcast #10 | December 2024

Coopetition — collaboration between competitors — is common among big companies like Apple and Samsung or car manufacturers such as BMW and Toyota. However, 30-40% of SMEs are also exploring these partnerships, facing challenges like trust, knowledge leakage, and customer competition.

Join our PLA Podcast with Dr. Cynthia Kauami from the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST). We explore coopetition among SMEs, practical steps for collaboration, and how it can drive sustainable development. Discover inspiring insights from the African context and the role of trust, emotions, and altruism in successful partnerships. Tune in!

Our conversation outline

00:16 Introduction to Co-petition and Guest Expert

07:02 Understanding Co-opetition in Small Businesses

12:10 The Role of Emotions in Co-opetition

19:24 Reasons for Co-opetition

27:10 Altruism in Business Collaboration

37:01 Challenges and Success Factors in Co-opetition

46:16 Practical Steps for Collaborating with Competitors

50:03 Future of Co-opetition and Sustainability

Some Key takeaways

• Co-petition is becoming the new normal in business.

• Small businesses face unique challenges in co-opetition.

• Positive emotions can arise from competitive relationships.

• Trust is essential for successful collaboration among competitors.

• Altruistic motivations can drive businesses to support each other.

• Starting with low-risk collaborations can build trust over time.

• Awareness of co-opetition opportunities is crucial for SMEs.

• Emotional dynamics play a significant role in competition.

• Sustainable development can benefit from collaborative efforts.

• Cultural values influence the approach to competition and collaboration.

Interested in Dr. Kauami’s work?

Connect with her over via the University webpage contact details  or Linkedin or explore her latest research papers for deeper insights:

·       African perspectives on researching social entrepreneurship

·       Dynamics of coopetitive interactions in the tourism industry: the case of SMEs in Luderitz

Further links that might be of interest for you:

·       PLA-Podcast “Partnering Strategies”

·       Dr. Eva Bilhuber Galli invited to a podcast conversation by University of St. Gallen on Partnering Leadership for Ecosystems