Abstract

This contribution shows how coopetition offers a new perspective on standardization. Standardization is the process of developing standards. Research on standardization has identified two mechanisms that lead to the emergence of standards: de facto standardization, where standards are developed from competition in the market, and de jure standardization, where standards are developed from negotiation in committees. However, this dualistic view does not reveal the complexity of the standardization dynamic. Introducing the concept of coopetition thus enables a firm to be more specific and realistic in examining the strategic management of its relations with competitors during the standardization process. We review research adopting these lenses and show the interplay between coopetition and standardization before, during, and after the emergence of standards.