Abstract

Prior literature on coopetition focuses primarily on coopetition between pairs of organizations. Coopetition, however, also occurs in larger groups, where a number of organizations cooperate and, at the same time, compete against each other or against organizations/groups outside the focal group. Because a larger number of members often implies larger size and more diverse resources, coopetitive groups promise significant advantages over more limited dyads. Yet, groups are also difficult to manage and can fall apart without realizing their potential. The dynamics of coopetitive groups and, in particular, the challenges that their effective governance poses are the focus of this chapter.