Keywords
institutions
formal institutional agents
higher education
highly regulated industry
How to Cite
Abstract
Purpose – This study examines how a network of organizations utilizes institutionalized coopetitive strategies to navigate the complexities of a highly regulated industry.
Theoretical framework – Drawing on institutional theory and the coopetition literature, the study analyzes how institutional forces shape the simultaneous cooperation and competition among organizations, highlighting the coordinating role of formal institutional agents.
Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study with multiple units of analysis was conducted within ACAFE (Associação Catarinense das Fundações Educacionais), a network of higher education institutions in southern Brazil. Data were collected through 11 online semi-structured interviews and supplemented with official documents and public information.
Findings – Coopetition among higher education institutions emerges as a dynamic and adaptive process shaped by organizational heterogeneity, value creation and sharing mechanisms, and the strategic influence of intermediary institutional agents. It is intentionally mobilized as an institutionalized response to regulatory pressures.
Practical and social implications of the research – The study advances the understanding of the relationship between coopetition and institutional forces in a highly regulated sector. It provides managers and policymakers with practical insights on coordinating legitimate coopetitive strategies and contributes to debates on how regulatory frameworks and inter-institutional dialogue can directly shape market dynamics and competitive balance. Furthermore, institutionalized coopetition directly impacts higher education institutions and their surrounding communities, primarily affecting financial sustainability and operational continuity.
Originality/value – The article demonstrates how formal institutional agents negotiate and align interests based on organizational coopetitive strategies. It contributes to administrative theory by explaining the institutionalization of coopetition through organizational networks.
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