Coopetitive tensions between SMEs and large groups: The case of the French Defence Industrial and Technological Base (DITB)[Les tensions coopétitives entre PME et grands groupes : Le cas de la base industrielle et technologique de défense française]

The literature on coopetition has attracted great interest from management scholars in recent years. The benefits of coopetition have been highlighted in the literature. However, scholars also urged that cooperating and competing simultaneously creates tensions between firms at different levels. Coopetitive tensions have been investigated between firms of similar size and characteristics, namely, between large groups and between SMEs. To day, no research examined the nature of coopetitive tensions between asymmetric firms. This research contributes to filling this gap by revealing the specific nature of asymmetric coopetitive tensions, here between SMEs and large groups within the French defense industrial and technological base (DITB). The findings are the result of qualitative research involving CEOs, managers, and project leaders engaged in the management of a coopetitive relationship with an asymmetric size rival firm, as well as experts of the defense industry. Our research reveals the nature of cooperative tensions between SMEs and large groups, that differ from coopetitive tensions between same-size firms. We discuss these results by comparing the nature of asymmetrical tensions with those already observed in the literature. We also announce possible fields of research for the future.