Voluntary or involuntary: Perspectives on coopetition in dyadic and triadic supply chain relationships in the light of balance theory

The rapid pace of economic developments, the volatility of the economic environment, disruptions, and moments of crisis continue to dominate businesses' day-to-day activities. This high environmental volatility has sometimes resulted in constructive ties between competitors, known as coopetition. Coopetition is more common in industries with numerous tiers and a higher possibility of network interconnection, such as the automotive industry. However, to generate value, businesses must understand their role in the network and be aware of the power balances inside it. This study employs balance theory to discover voluntary or involuntary coopetition in a three-tier network within the automotive industry.