Competitive Collaboration

Strategic Planning

Business is a war and the competition is the enemy.  Is it true?  It need not be.

Collaboration between competitors is a strategic alliance that can strengthen both companies against outsiders. Companies having competitive collaborations can enhance their internal skills and technologies.

A better strategy is to build alliances with the competitors and become better and stronger for a successful business. It will help in great way to defeat the giants in the business.

When two competitive companies collaborate, they become more equipped to face the big competitor in the market by gaining access to a unique feature that was missing for them to cater to a huge or a bigger market. Competitor collaboration can increase the chances of success in future head-to-head battles. 

If, both competitor companies are chasing a larger player in the industry, then both companies are motivated to work with each other to stand against the larger player.

The idea is that when competitors collaborate, a typical win-lose business scenario transforms to a win-win game in which both parties can reap superior benefits.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

தன்துணை இன்றால் பகையிரண்டால் தான்ஒருவன்

இன்துணையாக் கொள்கவற்றின் ஒன்று. (875)

अपना तो साथी नहीं, रिपु हैं दो, खुद एक ।
तो उनमें से ले बना, उचित सहायक एक ॥ (८७५)

Explanation by Scholars

He who is alone and helpless while his foes are two should secure one of them as an agreeable help to himself.

தனது பகைவர்கள் இருபிரிவினராக இயங்கும் நிலையில் தனக்குத் துணையாக யாருமின்றித் தனியாக இருப்பவர், அந்தப் பகைவர்களில் ஒருவரைத் துணையாகக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.