Cooperation between global and local firms in emerging markets: a coopetition approach The case in Vietnam

This empirical research investigates the sharing and protecting knowledge mechanism used by global companies while collaborating with a local partner in IT Services sector in an emerging economy. The results reveal the combination and effectiveness of knowledge protection mechanisms used by the global firms when they cooperate with the local firm in the emerging economy. This research contributes, first, to literature on collaboration between global and local firms on emerging economy markets by showing 1) that global companies are able to share and protect their knowledge when they collaborate with local firms, and 2) that global companies and local firms are able to learn from the cooperative project to increase their innovation capabilities. The research contributes, second, to coopetition literature by showing that managing the coopetitive dilemma between sharing and protecting knowledge is also a concern for companies cooperating with potential competitors.