Towards Interoperability in Healthcare : Coopetition in Medical Technology

Sammanfattning: Purpose - This study aims to provide an understanding of co-opetition as a strategy when medical technology companies collectively develop interoperability solutions for hospitals.     Method - The study is an explorative multiple-case study involving medical technology companies, hospitals, and industry experts. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with respondents located in Sweden, the United States, and Italy in three waves. The analysis was conducted through a thematic analysis. Findings - The study resulted in an overview of two important phases to consider when engaging in co-opetition to achieve faultless interoperability. Namely the development and operational phase. Moreover, critical activities in the respective phases were illustrated in a process framework that also showcased interdependencies between activities.    Theoretical contribution – This study extends the notion that co-opetition primarily revolves around developing new products and services and emphasizes that the operational phase of developed solutions is important to consider. Furthermore, it contributes to the literature by displaying the need to contextualize co-opetition with industry-specific considerations.  Managerial implications – This study provides an overview for vendors on how to approach co-opetition to achieve faultless interoperability. Moreover, it shows that co-opetition is a deliberate strategy that needs to be evaluated if it should be pursued or not. Finally, managers need to have an awareness that co-opetition is a strategy to gain strategic benefits over other participants.   Limitations and future research - The primary focus of this study has been on co-opetition among large companies in medical technology. This limits generalizability and future research should consider smaller companies in medical technology. Additionally, future research should consider hospitals’ perspective on interoperability and its implications on co-opetition in this context.