CO-OPETITION: A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING ITS RELATIONSHIPS

The Intelligent Transportation Systems program (ITS) involves just about all levels of local, state and federal governments, private sector industries such as auto makers, communication companies and digital map producers, educational institutions, research communities and the public as customers. Dealing with all the diverse groups in order to work toward a common goal can be a difficult challenge. A book, "Co-Opetition" by Adam N. Brandenburger and Barry L Nalebuff, offers insights about the relationships of the various groups and how to maximize cooperation. The authors introduce the concept of "value net". The value net is a way of structuring relationships and building complementary affiliations in order to work together but at the same time maintain their individual competitive edges. An example provided examines the cooperation between General Motors, Hudson, Packard, Willis Overland, Goodyear Tires and PrestoLight Headlights in forming the Lincoln Highway Association for the purpose of encouraging the development of highways. This same idea can be applied to current transportation challenges. Public and private sector competition is a good thing but co-opetition as a tool to focus the collective energies of all involved encourages creative and workable solutions beneficial to the common goals.