Prioritising critical success factors in coopetition using an integrated spherical fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (SF-AHP) approach and document coding

This paper examines critical success factors in coopetition using spherical fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and document coding via an extensive literature review. The originality of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to apply the Spherical Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (SF-AHP) and document coding under a mixed-methods approach to investigate and prioritise critical success factors in coopetition. By integrating SF-AHP, a recent advancement in decision theory grounded in spherical fuzzy sets, with qualitative document coding, we offer a comprehensive framework capable of simultaneously identifying the relative importance of various success factors and capturing the nuanced contextual dynamics of coopetition. Unlike conventional fuzzy or classical AHP methods, spherical fuzzy sets provide a more refined representation of uncertainty and hesitancy, thus enhancing the robustness of our multi-criteria decision-making procedure. Secondly, our research extends the decision theory literature by demonstrating how an innovative fuzzy-based technique can be systematically paired with qualitative data analysis to address complex nature of coopetition. By bridging methodological rigor (via SF-AHP) with contextual richness (through document coding), this mixed-method design offers an enriched perspective on how inter-firm and intra-firm factors influence on shaping coopetitive outcomes. The result is not only a theoretical contribution to our understanding of coopetition critical success factors but also a practical guide for managers who need to prioritise strategic decisions to innovate in complex environments that require a careful balance between collaboration and competition.