Coopetition and Knowledge Transfer Dynamics: New Zealand's Regional Tourism Organizations and the 2011 Rugby World Cup
To ensure the success of Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 in New Zealand, regional tourism organizations (RTOs) were expected to collaborate with each other as part of developing a nationwide approach to the event, while simultaneously competing for visitor nights and spending. Simultaneous
cooperation and competition is referred to as coopetition. Relatively little is known about the impact of coopetition on knowledge transfer dynamics. The study analyzes how coopetition among the RTOs affected knowledge transfer dynamics between RTOs in the RWC 2011 context. The study utilized
an exploratory, qualitative case study approach. Twenty-five semistructured interviews with CEOs and senior managers from RTOs were conducted both preevent and postevent. A formal survey and a documentation review triangulated the findings. The results indicate that a continuum of competition
and collaboration (i.e., coopetition) was present in the RTO network for RWC 2011, which restricted the flow of potentially useful knowledge and information. The set up of RWC 2011—especially the regional bidding process to host teams and matches—played an essential role and impeded
interregional collaboration and knowledge transfer while simultaneously facilitating competition among the RTOs. The study concludes that coopetition can hinder the sharing and transfer of knowledge in a destination marketing and mega-events context. The study thus addresses the call for research
in this field and enhances understanding of how to better leverage mega-events in the future.
Keywords: COOPETITION; DESTINATION MARKETING; KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER DYNAMICS; MEGA-EVENTS; REGIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS (RTOS)
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 October 2015
- Event Management, an International Journal, intends to meet the research and analytic needs of a rapidly growing profession focused on events. This field has developed in size and impact globally to become a major business with numerous dedicated facilities, and a large-scale generator of tourism. The field encompasses meetings, conventions, festivals, expositions, sport and other special events. Event management is also of considerable importance to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in a pursuit of a variety of goals, including fund-raising, the fostering of causes, and community development.
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content