Feela, Tshepo2022-01-292022-01-292021https://hdl.handle.net/10539/32676A thesis presented in fulfilment for a degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, 2021The purpose of the study was to investigate the existence of coopetition (the simultaneous competition and collaboration between two or more firms) amongst the SMEs in the SADC as well as to ascertain whether these relationships have a positive effect on firm performance. Firm performance is divided into financial performance, strategic performance, and innovation performance. Furthermore, an additional aim is to investigate which variable(s) (foresight, risk aversion and exploiting opportunities) moderate the relationship between coopetition and firm performance. The results show that there is strong coopetition amongst SMEs in SADC and that coopetition has a positive and significant effect on firm performance. However, although no variable moderates this relationship, risk aversion has a positive and significant direct effect on firm performanceenSMEsSADCCoopetitionFirm performanceUCTDSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthThesisUniversity of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg