Co-opting
Adopting or mimicking aspects of another group or competitor to neutralise threats, gain influence, or draw converts—without full alignment.
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Also spelt co-option, co-optation, cooption, or cooptation.
In a strategic context, co-opting typically involves absorbing elements of a competitor’s approach—such as standards, practices, or interfaces—to erode their ecosystem advantage. It disrupts data flows, weakens network effects, and attracts participants into an alternative system.
While effective in redirecting value, co-opting is often seen as parasitic or opportunistic, especially when it undermines the original ecosystem without providing equivalent value.
This refers to cultural or strategic absorption, a type of information co-optation. It does not refer to:
- Elite co-option: incorporating outsiders to manage dissent or preserve dominance (e.g. in politics)
- Procedural co-option: selecting new members via existing structures (e.g. governance or board appointments)