Lechner, Christian and Dowling, Michael (2003) Firm networks: external relationships as sources for the growth and competitiveness of entrepreneurial firms. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 15 (1). pp. 1-26. ISSN 0898-5626
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Inter-firm networks, as an inter-organizational form, are increasingly perceived as a model for entrepreneurial firm growth. We study egocentric networks of high-growth entrepreneurial firms in the IT industry and explore how these firms grow through the Use of external relations and become competitive. Based on case study research, we identify that Firms are using relations for a variety of purposes and that every firm has an individual relational mix. This relational mix changes with the development of the firms. While the relative importance of social and reputational networks decrease with the firms' development, co-opetition networks increase over time. Knowledge and innovation networks are a function of reputation and management capacity while the development of marketing networks depends on the firm's culture and management style. Both weak ties and strong tics are important for the growth of the firm since they fulfil different functions. Firm growth is determined by path-dependent relational capability that eventually reaches its limits and leads to the reconfiguration of a rather stable network. Additionally, firm growth depends not only on the building of egocentric networks but also on the existence and development of healthy sociocentric networks.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | TECHNOLOGY; KNOWLEDGE; STRATEGY; INDUSTRY; VENTURES; networking; inter-firm networks; entrepreneurship; growth management; firm development |
| Subjects: | 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics |
| Divisions: | Business, Economics and Information Systems > Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre > Lehrstuhl für Innovations- und Technologiemanagement (Prof. Dr. Michael Dowling) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2021 11:00 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2021 11:00 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/39440 |
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