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NETWORK DYNAMICS IN EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A PANEL STUDY OF HOW ENTREPRENEURS' NETWORKS CHANGE DURING EARLY VENTURE DEVELOPMENT (SUMMARY)
Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research
  • Diane M. Sullivan, University of Dayton, USA
  • Cameron M. Ford, University of Central Florida, USA
  • Jay J. Janney, University of Dayton, USA
Publication Date
6-6-2009
Abstract
Scholars agree that entrepreneurs’ networks are important during early venturing (Borgatti & Foster, 2003). Research suggests entrepreneurs’ networks are associated with obtaining new information, identifying opportunities (Burt, 2004; Granovetter, 1973), and acquiring resources (Wu, Wang, Chen & Pan, 2008). Interestingly, while research has investigated antecedents to and consequences of engaging in network relationships, most research has focused on consequences (Hoang & Antoncic, 2003). Resultantly, a gap has emerged in our understanding of how entrepreneurs’ networks develop and change over time. This is problematic because some scholars contend that changing resource needs during venture development necessitate a concomitant change in entrepreneurs’ networks to allow access to newly-needed resources (Greve & Salaff, 2003; Hite & Hesterly, 2001). If entrepreneurs’ networks need to evolve over time as resource requirements change, more research is needed studying their dynamics. To address this, we explore two questions – How does the size of an early-stage entrepreneur’s network affect the subsequent structural (e.g., size) and content (e.g., knowledge heterogeneity) character of their network? How does the strength of an early-stage entrepreneur’s network ties affect the subsequent structural (e.g., size and tie strength) and content (e.g., knowledge heterogeneity) character of their network?
Citation Information
Diane M. Sullivan, Cameron M. Ford and Jay J. Janney. "NETWORK DYNAMICS IN EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A PANEL STUDY OF HOW ENTREPRENEURS' NETWORKS CHANGE DURING EARLY VENTURE DEVELOPMENT (SUMMARY)" (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jay_janney/4/