scholarly journals Developing Knowledge-Based Resources: The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Social Network Size and Trust

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miaomiao Yin ◽  
Asghar Jahanshahi

Entrepreneurs’ social networks play a crucial role in developing knowledge-based resources for their new ventures. Although most studies in an entrepreneurship context find that trust is very important when entrepreneurs develop social networks, limited research examines how trust can explain the variation in the relationship between an entrepreneur’s social networks and a firm’s knowledge-based resources. Therefore, the major objective of the paper is to understand the effects of the size of an entrepreneur’s social network on his or her firm’s knowledge-based resources with high and low levels of trust. Our data were collected from surveys administered to 476 entrepreneurs in China in 2018. Our multiple regression analysis indicates that social networks reinforce knowledge-based resources in a situation where entrepreneurs highly trust their major networks partners in their business environment (e.g., family, close friends, consultants, suppliers, peers, etc.). However, with a low level of trust, the relationship between social network and knowledge-based resources is curvilinear (inverse U-shaped). Our empirical validations showed that the relationship between social network and a firm’s knowledge-based resources is highly contingent to the level of trust among network members.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyin Cao ◽  
Edward Bishop Smith

Previous research has demonstrated that the size and reach of people’s social networks tend to be positively related to their social status. Although several explanations help to account for this relationship—for example, higher-status people may be part of multiple social circles and therefore have more social contacts with whom to affiliate—we present a novel argument involving people’s beliefs about the relationship between status and quality, what we call status-quality coupling. Across seven separate studies, we demonstrate that the positive association between social status and network-broadening behavior (as well as social network size) is contingent on the extent to which people believe that status is a reliable indicator of quality. Across each of our studies, high- and low-status people who viewed status and quality as tightly coupled differed in their network-broadening behaviors, as well as in the size of their reported social networks. The effect was largely driven by the perceived self-value and perceived receptivity of the networking target. Such differences were significantly weaker or nonexistent among equivalently high- and low-status people who viewed status as an unreliable indicator of quality. Because the majority of participants—both high- and low-status—exhibited beliefs in status-quality coupling, we conclude that such a belief marks an important and previously unaccounted-for driver of the relationship between status, network-broadening behaviors, and social networks. Implications for research on social capital, advice seeking, and inequality are highlighted in the discussion section.


Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1138-1151
Author(s):  
Jiedi Lei ◽  
Chris Ashwin ◽  
Mark Brosnan ◽  
Ailsa Russell

Transitioning to university can be anxiety-provoking for all students. The relationship between social anxiety, autistic traits and students’ social network structure, and perceived support is poorly understood. This study used a group-matched design where autistic students ( n = 28) and typically developing students ( n = 28) were matched on sex, age (17–19 years), ethnicity, pre-university academic performance and degree subject at university. Autistic students reported greater transition to university worries, and a smaller social network size compared to typically developing students, though perceived similar levels of support from their social networks. Autistic and typically developing students showed differential patterns of association with both autistic traits and social anxiety. Broader clinical and practical implications of findings are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Xiaohu Zhou ◽  
Guojun Yang ◽  
Jiani Bao ◽  
Guan Wang

Although findings reported in an increasing number of studies shed light on the relationship between optimism and entrepreneurial outcomes, little is known of the mechanisms by which entrepreneurial optimism influences new venture performance. Researchers have found that people who are highly optimistic build more extensive social networks than others do, which can influence the outcome of their efforts. In order to explore the relationships among entrepreneurial optimism, social networks, and new venture performance, we analyzed data obtained from 142 Chinese entrepreneurs. Results indicated that entrepreneurial optimism had a significant impact on social network size, social network heterogeneity, and new venture performance. Social network size fully mediated the relationship between entrepreneurial optimism and new venture performance, but social network heterogeneity did not have a mediating role. These findings support the application of a social network perspective to gain a better understanding of the mechanism by which entrepreneurial optimism influences new venture performance.


2020 ◽  
pp. 101269022094086
Author(s):  
Adam Gemar

The relationship between social capital and sport has been an increasing focus of scholarly literature in recent decades. However, very few of these studies consider social capital alongside theories of cultural consumption. Even fewer seek to assess the place of social capital in sports spectatorship. Taking primarily a Bourdieusian and neo-Bourdieusian theoretical approach, this study seeks to rectify these gaps by analysing three key components of social capital – social network size, social network prestige and social network variety – and how they relate to patterns of sports spectatorship and participation. Results indicate that the type of social capital that is most predictive seems to rely heavily upon the nature of the cleavages between cultural patterns of sports engagement. While the size of social network seems most universally applicable to predict sports engagement generally, network variety also seems to be highly applicable to the most omnivorous engagement profiles. Finally, network prestige appears applicable to some highbrow profiles of sports engagement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10061
Author(s):  
Mirna Kordab ◽  
Jurgita Raudeliūnienė ◽  
Ieva Meidutė-Kavaliauskienė

Organizations operating in the intensive knowledge-based sector seek efficient management approaches and sustainable development practices to perform efficiently in the dynamic business environment. Knowledge management practice and organizational learning are significant factors in order to achieve sustainable organizational performance in a rapidly changing business environment. Based on the scientific literature analysis, there is still a lack of evidence related to the mediating role of the whole knowledge management cycle, including the five knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, creation, storage, sharing, and application) in the relationship between organizational learning and sustainable organizational performance for organizations operating in intensive knowledge-based sectors. This study aimed to examine the impact of the whole knowledge management cycle on the relationship between organizational learning and sustainable organizational performance in intensive knowledge-based sectors, specifically the audit and consulting companies in the Middle East region. Systematic scientific literature analysis, expert evaluation (structured questionnaire), and structural equation modeling (SEM) technique were used to develop and verify the research model. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire distributed among auditing experts working in a knowledge-based sector—audit and consulting companies in the Middle East region. The research results supported the hypotheses stating that organizational learning positively affects knowledge acquisition, storage, sharing, application processes, and sustainable organizational performance. However, the results verified that organizational learning has an insignificant impact on the Middle Eastern audit and consulting companies’ knowledge creation process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S174-S174
Author(s):  
Xin Yao Lin ◽  
Margie E Lachman

Abstract Social relationships are beneficial for psychological wellbeing, but they are also associated with interpersonal stress. With the growing usage of multiple forms of electronic communications (EC) including phone calls, text messages, video chat, and internet among adults of all ages, it was of interest to explore the relationship between social network size (SNS), in-person communication (PC), and EC, and whether the relationship between SNS and frequency of communication is associated with interpersonal stress. A daily diary study was conducted over seven days for 142 participants ages 22 to 94. SNS was assessed with the social convoy model. Frequency of PC and EC, along with interpersonal stress, were assessed daily. As expected, multiple regression analysis results showed that older adults had smaller SNS and less frequent technology communication (text messages, video chat, internet) compared to younger adults. With regard to effects on interpersonal stress, there were no main effects for frequency of PC, EC, or SNS. However, the frequency of EC moderated the relationship between SNS and interpersonal stress, controlling for amount of PC. Among those with a smaller SNS, having more frequent EC was associated with less interpersonal stress compared to those with less frequent EC. For those with a larger SNS, having more frequent EC was associated with more interpersonal stress compared to those with less EC, but PC was not related to interpersonal stress. The discussion will consider implications of the findings for developing interventions to minimize stress from interpersonal communications, especially those that involve EC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 990-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Beach ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
Rodlescia Sneed

Social support and social networks are important correlates of elder mistreatment. This study tests hypothesized associations between perceived social support, social network size, and financial exploitation (FE). A population-based survey of 903 older adults (60+) in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) found that lower perceived social support and larger social networks were simultaneously associated with higher risk for FE since age 60, controlling for known risk factors. The same associations were found for FE in the last 6 months. Older adults with larger social networks combined with lower perceived social support were most likely to report FE. When it comes to the role of social relationships and risk for FE, “more may not always be better.” Encouragement to widen the social network by “making new friends” should be stressed less than making sure these new network members will truly be supportive of the older adult.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (01) ◽  
pp. 1650006 ◽  
Author(s):  
YISCA MONNICKENDAM-GIVON ◽  
DAFNA SCHWARTZ ◽  
BENJAMIN GIDRON

The study examines the role of social networks in the Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel as a tool for promoting micro-entrepreneurial success. To date, research has shown that social network structure is a salient factor in the successful management of micro-businesses. We explored network size, number of strong, weak and betweenness ties of Ultra-Orthodox female micro-entrepreneurs, a distinct social-religious enclave that remains largely unexplored. Contrary to literature, our findings show that Ultra-Orthodox female micro-entrepreneurs have a narrow network in all parameters explored. Although they have a far-reaching social network, it is virtually unutilized in promoting their micro-businesses. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Lim ◽  
Clement Lau ◽  
Norman P. Li

Existing meta-analyses have shown that the relationship between social media use and self-esteem is negative, but at very small effect sizes, suggesting the presence of moderators that change the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. Employing principles from social comparison and evolutionary mismatch theories, we propose that the social network sizes one has on social media play a key role in the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. In our study (N = 123), we showed that social media use was negatively related to self-esteem, but only when their social network size was within an evolutionarily familiar level. Social media use was not related to self-esteem when people’s social networks were at evolutionarily novel sizes. The data supported both social comparison and evolutionary mismatch theories and elucidated the small effect size found for the relationship between social media use and self-esteem in current literature. More critically, the findings of this study highlight the need to consider evolutionarily novel stimuli that are present on social media to better understand the behaviors of people in this social environment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 115-115
Author(s):  
Candyce H. Kroenke ◽  
Yvonne Michael ◽  
Xiao-Ou Shu ◽  
Elizabeth Poole ◽  
Marilyn L. Kwan ◽  
...  

115 Background: Larger social networks have been associated with better breast cancer survival. To investigate potential mediators, we evaluated associations of social network size and diversity with lifestyle and treatment factors associated with prognosis. Methods: We included 9,331 women from the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project who provided data on social networks within two years following diagnosis. A social network index was derived from information about the presence of a spouse or intimate partner, religious ties, community participation, friendship ties, and numbers of relatives. Diversity was assessed as variety of ties, independent of size. We used logistic regression to evaluate associations with outcomes and evaluated whether effect estimates differed using meta-analytic techniques. Results: Associations of social networks and outcomes generally did not differ by cohort. Because of the low prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption in the Shanghai cohort, however, analyses of smoking and alcohol included US cohorts only. Women who were socially isolated (small networks) were more likely to be obese (body mass index>30 kg/m2, OR=1.21, 95% CI:1.03-1.42) and have low physical activity (<10 MET-h/wk, OR=1.53, 95% CI:1.34-1.75) compared to socially integrated women. Women with low network diversity were more likely to be current smokers (OR=3.68, 95% CI:2.19-6.19) and have high alcohol consumption (>15 g/d alcohol, OR=2.43, 95% CI:1.60-3.69). Among node positive cases, socially isolated women were more likely not to receive chemotherapy (OR=1.52, 95% CI:1.03-2.25). By contrast, low network diversity, but not social network size, was associated with greater odds of not receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy (OR=1.52, 95% CI:1.03-2.23). Associations with surgery were nonsignificant. Conclusions: In a large pooled cohort, small, less diverse social networks measured post-diagnosis were associated with more adverse lifestyle factors and less intensive cancer treatment, which may help to explain poorer breast cancer prognosis in socially isolated women.


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