Network Embeddedness

Previous research finds that individuals tend to form ties with similar others much more often than with dissimilar others. However, we know relatively little about tie loss and to what extent this is driven by (dis)similarity. In this paper, we argue that ties to persons who are dissimilar with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, and education are lost faster than ties to similar personsand we test three explanations for this faster decay of ties with dissimilar others: lack of meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and lower network embeddedness. To test these explanations, we analysed two waves of the Survey on the Social Networks of the Dutch (SSND, 2007, 2014). These SSND-waves contain comprehensive longitudinal panel data on ego networks of 441 respondents, who were interviewed about a wide range of relationships, their alters' sociodemographic characteristics, where and when they met their alters, as well as how and whether they maintain these relationships. We modelled tie loss by event history analyses. Results show that ties to persons who were dissimilar are more likely to be lost faster, and that tie loss occurs mostly in the early years of a relationship. However, meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and network embeddedness are unable to explain why ties to dissimilar others are lost faster. We conclude that dissimilarity is a powerful driver of tie loss, and that more arguments and research are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms.

Conceptual model that both technology and volume uncertainty promote exchange partners to rely on the network norm of information sharing which is the necessary ingredient of the network embeddedness. Data was collected from the 143 manufacturers in high-tech market in which triadic relationships among the manufacturers (seller), their first vendors (first buyers), and the second vendors (customers of the first buyers) in high-tech markets were particularly focused. Results from the structural equation model and multiple regression analysis reveal that while the technological uncertainty has a positive effect on the network norm of information sharing, the volume uncertainty is not statistically significant. In addition, we find that there existsthe mediator effect of the network norm of information sharing in the relation between the uncertainties and the network embeddedness.

This study investigates the effects of venture typology, race, ethnicity, and past venture experience on the social capital distribution of women entrepreneurs in entrepreneurial ecosystems. Social network data from two municipal ecosystems in Florida, USA (Gainesville and Jacksonville), suggest that network connectivity and the distribution of social capital are significantly different for men and women entrepreneurs. This difference is contingent on the venture type. Male entrepreneurs show higher comparative scores of bridging social capital in aggressive-and managed-growth venture networks, while women entrepreneurs surpass their male counterparts' bridging capital scores in lifestyle and survival venture networks. Lastly, experienced women entrepreneurs that self-identified as white showed a higher degree of network connectivity and bridging social capital in the entrepreneurial ecosystem than less experienced non-white female entrepreneurs. Implications for entrepreneurship practice and new research paths are discussed.

Previous research finds that individuals tend to form ties with similar others much more often than with dissimilar others. However, we know relatively little about tie loss and to what extent this is driven by (dis)similarity. In this paper, we argue that ties to persons who are dissimilar with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, and education are lost faster than ties to similar personsand we test three explanations for this faster decay of ties with dissimilar others: lack of meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and lower network embeddedness. To test these explanations, we analysed two waves of the Survey on the Social Networks of the Dutch (SSND, 2007, 2014). These SSND-waves contain comprehensive longitudinal panel data on ego networks of 441 respondents, who were interviewed about a wide range of relationships, their alters' sociodemographic characteristics, where and when they met their alters, as well as how and whether they maintain these relationships. We modelled tie loss by event history analyses. Results show that ties to persons who were dissimilar are more likely to be lost faster, and that tie loss occurs mostly in the early years of a relationship. However, meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and network embeddedness are unable to explain why ties to dissimilar others are lost faster. We conclude that dissimilarity is a powerful driver of tie loss, and that more arguments and research are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms.

This paper addresses partner selection in innovation networks. It builds on the existing literature to develop an integrative framework that encompasses the main factors identified as influencing selection of innovation partners by young knowledge-intensive firms. It considers that both persistence and novelty are present in the network building process and that to fully understand the selection of innovation partners both aspects have to be considered. A framework is developed that integrates several arguments advanced in the literature to explain partner selection, namely social capital, imprinting and inertia for tie persistence, and network embeddedness and proximity for new tie selection. Using a rare event logit model, we estimate the likelihood of selecting a partner to access resources vital for innovation (both in aggregated terms and distinguishing between three resources-knowledge, complementary assets and credibility). The model is tested using data about the partnerships established by young Portuguese biotechnology firms, purposefully collected through questionnaire-based face-to-face interviews, complemented with documentary information. The results highlight the advantages of adopting an integrated framework that takes into account a variety of complementary explanations for both persistence and novelty, that tend to be addressed separately. They also uncover different network building strategies in terms of partner selection to access the different types of resources needed for innovation.

The aim of this paper is to reveal significant factors within a cluster that influence the fostering of new technology based firms (hereafter abbreviated NTBFs) and determine which measures should be given priority in aiding regional improvement. In this paper, a questionnaire survey was conducted with project directors of regional knowledge cluster headquarters promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, NTBFs, as well as, external specialists such as attorneys, patent attorneys, certified public accountants, and venture capital firms. The questionnaire survey revealed that “diffusion of technology and knowledge” is most highly valued for function of basic research, “customer” for product development function and sales function, regarding cluster features identified of being importance in locating each of the company’s functions. Secondly, while not only NTBFs but also both external specialists and knowledge cluster project directors recognize the importance of “workforce and human resources” in the cultivation of NTBFs in the clusters. Lastly, NTBFs have request in maximizing the potential use of universities, existing facilities and measures based on the survey results, policy implications concerning the knowledge cluster initiative will also be discussed.

In this paper, I discuss critical success factors at each of the three stages of commercialization process of intellectual property by new technology based firms (NTBFs) in Japan. To examine this, the commercialization process is classified into three stages: the basic research, the product development, and the commercialization stages. A questionnaire survey of NTBFs reveals that they recognize serious managerial difficulties at the commercialization stage. The survey found that “human resources” and “vision extraction and demand conceptualization” are perceived to be the main managerial issues/challenges in all stages. My analysis found that there are some positive correlations between success in management and “clarification and sharing of market needs” at the basic research stage; “top-down management” and “clarification and sharing of market needs” at the product development stage; and “cooperation with external specialists (such as certified public accountants, venture capitalists, and lawyers)” at the commercialization stage. Finally, I conclude with some recommendations for overcoming the managerial difficulties at each of the three-stages of commercialization in NTBFs in Japan.

In this paper, I discuss critical success factors at each of the three stages of commercialization process of intellectual property by new technology based firms (NTBFs) in Japan. To examine this, the commercialization process is classified into three stages: the basic research, the product development, and the commercialization stages. A questionnaire survey of NTBFs reveals that they recognize serious managerial difficulties at thecommercializationstage. Thesurveyfoundthat“humanresources”and“visionextractionand demand conceptualization” are perceived to be the main managerial issues/challenges in all stages. My analysis found that there are some positive correlations between success in management and “clarification and sharing of market needs” at the basic research stage; “top-down management” and “clarification and sharing of market needs” at the product development stage; and “cooperation with external specialists (such as certified public accountants, venture capitalists, and lawyers)” at the commercialization stage. Finally, I conclude with some recommendations for overcoming the managerial difficulties at each of the three-stages of commercialization in NTBFs in Japan.

本論文は、新技術ベンチャーにおけるデスバレー現象とその要因について論じる。 まず、新技術ベンチャーのデスバレー現象、すなわち優れた技術を十分に事業化へとつなげることが出来ない状態について検討するために、先端技術事業化までの段階を、基礎研究段階、製品開発段階、事業化段階の3つに分類する。 その上で、新技術ベンチャーに対する質問票調査をもとに、新技術ベンチャーにおいては、とりわけ事業化段階に深刻なデスバレー現象が存在すると認識されている。各段階を通じて「人材面の問題」「ビジョンの抽出や需要のコンセプト化の問題」が主要なデスバレー要因と認識されている。また、基礎研究段階のデスバレー克服状況と「市場ニーズの明確化及び共有化」に向けた取組み、製品開発段階のデスバレー克服状況と「トップダウン型経営」「市場ニーズの明確化及び共有化」、事業化段階のデスバレー克服状況と「公認会計士」「ベンチャーキャピタル」「弁護士」等の外部専門家との連携において有意な相関が確認されたこと等を明らかにする。 最後に、新技術ベンチャーがデスバレーに陥らないための方策について論じる。

Notice 1 Under the Copyright Act 1968, this thesis must be used only under the normal conditions of scholarly fair dealing. In particular no results or conclusions should be extracted from it, nor should it be copied or closely paraphrased in whole or in part without the written consent of the author. Proper written acknowledgement should be made for any assistance obtained from this thesis. ii Declaration of originality I hereby declare that this thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at any university or equivalent institution and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis.

Events influencing the global food system and managerial decision-making within the supply chain include genetic engineering, food safety, and animal welfare. These events result in an increasing expectation by supply chain participants that information, perhaps not normally collected and disseminated, will be available as commodities and products move from upstream suppliers to downstream value added firms. Managerial choice for firms in the supply chain relative to this information expectation comprises a signal to the firm’s customers in terms of quality. Four distinctive choice sets confront managers. The analysis here indicates that designing and implementing a strategy among the signaling alternatives depends on network embeddedness. Network embeddedness includes both relational embeddedness and structural embeddedness. The signaling mechanism chosen is important because it influences long-term firm performance. Network embeddedness dictates that managers consider alternative ...

Events influencing the global food system and managerial decision-making within the supply chain include genetic engineering, food safety, and animal welfare. These events result in an increasing expectation by supply chain participants that information, perhaps not normally collected and disseminated, will be available as commodities and products move from upstream suppliers to downstream value added firms. Managerial choice for firms in the supply chain relative to this information expectation comprises a signal to the firm’s customers in terms of quality. Four distinctive choice sets confront managers. The analysis here indicates that designing and implementing a strategy among the signaling alternatives depends on network embeddedness. Network embeddedness includes both relational embeddedness and structural embeddedness. The signaling mechanism chosen is important because it influences long-term firm performance. Network embeddedness dictates that managers consider alternative ...

In this thesis I explain how research on entrepreneurial networks has been dominated by two approaches: one focussing on network structures (connections between actors) and one on network flows (exchange or transformation of resources within relationships). Using configuration theory, I then make the case for an integrated approach that considers the interdependence between network structures and network flows. To achieve this, I present three papers, the first of which has been published and the other two are being revised for publication in a journal. In the first paper I examine the affect of network embeddedness (i.e., the degree to which social structure and processes shape economic action) on the performance of new technology based firms and argue that operationalizations of network embeddedness would benefit from incorporating structural network measures as well as measures of the attributes of individual relationships. I then present a second paper in which I describe a model and method (Q-analysis) for conceptualising and measuring variations in the structure-flow interdependence of networks. Together, the model and method facilitate richer examinations of the form and function of entrepreneurial networks. In the third paper I develop a typology of four network configurations based on variations in network structural complexity and network flow complexity. I then describe how different network management capabilities are suited to each of the network configurations. Together these three papers provide contributions that will help researchers to study how structure-flow interdependence affects the configuration, multiplexity (i.e., how multiple flows interact within and across relationships) and evolution of entrepreneurial networks.

In this thesis I explain how research on entrepreneurial networks has been dominated by two approaches: one focussing on network structures (connections between actors) and one on network flows (exchange or transformation of resources within relationships). Using configuration theory, I then make the case for an integrated approach that considers the interdependence between network structures and network flows. To achieve this, I present three papers, the first of which has been published and the other two are being revised for publication in a journal. In the first paper I examine the affect of network embeddedness (i.e., the degree to which social structure and processes shape economic action) on the performance of new technology based firms and argue that operationalizations of network embeddedness would benefit from incorporating structural network measures as well as measures of the attributes of individual relationships. I then present a second paper in which I describe a model and method (Q-analysis) for conceptualising and measuring variations in the structure-flow interdependence of networks. Together, the model and method facilitate richer examinations of the form and function of entrepreneurial networks. In the third paper I develop a typology of four network configurations based on variations in network structural complexity and network flow complexity. I then describe how different network management capabilities are suited to each of the network configurations. Together these three papers provide contributions that will help researchers to study how structure-flow interdependence affects the configuration, multiplexity (i.e., how multiple flows interact within and across relationships) and evolution of entrepreneurial networks.