Original scientific paper
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NETWORKING, ENTREPRENEURIAL SELFEFFICACY AND FIRM GROWTH: THE CASE OF SLOVENIAN COMPANIES
Tina Bratkovič
Boštjan Antončić
Alex F. DeNoble
Abstract
Social networks represent the immediate environment in which entrepreneurs are embedded and they therefore have a great influence on entrepreneurs’ behavior. Entrepreneurs’ social networks can provide entrepreneurs and their firms with information, support and access to resources. The support of the environment is important for reinforcing self-efficacy which is recognized as a predictor of firm performance. In this study, we developed and empirically tested hypotheses about the relationships between networking, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and small firm growth. The findings show that entrepreneurs can enhance entrepreneurial self-efficacy through network support, and consequently contribute to relative firm growth. The study provides significant contributions to entrepreneurship network theory and holds important implications for theory and practice.
Keywords
Entrepreneurship; networking; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; small firm; growth
Hrčak ID:
80013
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2012.
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