Entrepreneurial social capital: conceptualizing social capital in new high-tech firms.

Anderson, Alistair; Park, John; Jack, Sarah

Abstract

Although the literature on social capital has increased dramatically in recent years, concerns have been raised about the expanse of applications of the term, diversity of constructs, definitions and variety of analyses. The purpose of this article is to clarify the conceptualization of social capital in entrepreneurship. To achieve this, the article begins with a review of the extensive literature on social capital. This provides a preliminary theoretical framework about the nature and categories of social capital. Thereafter, an account is provided of an empirical study in which in-depth and extensive data were gathered about the social interactions of entrepreneurs from 10 technology firms. Findings demonstrate that social capital is a social relational artefact produced in social interactions. It is not owned but represents a pool of goodwill residing in a social network and it can be envisaged as a revolving mutual fund of traded and un-traded interdependencies.

Citation

ANDERSON, A., PARK, J. and JACK, S. 2007. Entrepreneurial social capital: conceptualizing social capital in new high-tech firms. International small business journal: researching entrepreneurship [online], 25(3), pages 245-272. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242607076526

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 30, 2007
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2007
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2007
• Deposit Date: Sep 5, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 5, 2008
• Journal: International small business journal: researching entrepreneurship
• Print ISSN: 0266-2426
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-2870
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 245-272
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242607076526
• Keywords: Conceptualising social capital; Entrepreneurship; Social capital; Social networks
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/203
• Contract Date: Sep 5, 2008