Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

O presente estudo foi motivado por lacunas teóricas sobre a governança e gestão de redes horizontais de empresas e suas relações com o capital social dos empresários e o desempenho das empresas participantes. Argumenta-se que, apesar do interesse acadêmico na cooperação interorganizacional, os estudos enfatizam excessivamente os motivos e benefícios das estratégias cooperativas, mas pouco os aspectos internos de organização das redes horizontais. Além disso, estima-se que no Brasil tenham sido constituídas até o presente aproximadamente 1.000 redes horizontais, formadas principalmente por micro e pequenas empresas que mantêm sua individualidade legal, mas usufruem dos benefícios que o trabalho em rede proporciona. Através de uma pesquisa com 218 empresas associadas a 34 redes horizontais no Brasil, analisou-se como a governança da rede, as práticas de gestão da rede e o capital social dos empresários estão relacionados ao desempenho empresarial. Os resultados mostram que a governança se modifica de acordo com as características da rede em termos de tempo de existência, número de associados e abrangência geográfica. Além disso, verificou-se a relação negativa da centralização das decisões nas redes tanto para o desempenho das empresas associadas quanto para o capital social dos empresários. Esse resultado aponta para um dilema que as redes brasileiras devem enfrentar à medida que crescem: desenvolver sistemas de governança que sejam suficientemente ágeis e eficientes em mercados altamente competitivos e que, ao mesmo tempo, garantam a participação dos empresários e o alinhamento das decisões com os interesses dos associados. As análises também confirmaram o papel do capital social do empresário como fonte de informações e recursos positivamente relacionados aos resultados da sua empresa, assim como o papel das práticas de gestão da rede para potencializar esse desempenho. Entre as contribuições teóricas do trabalho está a adoção de uma nova perspectiva do conceito de governança em redes horizontais de empresas, entendido aqui como as ‘regras do jogo’ da cooperação. O estudo também confirma a importância do número e diversidade dos contatos dos empresários dentro da rede, a qualidade dos relacionamentos e a semelhança cognitiva para o desempenho empresarial. Verificou-se ainda que o nível de acesso a informações atua como variável mediadora da influência do capital social sobre o desempenho empresarial. / This study was motivated by the theoretical gaps that exist in the network governance, network management and social capital of entrepreneurs and their relations with the performance of network firms. It is argued that despite the academic interest in interorganizational cooperation, studies overemphasize the reasons and benefits of cooperative strategies and give little attention to the internal aspects of the network organization. Besides that, it is currently estimated that in Brazil approximately 1,000 horizontal networks have been created. Such networks consist mainly of micro and small firms, which maintain their individuality, but enjoy the benefits that networking brings. Through a survey of 218 firms associated to 34 horizontal business networks in Brazil, the study analyzed how the governance and management practices adopted by the network and social capital of entrepreneurs are related to business performance. The study highlights that the network governance changes according to the characteristics of the network on duration, number of members and geographic coverage. In addition, there was a negative influence of centralized decision-making in networks, both for the performance of member firms and for the social capital of entrepreneurs. This result points to a dilemma that the Brazilian networks must face as they grow: develop governance systems that ensure the participation and alignment of decisions with the interests of members, while being sufficiently agile and efficient in highly competitive markets. The analysis also confirmed the role of the entrepreneurs’ social capital as a source of information and resources positively related to the performance of the firm, as well as the role of network management practices to enhance this performance. One of the theoretical contributions of the study is to adopt a new perspective on the concept of governance in horizontal business networks, understood here as the 'rules of the game' of the cooperation. The study also confirms the importance of the number and diversity of contacts, the quality of relationships and cognitive similarity that entrepreneurs have with their contacts for business performance. It was also found that the level of access to information acts as a mediating variable of the influence of social capital on corporate performance.

O presente estudo foi motivado por lacunas teóricas sobre a governança e gestão de redes horizontais de empresas e suas relações com o capital social dos empresários e o desempenho das empresas participantes. Argumenta-se que, apesar do interesse acadêmico na cooperação interorganizacional, os estudos enfatizam excessivamente os motivos e benefícios das estratégias cooperativas, mas pouco os aspectos internos de organização das redes horizontais. Além disso, estima-se que no Brasil tenham sido constituídas até o presente aproximadamente 1.000 redes horizontais, formadas principalmente por micro e pequenas empresas que mantêm sua individualidade legal, mas usufruem dos benefícios que o trabalho em rede proporciona. Através de uma pesquisa com 218 empresas associadas a 34 redes horizontais no Brasil, analisou-se como a governança da rede, as práticas de gestão da rede e o capital social dos empresários estão relacionados ao desempenho empresarial. Os resultados mostram que a governança se modifica de acordo com as características da rede em termos de tempo de existência, número de associados e abrangência geográfica. Além disso, verificou-se a relação negativa da centralização das decisões nas redes tanto para o desempenho das empresas associadas quanto para o capital social dos empresários. Esse resultado aponta para um dilema que as redes brasileiras devem enfrentar à medida que crescem: desenvolver sistemas de governança que sejam suficientemente ágeis e eficientes em mercados altamente competitivos e que, ao mesmo tempo, garantam a participação dos empresários e o alinhamento das decisões com os interesses dos associados. As análises também confirmaram o papel do capital social do empresário como fonte de informações e recursos positivamente relacionados aos resultados da sua empresa, assim como o papel das práticas de gestão da rede para potencializar esse desempenho. Entre as contribuições teóricas do trabalho está a adoção de uma nova perspectiva do conceito de governança em redes horizontais de empresas, entendido aqui como as ‘regras do jogo’ da cooperação. O estudo também confirma a importância do número e diversidade dos contatos dos empresários dentro da rede, a qualidade dos relacionamentos e a semelhança cognitiva para o desempenho empresarial. Verificou-se ainda que o nível de acesso a informações atua como variável mediadora da influência do capital social sobre o desempenho empresarial. / This study was motivated by the theoretical gaps that exist in the network governance, network management and social capital of entrepreneurs and their relations with the performance of network firms. It is argued that despite the academic interest in interorganizational cooperation, studies overemphasize the reasons and benefits of cooperative strategies and give little attention to the internal aspects of the network organization. Besides that, it is currently estimated that in Brazil approximately 1,000 horizontal networks have been created. Such networks consist mainly of micro and small firms, which maintain their individuality, but enjoy the benefits that networking brings. Through a survey of 218 firms associated to 34 horizontal business networks in Brazil, the study analyzed how the governance and management practices adopted by the network and social capital of entrepreneurs are related to business performance. The study highlights that the network governance changes according to the characteristics of the network on duration, number of members and geographic coverage. In addition, there was a negative influence of centralized decision-making in networks, both for the performance of member firms and for the social capital of entrepreneurs. This result points to a dilemma that the Brazilian networks must face as they grow: develop governance systems that ensure the participation and alignment of decisions with the interests of members, while being sufficiently agile and efficient in highly competitive markets. The analysis also confirmed the role of the entrepreneurs’ social capital as a source of information and resources positively related to the performance of the firm, as well as the role of network management practices to enhance this performance. One of the theoretical contributions of the study is to adopt a new perspective on the concept of governance in horizontal business networks, understood here as the 'rules of the game' of the cooperation. The study also confirms the importance of the number and diversity of contacts, the quality of relationships and cognitive similarity that entrepreneurs have with their contacts for business performance. It was also found that the level of access to information acts as a mediating variable of the influence of social capital on corporate performance.

O presente estudo foi motivado por lacunas teóricas sobre a governança e gestão de redes horizontais de empresas e suas relações com o capital social dos empresários e o desempenho das empresas participantes. Argumenta-se que, apesar do interesse acadêmico na cooperação interorganizacional, os estudos enfatizam excessivamente os motivos e benefícios das estratégias cooperativas, mas pouco os aspectos internos de organização das redes horizontais. Além disso, estima-se que no Brasil tenham sido constituídas até o presente aproximadamente 1.000 redes horizontais, formadas principalmente por micro e pequenas empresas que mantêm sua individualidade legal, mas usufruem dos benefícios que o trabalho em rede proporciona. Através de uma pesquisa com 218 empresas associadas a 34 redes horizontais no Brasil, analisou-se como a governança da rede, as práticas de gestão da rede e o capital social dos empresários estão relacionados ao desempenho empresarial. Os resultados mostram que a governança se modifica de acordo com as características da rede em termos de tempo de existência, número de associados e abrangência geográfica. Além disso, verificou-se a relação negativa da centralização das decisões nas redes tanto para o desempenho das empresas associadas quanto para o capital social dos empresários. Esse resultado aponta para um dilema que as redes brasileiras devem enfrentar à medida que crescem: desenvolver sistemas de governança que sejam suficientemente ágeis e eficientes em mercados altamente competitivos e que, ao mesmo tempo, garantam a participação dos empresários e o alinhamento das decisões com os interesses dos associados. As análises também confirmaram o papel do capital social do empresário como fonte de informações e recursos positivamente relacionados aos resultados da sua empresa, assim como o papel das práticas de gestão da rede para potencializar esse desempenho. Entre as contribuições teóricas do trabalho está a adoção de uma nova perspectiva do conceito de governança em redes horizontais de empresas, entendido aqui como as ‘regras do jogo’ da cooperação. O estudo também confirma a importância do número e diversidade dos contatos dos empresários dentro da rede, a qualidade dos relacionamentos e a semelhança cognitiva para o desempenho empresarial. Verificou-se ainda que o nível de acesso a informações atua como variável mediadora da influência do capital social sobre o desempenho empresarial. / This study was motivated by the theoretical gaps that exist in the network governance, network management and social capital of entrepreneurs and their relations with the performance of network firms. It is argued that despite the academic interest in interorganizational cooperation, studies overemphasize the reasons and benefits of cooperative strategies and give little attention to the internal aspects of the network organization. Besides that, it is currently estimated that in Brazil approximately 1,000 horizontal networks have been created. Such networks consist mainly of micro and small firms, which maintain their individuality, but enjoy the benefits that networking brings. Through a survey of 218 firms associated to 34 horizontal business networks in Brazil, the study analyzed how the governance and management practices adopted by the network and social capital of entrepreneurs are related to business performance. The study highlights that the network governance changes according to the characteristics of the network on duration, number of members and geographic coverage. In addition, there was a negative influence of centralized decision-making in networks, both for the performance of member firms and for the social capital of entrepreneurs. This result points to a dilemma that the Brazilian networks must face as they grow: develop governance systems that ensure the participation and alignment of decisions with the interests of members, while being sufficiently agile and efficient in highly competitive markets. The analysis also confirmed the role of the entrepreneurs’ social capital as a source of information and resources positively related to the performance of the firm, as well as the role of network management practices to enhance this performance. One of the theoretical contributions of the study is to adopt a new perspective on the concept of governance in horizontal business networks, understood here as the 'rules of the game' of the cooperation. The study also confirms the importance of the number and diversity of contacts, the quality of relationships and cognitive similarity that entrepreneurs have with their contacts for business performance. It was also found that the level of access to information acts as a mediating variable of the influence of social capital on corporate performance.

This thesis explores how the resources of marketing capabilities, business networks, and financial resources, influence the marketing approach of international new ventures. Building on the resource based view, the market entry of firms and how they compete is analyzed by exploring the resources and capabilities of INVs. By using a qualitative research method, this thesis identifies the three resources of marketing capabilities, business networks, and financial resources to be highly influential for INVs’ marketing approach. Also there has been shown to be a synergetic effect between the resources, and that the cross-industrial and cross-business type sampling did not entail any divergences, but rather similar patterns. Four main findings can be identified as a result of our analysis. First, market knowledge prior to internationalization is shown to be key. Second, the creation of trust through transparency in business networks spark business network opportunities and long-term relationships. Third, utilizing technological tools for marketing endeavors becomes highly efficient. Fourth, tackling financial limitations through the implementation of a low-cost strategy is shown to be essential. The findings of this research has great potential of contributing to managerial practice when working with marketing aspirations, as well as being a starting point for future research in the field of INVs and the resource based view theory. The study has limitations in regards to the scope of the research.

published_or_final_version / Business / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / abstract / Business / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Business / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This thesis is a contribution to our understanding of business groups in the small busi-ness sector. Specifically, its aim is to verify to what extent the consideration of entrepre-neurial processes can advance our understanding of this phenomenon. A ‘business group’ is a set of companies which are legally distinct but belong to the same person or people. Despite the significant presence of business groups in the small business sector, most of the literature on business groups addresses large groups. This study demonstrates that the available theories of business groups – the financial and the diversification theories – are not able to explain the presence and characteristics of business groups in the small business sector. Given the little work done on the issue, the research strategy involves the use of both, quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative methods are used to test propositions deduced from available models of business groups; qualitative methods, based on case studies and direct interviews, are used to get new insights about the phenomenon and develop theoretical propositions. Quantitative analyses refer to the population of Italian business groups; case studies and interviews refer to a sample of business groups in the Marche region (Italy). The business group is an organizational form used by portfolio entrepreneurs to grow and diversify the businesses under their control. By using cross sectional and longitudinal analyses this study shows that in the small business sector diversification is a substitute strategy for growth in the original business. Moreover, this study demonstrates that the diversification theory is not able to explain the setting up of a business group as in most cases the degree of diversification observed in small groups is very low. The thesis demonstrates that entrepreneurial processes associated with the exploitation of new business opportunities by portfolio entrepreneurs play a crucial role in explaining the formation and characteristics of business groups. The start-up phase is critical for the success of a new business as it requires complete dedication of time and attention by the entrepreneur to continuously adjust the planned actions to the unforeseen events and un-predictable contingencies that are typical of this phase. The legal autonomy granted to the new venture helps focus resources and monitor results. In addition to this and more than anything else, legal autonomy allows entrepreneurs to modify the ownership structure of the new business and give minority shares to people involved in the start-up. The financial explanation of business groups stresses the importance of legal autonomy as a way for manipulating the ownership structure of new businesses, to raise outside equity. The thesis demonstrates that the causal relationship is the opposite of that hypothesised by the financial explanation: it is not so much the aim of raising outside equity that determines the involvement of external shareholders as the need to involve and motivate people in the start up of the new business that induces entrepreneurs to sell minority shares in it, thus enlarging the entrepreneurial team. By involving other people in the start-up of new ventures, portfolio entrepreneurs enhance their ability to enter new businesses while retaining ownership and control of the ones already established. The empirical analysis revealed the existence of three different patterns: joint venture with established entrepreneurs, employee involvement and intrapreneurship. The first is when new ventures are set up with other established entrepreneurs. The second is when the entrepreneur gives a share of the new company to an employee to secure his/her involvement in the start-up of a new venture (employee involvement). The third is when the new business is established as a result of the inspiration of an ‘intrapreneurial’ employee who takes major responsibility for the development of the business. As well as the discovery and analysis of these three forms, the thesis provides a theoretical explanation of entrepreneurial team development in business groups, based on the problems faced by portfolio entrepreneurs in allocating time and attention between the running of established businesses and the exploitation of new business opportunities. By integrating the latter explanation with other models of business groups the thesis provides a more general framework for understanding the formation and dynamics of business groups in the small business sector. The thesis also provides contributions to explain the formation and dynamics of entrepreneurial teams in a multi business context and in situations where there is a ‘dominant’ or ‘lead’ entrepreneur and one or more ‘associate’ or ‘sub’ entrepreneurs. Studying the formation and evolution of business groups poses several methodological problems, as groups are complex systems, characterised by the presence of several companies, different architectural structures and a multi-business context. The thesis provides methodological contributions on the ways to represent the current structure of business groups and on how to analyse their evolution over time.