Networking, entrepreneurship and productivity in universities
Alex Maritz
Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn VIC
PP: 18 - 25
Abstract
The importance of networking in fostering entrepreneurial activities has been widely researched over the last decade. There is however limited evidence of the association between these two constructs in a knowledge based environment. As universities are under constant pressure to improve the productivity of academic staff, we examine the role of social interaction in fostering entrepreneurial activities. A web-based survey is implemented, facilitated by empirical analysis using correlation and multiple regression to probe the relationship between these constructs. Whilst in can be concluded that the constructs are all multidimensional, varying relationships were identified when statistically examining the interrelations. Overall, there is a significant relationship between networking and productivity. Entrepreneurship also portrays such significance, albeit varying between dimensions of autonomy, innovativeness, risk taking, proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness.
Keywords
networks, networking, social capital, entrepreneurship, productivity
Article Text
The role of social interactions and networking has been investigated increasingly in recent years as a useful resource in the form of cooperative behaviour that is engendered by the fabric of social relationships. This concept has been applied to solve many problems in societies since its appearance in the literature, with applications such as education, public health, economic development, community life, youth behaviour problems and general problems of collective actions (Fukuyama, 1995; Coleman, 1988; Loury, 1987; Portes & Sensenbrenner, 1993; Woolcock, 1998; Putnum, 1993; 1995; Zahra, Yavus & Ucbasaran 2006).
In this study, we examined the role of networking in fostering entrepreneurial activities in an academic context; more specifically, how social interactions and networking available to academics fosters entrepreneurial activities and therefore improves their productivity.
Appropriate to this study, we elaborate on networking and discuss how it encourages entrepreneurial activities of academic staff and their productivity. We formulated hypotheses around these research constructs and subjected the hypotheses to empirical testing based on a survey conducted in five Australian universities located in Metropolitan Melbourne. Our findings provide support for the association among appropriate networking, entrepreneurship and productivity.
This study has investigated the people base of entrepreneurship in academic institutions by focusing on social relationships. Thus, this research contributes to the advancement entrepreneurship literature by proposing that social interactions and networking may foster entrepreneurship. The study is hypothesis lead, being a result of gaps we identified in current literature and previous empirical studies. What follows is a summary of the construct literature, together with hypotheses developed around the integration of the constructs.
LITERATURE REVIEW ... continues ...
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