Thesis

On the nature of strategic business networks of Swiss small and medium enterprises

Creator
Rights statement
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2012
Thesis identifier
  • T13287
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • This research aims to explore whether business networks perform the same or a similar strategic role for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) belonging to the same context. Particularly, this research aims to explore whether such a strategic role emerges in the form of context-dependent inter-company patterns. For this purpose, two contexts were researched: the Swiss SME Finance Industry and the Swiss SME NON-Finance Industry. The Swiss SME Finance Industry represents the major context researched, with the Swiss SME NON-Finance Industry being researched to help confirm and debate the findings concerning the Swiss SME Finance Industry and so to reveal the sought-after context-dependent inter-company patterns. Thus, this research interprets the context as the combination of country (Switzerland), enterprise size (SME), and industry (Finance, NON-Finance). Therefore, the sought-after context-dependent inter-company patterns refer to the same country and enterprise size, but separate industry-related data. This research was motivated by the researcher's personal, professional experience with SME business networks. This experience has shown to the researcher the importance of knowing contextual conditions when strategizing with business networks. Particularly, the researcher has experience that understanding contextual needs can significantly reduce 'unexpected' outcomes when implementing business network strategies. Thus, this study took place to further deepen the contextual knowledge about business networks. This study identifies two context-related inter-company patterns - that is, two strategic networks. On the one hand, both contexts know a 'People Business Network'. On the other hand, a 'Customer Centricity Network' emerged only within the Swiss SME Finance Industry. Along with these findings, which refer to the main research aim, two major strategic activities, which connect these networks, were identified and further analysed. These strategic activities are business relationship (management) and collaboration. Thus, this research confirms the importance of researching context-related business network strategies. This study further provides significant details, which SME executives or SME networkers should consider when developing and implementing business network strategies.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2012
Former identifier
  • 948387

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