Skip to main content
Log in

Strategic networking in small high tech firms

  • Published:
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Though the concept is somewhat blurred and vague, networking is a basic feature for understanding the conditions for entrepreneurial small firms, and in this article two major mechanisms are analysed. These are (1) opening to new complementarity in order to gain access to new knowledge and people, and (2) closing and collaborating as mutual obligation to protect and form alliances in order to avoid competition in an open market, where both are extending the boundaries of the firm. The research is based on a qualitative study of 35 case firms in the biotech and ICT industries in Denmark (Copenhagen) and France (Sophia Antipolis). It finds that networking is not only a protective mechanism to create benefits of scale, but an active way of creating entrepreneurial opportunities, and organising for high technology innovation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldrich, H., & Fiol, C. M. (1994). Fools rush in? The institutional context of industry creation. Academy of Management Review, 19, 645–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asplund, J. (1991). Essä om Gemeinschaft och Gesellschaft. Göteborg: Bokforlaget Korpen.

  • Blomqvist, K. (2002). Partnering in the dynamic environment. The role of trust in asymmetric technology partnership formation. Lappeenranta: Lappeenranta University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, R. (1992). Structural holes. The social structure of competition. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, K. S. (1982). Network structures from an exchange perspective. In P. V. Marsden & N. Lin (Eds.), Social structure and network analysis. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, R., Nohria, N., & Berkley, J. (1992). Beyond the hype. Rediscovering the essence of management. Boston: Harvard Business School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuglsang, M. (1998). At være på grænsen. En Moderne fænomenologisk bevægelse—Til-Blivelsen af det bioteknologiske mulighedsrum, Ph.D.: Copenhagen Business School.

  • Fukuyama, F. (1995). Trust. The social virtues and the creation of prosperity. London: Hamish Hamilton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garud, R., & Lant, T. (1997). Navigating silicon alley: Kaleidoscopic experiences. Conference paper presented at Copenhagen Business School.

  • Garud, R., Nayyar, P., & Shapira, Z. (1997). Technological innovation: Oversights and foresights. In R. Garud, P. Nayyar, & Z. Shapira (Eds.), Technological innovation: Oversights and foresights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P., & Trow, M. (1994). The new production of knowledge. The dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabher, G. (2005). Supporting projects, cannibalizing firms? Personal knowledge networks in project ecologies. OKLC Conference, Bennett College Boston, March 17–19.

  • Granovetter, M. (1992). Problems of explanations in economic sociology. In N. Nohria & R. Eccles (Eds.), Networks and organizations. Structure, form and action. Boston: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, C. (1993). The new organization. Growing the culture of organizational networking. London: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R. C., & Levenhagen, M. (1995). Metaphors and metal models: Sensemaking and sensegiving in innovative and entrepreneurial activities. Journal of Management, 21, 1057–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hærem, T., von Krogh, G., & Roos, J. (1996). Knowledge-based strategic change. In G. von Krogh & J. Roos (Eds.), Managing knowledge. Perspectives on cooperation and competition. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarillo, J. C. (1988). On strategic networks. Strategic Management Journal, 9, 31–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannisson, B. (2000). Networking and entrepreneurial growth. In D. L. Sexton & H. Landstrom (Eds.), The Blackwell handbook of entrepreneurship. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanter R. M. (1983). The change masters. Innovation & entrepreneurship in the American corporation. New York: Touchstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreiner, K. (1998). Accountability on the move. The undecidable context of project formation. In J. Mouritsen & R. Munro (Eds.), Accountability. Power, ethos and the technology of managing. London: Thomson Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, B. A. (1992). National systems of innovation. Towards a theory of innovation and interactive learning. London: Wellingston House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mønsted, M. (2003). Strategic networking in small high tech firms. Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moensted, M. (2006). Strategic networking for innovation. Mechanisms for networking. In M. Bernasconi, S. Harris, & M. Moensted (Eds.), High tech start-ups. Creation and development of technology based firms. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohria, N. (1992). Is a network perspective a useful way of studying organizations? In N. Nohria & R. G. Eccles (Eds.), Networks and organizations. Structure, form, and action. Boston: Harvard Business School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohria, N., & Gulati, R. (1994). Firms and their environments. In N. J. Smelser & R. Swedberg (Eds.), The handbook of economic sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, D. M., Sitkin, S. B., Burt, R. S., & Camerer, C. (1998). Not so different after all. A cross discipline view of trust. Academy of Management Review, 23, 393–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shotter, J. (1993). Conversational realities. Constructing life through language. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacey, R. D. (1996). Complexity and creativity in organizations. San Francisco: Berrett-Keohler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steyaert, C. (1995). Perpetuating entrepreneurship through dialogue—A social constructionist view. Leuwen: Katholieke Universiteit Leuwen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teece, D., Pisano, G., & Shan, W. (1987). Joint ventures and collaborations in biotechnology. International working paper no. 1B-8 ed. Berkeley University California.

  • Tönnies, F. (1935). Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft. Grundbegriffe der Reinen Soziologie, Bibliothek klassischer Texte. Darmstadt: Aufl. Wiss. Buchges.

  • Tushman, M. L., Newman, W. H., & Romanelli, E. (1997). Convergence and upheaval: Managing the unsteady pace of organizational evolution. In M. L. Tushman & P. Anderson (Eds.), Managing strategic innovation and change. A collection of readings. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Ven, A. H. (1986). Central problems in the management of innovation. Management Science, 32, 590–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Ven, A. H., & Grazman, D. N. (1997). Technological innovation, learning, and leadership. In R. Garud, P. R. Nayyar, & Z. N. Shapira (Eds.), Technological innovation. Oversights and foresights. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick, K.E. (1995). Sensemaking in organizations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mette Moensted.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moensted, M. Strategic networking in small high tech firms. Int Entrep Manag J 3, 15–27 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0019-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0019-7

Keywords

Navigation