Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Department of Economics and Tourism \u27Dr. Mijo Mirkovic\u27
Abstract
Social networks represent the immediate environment in which entrepreneurs are embedded and they therefore have a great influence on entrepreneurs’ behavior. Entrepreneurs’ social networks can provide entrepreneurs and their firms with information, support and access to resources. The support of the environment is important for reinforcing self-efficacy which is recognized as a predictor of firm performance. In this study, we developed and empirically tested hypotheses about the relationships between networking, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and small firm growth. The findings show that entrepreneurs can enhance entrepreneurial self-efficacy through network support, and consequently contribute to relative firm growth. The study provides significant contributions to entrepreneurship network theory and holds important implications for theory and practice.Socijalne mreže predstavljaju okruženje u kojemu se poduzetnici međusobno povezuju na taj način značajno utječu na poduzetničko ponašanje. Poduzetničke socijalne mreže omogućuju poduzetniku i njegovom poduzeću da koristi nove informacije, koristi širu podršku i pristup brojnim resursima. Podrška okruženja vrlo je važna za poticanje samoefikasnosti kao preduvjeta poslovanja poduzeća. U ovoj studiji razvili smo i empirijski testirali hipotezu o odnosu socijalnog umrežavanja, poduzetničke samoefikasnosti i rasta poduzeća. Rezultati pokazuju da poduzetnici mogu unaprijediti samoefikasnost kroz podršku vlastite socijalne mreže i tako značajno koristiti relativnom rastu vlastitog poduzeća. Ova studija značajno doprinosi teoriji poduzetničkog umrežavanja i teoretski te praktički značajno uvodi brojne implikacije
