5th June, 2016
Social Network Analysis is one of the main analytical tools that investigate social structures by nodes (individuals or things) and the ties (relations or interaction) that connect them. Being a person with some previous experience of working within the analytical department in the large company, I clearly understood the applicability of this analysis toward start-up natured companies that lies under personal passion.
Currently, I work as a marketing intern in Boston-based start-up that makes alcohol delivery easy and convenient within 60 minutes. Clearly realizing the importance of strong communication within the techno-entrepreneurial environment in U.S. as a source for additional investment opportunities, I came up with the idea of doing the research that will correlate a relationship between networking activities of a founder and success of a start-up.
According to the theory of socially embedded ties, emerging entrepreneurial firms are in need of obtaining external resources from socially related individuals that will support operation and further performance of a company (Barney, 1991). Taking into account that majority of start-ups are internally sourced, there is a statement that small companies usually find critical resources within their professional network that embedded with social relationship (Dyer & Singh, 1998). However, such networking ties are complex and based on the variety of social attributes that may potentially influence trust and as a consequence probability of resource acquisition.
Therefore, the purpose of the suggested SNA is to understand extend and tightness of network of a certain founder within the start-up community. As well, there is an opportunity to understand how a founder could reach a certain angel/investor through existing network by evaluating the degree of connection between them. In addition, the research will allow finding commonalities between nodes in term of social-demographical categories that could serve as a communication supporter.
The questions should address the number of current connections of a founder as well as a frequency of communication in order to understand strengths of connection. Moreover, there is a need to introduce gender, age range, educational background and country of origin as attributes that could indirectly explain nature of a particular connection.
However, the main concern that brings complications to this analysis is the scale of the research in terms of the number of responders that should be included. Even if techno community of Boston start-ups is specific it will take a longer time period for covering this audience fully.
Nevertheless, the results of this analysis could simplify the process of investment search for small enterprises and show the direct path between founder-investors connection.
1 comment:
There is a huge literature on embeddedness and trust in sociology in general, and in SNA in particular, so I'm glad that you've picked up on this point. I would have hoped to see a bit more on the network to be surveyed, the network question to be asked (and why,) and the use of social network measures (which ones and why.) There's not a lot on SNA in here, and it wouldn't have taken too much searching to find examples of SNA work being done on networks of funders and startups (who funds with whom, etc.)
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