Sustaining business networks: Understanding the benefit bundles sought by members of local business associations

Newbery, Robert, Gorton, Matthew, Phillipson, Jeremy and Atterton, Jane (2016) Sustaining business networks: Understanding the benefit bundles sought by members of local business associations. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (7). pp. 1267-1283. ISSN 0263-774X

[img]
Preview
Text
Sustaining business networks.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (180kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0263774X15608850

Abstract

Local business associations can be important mechanisms for stimulating inter-firm cooperation leading to economic growth and development. However, previous research suggests that the unfulfilled expectations of their members can lead to low participation, high membership churn and network instability over time. As a departure from studies that have explored why local associations supply certain benefits and services, this paper draws on an original, demand side membership survey of local business associations to identify for the first time the bundles of benefits sought by members. Two bundles of benefits (instrumental and info-social) relating to thin and thick models of rational choice, respectively, are identified in explaining why firms join and remain part of associations. The relevance of these bundles to members was found to vary with business profile and length of membership, with the value of instrumental benefits reducing over time, whereas the demand for info-social benefits remained relatively stable. The findings have important implications for local strategies for sustaining business networks.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Local business associations, benefit bundles, collective action, small businesses, business networks, rational choice theory
Subjects: N100 Business studies
Department: Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School
Depositing User: John Coen
Date Deposited: 07 May 2020 07:57
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 18:06
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/43031

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics