Roles of formal and informal social networks for resource acquisition from an entrepreneurial ecosystem in a low-income country : a social network approach | |
| Author | Shrestha, Rupesh Krishna |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.SM-25-01 |
| Subject(s) | Entrepreneurship--Developing contries Entrepreneurship--Nepal Women-owned business enterprises Businesswomen |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This dissertation explores the conditional use of formal and informal network ties in acquiring financial, human capital, and knowledge resources within Nepal’s resource constrained entrepreneurial ecosystem, characterized by institutional voids. Adopting a social network perspective, the study investigates how entrepreneurs navigate weak institutional contexts to mobilize resources crucial for venture development and sustainability. Data were collected from 154 entrepreneurs using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, focusing on their formal and informal network ties. The study analyzes how these ties are used to access resources from formal and informal institutions within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Social network analysis and node-level regression are employed to uncover patterns of network usage and their impact on network centrality. The findings diverge from prior literature on institutional voids by demonstrating that formal institutions play a vital role in facilitating resource acquisition in low-income countries. The study reveals that the use of formal and informal network ties is contingent upon institutional conditions and the availability of resources. Entrepreneurs utilize formal ties to bridge disconnected networks and informal ties to develop cohesive, dense networks. In ecosystems without institutional voids, the combined use of both types of ties results in higher network centrality. However, institutional voids lead to fragmented and scattered networks, reducing the overall centrality of entrepreneurs. Furthermore, prior startup and venture experience positively correlates with higher network centrality, while female entrepreneurs exhibit lower centrality compared to their male counterparts.This research addresses a critical gap in the literature by offering empirical insights into the conditional use of network ties in low-income, institutionally weak settings. It contributes to entrepreneurial ecosystem research by applying social network analysis as a methodological tool, and reaffirms the significance of formal institutions in enabling effective resource acquisition in adverse contexts. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Doctor of Philosophy in Management (Publication code = SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vimolwan Yukongdi |
| Examination Committee(s) | Badir, Yuosre F.;Santoso, Djoen San |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |