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Social Networks in Organizational Emergence: The University Spinout Phenomenon

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  • Nicos Nicolaou

    (The Entrepreneurship Centre, The Business School, Imperial College London, 53 Prince's Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PG, United Kingdom)

  • Sue Birley

    (The Entrepreneurship Centre, The Business School, Imperial College London, 53 Prince's Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PG, United Kingdom)

Abstract

This paper aims to ascertain the influence of social networks in the university spinout phenomenon. With respect to the instrumental role of social networks, it adopts a content contingency perspective pertaining to the role of closure and structural holes, and examines the interaction between relational and structural embeddedness in the academics' network structure. With respect to spinout outcomes, this paper distinguishes between academic exodus and stasis, and differentiates between types of spinouts based on the degree of involvement of the key academics. It also examines networks at the team level of analysis and submits that team-level structural differences exist between the different spinout structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicos Nicolaou & Sue Birley, 2003. "Social Networks in Organizational Emergence: The University Spinout Phenomenon," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(12), pages 1702-1725, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:49:y:2003:i:12:p:1702-1725
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.49.12.1702.25116
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