Authors: Conor Drummond; Helen McGrath; Thomas O’Toole
This paper examines the impact that social media, as a new technology, has had upon the initiation and management of entrepreneurial firm’s business-to-business relationships, through their network actor and resource mobilisation activities. With little research being conducted linking social media to business-to-business (B2B) research (LaPlaca, 2013), the aim of this paper is to examine the impact that social media has on the dimensions associated with initiating relationships through network actors and maintaining business relationships via resource mobilisation. Using the Irish craft brewing and artisan food sectors as an empirical base, the article highlights the profound and facilitative impact that the social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, have on the initiation and maintenance of B2B relationships. Findings on the impact social media has upon activities such as information search, knowledge sharing, collaboration, operational processes and network position, demonstrate how vital the use of social media platforms can be for new network actor accumulation and resource mobilisation for entrepreneurial firms as they strive to stabilise and grow their fledgling businesses. A framework linking social media to network actor and resource mobilisation is developed. Limitations and avenues for future research are outlined.
Journal: n.a. (n.a. – n.a.)
Web Address: n.a.
Publish Year: 2016
Conference: Poznan, Poland (2016)