TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of Network Facilitators in fostering Trust within Strategic Alliances: A
Longitudinal Case Study
AU - Cannatelli, Benedetto Lorenzo
AU - Antoldi, Fabio
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The paper describes how the role of network facilitator played by a third party institution may substantially contribute to the development of trust among SMEs involved in a strategic alliance. In our work, empirical evidence is presented by a longitudinal analysis of a case history. The case study focuses on eight international-oriented SMEs located in an industrial district in Northern Italy that built up a formal network called ‘I-Style Partners’. Two rounds of in-depth interviews were carried out with firm leaders and facilitator’s managers involved in the strategic alliance over a three-year period. This paper contribute to theory generation suggesting a three-stage process model in which a network facilitator may enhance interorganizational trust by constituting in turn a substitute of alliance members’ perceptions of ability, integrity and benevolence.
AB - The paper describes how the role of network facilitator played by a third party institution may substantially contribute to the development of trust among SMEs involved in a strategic alliance. In our work, empirical evidence is presented by a longitudinal analysis of a case history. The case study focuses on eight international-oriented SMEs located in an industrial district in Northern Italy that built up a formal network called ‘I-Style Partners’. Two rounds of in-depth interviews were carried out with firm leaders and facilitator’s managers involved in the strategic alliance over a three-year period. This paper contribute to theory generation suggesting a three-stage process model in which a network facilitator may enhance interorganizational trust by constituting in turn a substitute of alliance members’ perceptions of ability, integrity and benevolence.
KW - NETWORK FACILITATOR
KW - NETWORK FACILITATOR
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/32037
UR - http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08276331.2012.10593557?needaccess=true
U2 - 10.1080/08276331.2012.10593557
DO - 10.1080/08276331.2012.10593557
M3 - Article
SN - 0827-6331
VL - 25
SP - 19
EP - 33
JO - Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
JF - Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
ER -