Informal Social Networks and Incubated Business Performance

Abstract

Aiming to explore and analyze the relationship between social networks and firm performance, this longitudinal multicase study was developed, interviewing five incubated companies, selected by accessibility and convenience, which were in different stages of incubation, at Softville, a technologically based incubator of Joinville-SC. Managers and employees of these companies answered the sociometric questionnaire, at three moments in the period of a year. The reliability, technical information and management information networks were mapped, as were their structural features of size, density and cohesion, besides studying the company performance data (team size, number of customers and sales). The companies studied with more cohesive networks have a better performance, confirming that which is indicated by the relevant literature and suggest that practices for supporting incubated companies should emphasize competence in network.