Perceived environmental uncertainty and network development: the case of Greek SMEs

DREKOLIAS, Theodoros (2020). Perceived environmental uncertainty and network development: the case of Greek SMEs. Doctoral, Sheffield Hallam University.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00384

Abstract

Networks appear to be vital living organisms which change, grow and develop through time; hence networks are shaped, dissolved and reformed on a constant base. Although an extensive body of research has focused on the outcomes and the antecedents of the interorganizational networks formation, less attention has been paid to understand why and how these networks evolve through time, especially in the context of small-medium sized firms. This thesis aims to address this research gap and to broaden the field of the SMEs’ inter – organizational network development by considering the perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) as an exogenous, deriving from outside the network, triggering factor. In that respect, this thesis explores if and how the three types of PEU, stemming from several domains of the external environment may trigger the development of networks in terms of their structural and interactional dimensions. To achieve this aim, a single – embedded case study of Greek tourism industry, applying the philosophical prism of critical realism, has been undertaken to seek causal explanations in the relationship between PEU and the SMEs’ network development. The findings demonstrated that PEU, particularly state and to a lesser extent response PEU, prompted the SMEs to develop their networks in several ways related to their structure, the strength of the relationships and the exchanging content among partners.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Contributors:
Thesis advisor - Owens, Martin
Thesis advisor - Johnston, Andrew [0000-0001-5352-9563]
Thesis advisor - Wang, Chengang
Additional Information: Director of studies: Dr. Martin Owens / Thesis supervisors: Dr. Andrew Johnston and Prof. Chengang Wang.
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Sheffield Hallam Doctoral Theses
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00384
Depositing User: Colin Knott
Date Deposited: 10 Sep 2021 12:15
Last Modified: 03 May 2023 02:07
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29033

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