The structure of content in multiplex ties: exploring the advantages for entrepreneurs in rural India

Abstract

The results of the studies on the influence of network structure of entrepreneurs on firm performance have been inconclusive. This could be due to the fact that in these studies, networks have been taken to be a conduit for single type of content. That ties are multiplex in nature is known but little work has been done to explore the interaction between network structures and content in an entrepreneurial setting. In this study we explore how the structure of the content of ties plays a role in entrepreneurial performance. By doing so, we extend the literature in two specific ways - firstly by focusing, on the structure of various multiplex ties, an attempt is made to reconcile the conflicting findings on the beneficial or detrimental effects of structural holes on performance. Secondly, we take this opportunity to understand how content of ties influences entrepreneurial outcomes - a gap that scholars have recently appealed future researchers to address (Jack, 2009; O'Donnell et al. 2001; Uzzi and Lancaster, 2003). By focusing the study within a low technology context in an emerging economy, we address how individuals set up and manage their firms in a low technological domain in India and the implications for social entrepreneurship.