Connecting content and structure: A review of mechanisms in entrepreneurs’ social networks

Abstract

Network studies in the entrepreneurship domain suffer from an incomplete theorization of how the content of social capital relates to network relationships and structures in which entrepreneurs are embedded or embed themselves. This study presents a systematic review of the various ways in which the interaction between content (e.g. cognition and resources) and social structure has been studied within entrepreneurship. Based on this review, we develop a more integrative account of the underlying action mechanisms that link the content and structure of social capital. These mechanisms cut across different research traditions and align areas of entrepreneurship research. In this way, we contribute an integrative review of prior work and a formative set of directions for further theorizing and research on social capital, networks and entrepreneurship.