On the strategic advantage of taking the road less traveled
Subtitle: a study of government licensed venture capital companies, 1976-1997
By: Jane Wei-Skillern
Contributors: Harvard Business School. Division of Research
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 02-047; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 02-047
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 35
Description: This study combines ecological theory and social network theory to examine the role of prominence and organizational form on niche formation. A network and failure rate analysis of specialist and generalist government licensed venture capital companies, U.S. Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), is used to explore how prominence affects generalist and specialist niche formation differentially. Findings show that prominence exposes mainstream generalists to more competition from other prominent generalists, while prominent specialists are less susceptible to this liability of prominence. Thus, an organization's niche is defined not only by its organizational form, but also by its social network position.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.