The 22nd Nordic Conference in Small Business Research in Turku

ECOCRIN researchers Kaisa Hytönen and Pekka Stenholm will give a joint presentation at the 22nd Nordic Conference in Small Business Research in Turku in May 2024.

In their study, Hytönen and Stenholm examine how creative entrepreneurs vary concerning their orientation to entrepreneurial behavior and how this shapes their networking activity. Thereafter, why and which kind of networking creative entrepreneurs conduct is examined further. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researchers analyze both survey data collected from over 160 creative Finnish entrepreneurs in 2020 and interview data with more than 20 creative entrepreneurs in Finland, Sweden and Latvia.

The findings indicate that entrepreneurially oriented entrepreneurs engage in networking more actively than entrepreneurs with lower orientation to entrepreneurship. They are more conscious of their networks, utilize them more efficiently and deliberately, and are more oriented to build networks for promoting common good than those with lower levels of entrepreneurial orientation.

– Our results emphasize the importance of not only to focus on the assets that entrepreneurs receive from the networks but also to understand the networking roles that the entrepreneurs have, Hytönen highlights.

With this study, the researchers unravel the dynamics of networking in creative entrepreneurship and provide valuable insights for creative entrepreneurs and their supporters. By understanding these antecedents, public policy can better guide actions to build the social capital of creative entrepreneurs, ultimately supporting the development of creative ecosystems.