Entrepreneurial Social Networks and Effectuation: A Systematic Review of the Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5020/2318-0722.2025.31.e15365Keywords:
entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial social networks, effectuation, effectual networksAbstract
The objective of this research is to investigate the relationships between entrepreneurial social networks and effectuation logic. Therefore, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was carried out following the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration (Kitchenham & Charters, 2009). The searches were carried out on the Portal de Periódicos Capes, using the keywords: social networks and effectuation. Initially, 163 potentially relevant references were found, and after the selection stages, 21 articles were selected to compose the sample. These were analyzed with the help of software such as Litmaps® and Bibliometrix®, followed by a synthesis of the main results, contributions, and gaps. The results show that the articles that deal with entrepreneurial social networks and effectuation logic are recent, most published between 2019 and 2024. The articles that make up the sample of this systematic review sought to develop a theory about the network formation process, explored the elements present in the entrepreneurial social network, and investigated the performance of networks in small businesses, in emerging markets, in the process of internationalization of companies, among other contexts. The SLR generates contributions such as the identification of scientific gaps to be explored in future research: lack of conceptual and empirical maturity on the emergence and structuring of networks from the perspective of effectuation; coexistence of characteristics of effectuation and causation approaches; understanding of how integration into networks promotes access to entrepreneurial resources and influences decision-making; and the performance of longitudinal and mixed studies in emerging markets.
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