The value added by social networking to the entrepreneurial process

Abstract

It is argued that entrepreneurship directly contributes to both employment generation and economic growth. Entrepreneurship is said to be subject to a very specific process which includes opportunity recognition, resource allocation, innovation and networking. Networking specifically, is an important part of the entrepreneurial process as it is used to assist entrepreneurs to capitalise on opportunities, allocate resources, find ways to innovate and combat ambiguity. With the advent of Web 2.0 and online social networking platforms the way in which people exchange information and network has changed significantly and has spawned a new social culture on a global level. The purpose of this study is to examine the value that online social networking adds to the entrepreneurial process, specifically focussing on the South African landscape. Copyright