L’utilisation des réseaux comme propulseur pour l’orientation de l’entreprise et la croissance de la petite et moyenne enterprise] [O uso das redes como propulsor para a orientação empreendedora e o crescimento da pequena e media empresa] [El uso de las redes como propulsor para la orientación emprendedora y el crecimiento de la pequeña y mediana empresa

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research undertaken with 121 small and medium manufacturing companies (smes) in Spain. The main aim of this study is to explore the impact of the use of networks on the development of entrepreneurial orientation and company growth. Considering the possibility to control possible biases and following suggestions made in previous studies, we have used objective measures of performance in this study. To analyze the data, we applied models of structural equations. The results indicate a positive impact in terms of the use of networks in the development of entrepreneurial orientation and they confirm the positive and significant effect of entrepreneurial orientation on business growth. Finally, they point out the direct and indirect effect of the use of networks on the growth of smes. © 2015, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.