Understanding business networks : evidence from the manufacturing and service sectors in Australia
调查了澳大利亚中小制造和服务企业主对正式商业网络的态度，发现多数人认为网络是企业联合或交换想法，为政策制定者评估网络项目提供参考。
Following international trends, Australian government is currently engaged in a policy intervention program designed to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a group to undertake certain business activities. The Business Network Program (BNP) focuses on establishment of hard networks.(1) Even though there are similar programs operating in a number of Western countries, there has been limited research and review, both at empirical and applied levels. This article summarizes major findings of a recent survey on attitudes of small and medium-sized manufacturing and service sector enterprise owners concerning their involvement in formal business networks. Although there are many definitions of what constitutes a network, all of them broadly relate to a group of enterprises that have combined their talents and resources. For example, Australian Manufacturing Council (AMC) defines a network as the coming together of a group of enterprises of whatever size, to use their combined talents and resources to achieve results which would not be possible if enterprises operated individually (1990, p. 3). Buttery (1992) further emphasizes that organizations must also be involved in a long-term relationship. Network opportunities generally arise wherever firms draw on similar sources of information capital equipment, labor supplies and materials, or face similar problems of distribution and marketing. Firms that participate in a network, however, are still separate independent entities which compete freely in market place. Although involve collaboration, they do not necessarily reduce competition between participants. Table 1 Meaning of Business Networks Manufacturing Services Perceived Meaning (percent) (percent) Companies joining together 30 31 Exchange of ideas and resources 10 22 Contacts/inter-business communication 6 19 Positive and beneficial for firms 4 11 Meeting/problem solving 4 4 Cost saving/better performance 1 3 Promotion/marketing - 3 Other 22 23 Don't know 22 11 Method The sample was derived from manufacturing and service sectors, allowing a comprehensive examination of each and an overall comparison between two. Using a current internal AGB McNair Group database of over 250,000 across Australia, a random sample of 2,500 SMEs(1) in manufacturing sector was selected, along with a random sample of 3,000 SMEs in service sector. Interviews were carried out using a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing system. A pilot test of survey instrument was undertaken, based on a random sample of businesses included in research. Twenty successful interviews were conducted within each industry sector, and appropriate changes were made to ensure effectiveness of survey instrument. The final survey was then administered, resulting in 912 successful telephone interviews with chief executive or person most concerned with company strategy. See Table 1 for demographics of sample. Meaning of Business Network Before examining company involvement in business networks, it was first necessary to examine perception that selected owner/managers held of these terms. The largest single response from 30 percent of manufacturing and 31 percent of all interviewed, related to a perception that networks are about companies joining together with a common objective, working together, and co-operating. The second most common perception was that of being for exchange of and sharing of ideas, knowledge and technology, with 10 percent of manufacturing and 22 percent of service reporting this broad statement. …