Identifying Drivers for the Development of Virtual Social Networks in Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Abstract

The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying the effective drivers for the development of virtual social networks in identifying entrepreneurial opportunities. Virtual social networks, as a network of human communication, include WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms that include many opportunities in the field of entrepreneurship. The research was applied in terms of its purpose, and in terms of the nature and method of data collection, it was analytical-exploratory and of a mixed approach, in which Content analysis method was used in the qualitative part, and the MicMac method was used in the quantitative part. The intended sample in the qualitative section includes 9 experts, and in the quantitative section, it includes 20 experts who are proficient in the subject, who were selected by snowball sampling. The method of data collection in the qualitative part included library studies and interviews, and in the quantitative part it included the MicMac questionnaire. At the stage of library studies and interviews, 18 primary variables were identified, and 16 variables were used for quantitative analysis by adjusting the opinions of experts. After analyzing the data obtained from the MicMac questionnaire, 10 variables were determined as effective drivers. The results show that the most effective factor include; The size of virtual social networks and the presence of business contacts in virtual social networks and the least effective variable include; Transfer of information and existence of information resources in virtual social network.

Keywords

• social networks
• virtual
• opportunity recognition
• entrepreneurship