The effect of networking behaviors on the success of entrepreneurial startups

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is currently a popular topic for research due to the influence it brings to bear on multiple areas of life. Consequently, it is necessary to recognize the behaviors that boost the chances of entrepreneurs and their startups achieving success. This research primarily seeks to investigate the extent to which networking behaviors can influence the success of en-trepreneurial startups in Jordan. For this purpose, the authors propose and study six network-ing behaviors as independent variables, namely cultivating internal contacts, cultivating ex-ternal contacts, socialization, getting involved in professional activities, taking part in community activities, and raising one’s profile within the company. The dependent variable is the success of entrepreneurial startups. A quantitative analysis was conducted by distributing a questionnaire to startup companies in Amman, Jordan. The results confirm that the better entrepreneurs are at practicing these networking behaviors, the more influence they have on the success of their startups. Those behaviors that carry most influence are cultivating internal contacts, cultivating external contacts, and getting involved in professional activities. Finally, the research recommends further study should be carried out to make known the full impact of these six networking behaviors, in addition to encouraging more wholesale adoption of entrepreneurial networking behaviors to increase the probability of success for entrepreneurial startups.