本文旨在探討臺灣中小企業的網絡結構對於廠商經濟行動與企業績效的影響。網絡結構即是由廠商與上下游廠商合作或交易關係等連帶(ties)所構成。臺灣中小企業對外交易關係連帶可以區分為鑲嵌性的強連帶以及市場性的弱連帶,兩者各有其信任基礎與運作機制。本文採用社會網絡分析觀點,以臺灣中小企業的組織網絡為對象,將廠商所鑲嵌的網絡結構區分為三個構面:網絡規模、網絡鑲嵌度與網絡中介度,分別探討其對廠商經濟行動結果-新資訊與交易機會、社會資本與社會支持、以及控制利益與權力的影響,並推論這些經濟行動結果會對廠商績效有正面的影響。藉由本文的理論架構,可以解釋臺灣中小企業廠商如何運用企業網絡來強化的本身的績效與競爭力,並提供廠商企業合作網絡運作的實務涵義。
This paper studies how the network structure in which Taiwanese small-and medium- sized enterprises (SME) embedded influenced the economic action and performance of SME. Network structure is composed of inter-firm transactional or relational ties. In Taiwan, the ties between SMEs can classify two categories: strong tie and weak tie. The former is based on long-term cooperation relationship and deeper-level trust; the latter is more opportunistic and resembles arm's length transaction in market. This study argues that three dimensions of network structure-network size, embeddedness and betweenness, definitely influenced the economic action outcome of the embedded Taiwanese SME, including access of new information & new transaction chances, social capital & social support, and control benefit & power. Thus, the firm occupied better network position can exploit their network resources and get better performance. According this theoretic framework developed here, some practical implication will be given for Taiwanese SME.