Measurement model for social capital: extending social capital in internationalization of SMEs

Social capital constituted of network relationships allows access to resources and opportunities outside the firm. This study aims to explore the relationship between social capital and the internationalization of SMEs along with developing a dimensional measurement model of social capital in this context. The investigation involved primary data collected from Indian SMEs and empirically tested by applying direct relationship test, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Further, the measurement model has been tested for reliability and validity. Formal network relationships, informal network relationships, and intermediary network relationships are found valid and reliable dimensions of social capital in SMEs, establishing the claim for social capital as a multi-dimensional construct. The study further claimed the existence of a direct and significant relationship between social capital and internationalization of SMEs. The study provides implications for practitioners in setting objectives to take maximum leverage of social capital at both individual and firm levels. These firms can be assisted in devising strategies for growth and expansion by managing their social capital. The study clears ground for further studies to work on constituents of social capital in different contexts. Le capital social constitu & eacute; de relations en r & eacute;seau permet d'acc & eacute;der & agrave; des ressources et des opportunit & eacute;s en dehors de l'entreprise. Cette & eacute;tude vise & agrave; explorer la relation entre le capital social et l'internationalisation des PME ainsi qu'& agrave; d & eacute;velopper un mod & egrave;le de mesure dimensionnelle du capital social dans ce contexte. L'enqu & ecirc;te a port & eacute; sur des donn & eacute;es primaires collect & eacute;es aupr & egrave;s de PME indiennes et test & eacute;es empiriquement en appliquant un test de relation directe, une analyse factorielle exploratoire et une analyse factorielle de confirmation. De plus, le mod & egrave;le de mesure a & eacute;t & eacute; test & eacute; pour sa fiabilit & eacute; et sa validit & eacute;. Les relations de r & eacute;seau formel, les relations de r & eacute;seau informel et les relations de r & eacute;seau interm & eacute;diaire sont des dimensions valides et fiables du capital social dans les PME, & eacute;tablissant la revendication du capital social en tant que construction multidimensionnelle. L'& eacute;tude affirme en outre qu'il existe une relation directe et significative entre le capital social et l'internationalisation des PME. L'& eacute;tude fournit des implications pour les praticiens dans la d & eacute;finition d'objectifs visant & agrave; tirer le meilleur parti du capital social au niveau individuel et de l'entreprise. Ces entreprises peuvent & ecirc;tre aid & eacute;es & agrave; & eacute;laborer des strat & eacute;gies de croissance et d'expansion en g & eacute;rant leur capital social. L'& eacute;tude ouvre la voie & agrave; d'autres & eacute;tudes portant sur les constituants du capital social dans diff & eacute;rents contextes.