Resource configuration, inter-firm networks, and organizational performance

Empirically-documented associations between network position and organizational performance could be driven by unobserved resources. I study this issue theoretically, by developing an equilibrium model of inter-firm network formation. Specifically, I investigate how an organization's resource configuration impacts both network position and performance. Under certain conditions, I show that variation in resources induces no relationship between performance and either degree or centrality; or this relationship is even negative. This result is driven by the existence of organizations that find highly complementary partners. Such organizations perform well and focus most resources within the highly complementary alliance, which in turn makes them less central. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.