In this research, we examine a unique resource for small business owners, industry peer networks (IPNs), and study how IPNs impact the performance of small businesses, in terms of implementation of marketing management and leadership practices. Industry peer networks are a unique form of "parallel peers" in which the members of the network belong to a sub-segment in a given industry that draws on similar inputs to provide similar goods or services targeted to different sets of customers. These non-competing (and non-colluding) members gather regularly in small groups (typically 20 or fewer carefully selected members), in an atmosphere of significant trust, to share knowledge, exchange information about industry trends beyond their core markets, and discuss issues related to company performance.
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