Internal Resources, External Network, and Competitiveness during the Growth Stage: A Study of Taiwanese High–Tech Ventures

Abstract

This study explores the performance implications of internal resources and external networks for entrepreneurial firms. A relationship of trust among network members is essential because of the high risk during the initial start–up stage. However, once high–tech firms initiate mass production and enter the growth stage, whether trust influences competitiveness more than resources becomes uncertain. This study examines Taiwanese firms to elucidate the main influences on firm competitiveness. In conclusion, the result indicates the competitiveness of high–tech firms during the growth stage is determined by firm resources and the willingness of support firms to cooperate—where willingness is determined by the trust of the support firms in the high–tech firm but is unrelated to firm resources.