Competitors As Advisors: Peer Assistance Among Small Business Entrepreneurs

Authors

Tera L. Galloway, Illinois State UniversityFollow
Kristine M. Kuhn, Carson College of BusinessFollow
Maureen Collins-Williams, University of Northern IowaFollow

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Advice networks, Coopetition, Peer advice, Soft support

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Long Range Planning

Volume

54

Issue

2

Abstract

For small business owners, competitors present a potentially excellent source of advice but one which many owners may view with skepticism. Drawing from the knowledge-based view and peer support frameworks, this study explores coopetition among small business entrepreneurs by examining owners' use of advice and support from both their direct and indirect competitors. Survey results from over six hundred small business owners indicate that their reliance on advice from these two types of peer competitors depends on both their perceptions of advisors’ ability to provide quality advice and whether they perceive their industry environment as more competitive or more cooperative.

Department

Small Business Development Center

Original Publication Date

4-1-2021

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101929

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

Recommended Citation

Galloway, Tera L.; Kuhn, Kristine M.; and Collins-Williams, Maureen, "Competitors As Advisors: Peer Assistance Among Small Business Entrepreneurs" (2021). Faculty Publications. 92.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/92