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Mixing or Matching? The Influence of Voluntary Associations on the Occupational Diversity and Density of Small Business Owners' Networks

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Linda A. Renzulli

University of Georgia

Howard E. Aldrich

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Most employeeswork in large organizations, enjoying the potential benefits of forming career-enhancing intraorganizational networks. By contrast, small business owners must look to external contexts such as voluntary associations for their business-enhancing ties. This research discusses ways through which involvement in voluntary associations can enhance or diminish occupational diversity and density for owners' networks. Whether owners met their alters (members of respondents'business discussion network, individuals they nominated as persons with whom they would discuss business matters) in voluntary association memberships and whether comemberships are concentrated in one or dispersed among several organizations influence the occupational diversity and density of their networks. The article concludes that voluntary association memberships help owners overcome some of the career isolation produced by their social location.

Key Words: social networks • voluntary associations • business owners

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