Benefits of membership in a business networking group

Abstract

The aims of the study were to explore the perceptions of members of a regional business network about the benefits of networking and the importance of such benefits. Furthermore it explores to what extent these benefits are realised within the regional network and what additional competencies members develop as part of the network. The one case at the regional level is made up of fourteen embedded cases. Twenty four interviews were conducted among different categories of members in the HunterNet network. Respondents confirmed that intangible benefits such as a sense of community and legitimacy, accessing knowledge, information and learning were important. Members of the Hunternet business network believed that these benefits can be realised in the regional industrial cluster and developed an appreciation of the competencies of other members. The table of the benefits of networking can be used as a discussion tool for learning within such networks.