EO, Network Resources, and Social Performance: Does Organizational Age Matter?

This study contributes to the limited established empirical research on the role of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and network resources on the social performance of economic development organizations. We examine how an organization’s EO and resources accessed through its connections within a collaboration network impact its ability to accomplish its goals, satisfy its stakeholders, obtain sufficient resources, develop social innovation, and influence regional economic development. Leveraging a sample of 97 collaborating nonprofit economic development organizations operating in the economically distressed region of eastern Kentucky, our results show that EO and network strength positively impact social performance. We also theorize that those effects are moderated by the age of the organization. Our work highlights the value of taking a holistic resourced-based view and considering boundary conditions in examining the social performance of organizations.