{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,22]],"date-time":"2026-01-22T06:50:29Z","timestamp":1769064629511,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,14]],"date-time":"2016-11-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1479081600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JSIT"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,14]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study aims to show the role of social networks in the performance of small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in an inland region of Portugal. The main objective is to ascertain the motives for adhering to social networks and to understand if this type of network influences performance in this firm sector.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>To fulfill this aim, a quantitative research was adopted, based on application of a questionnaire, the final sample being formed of 86 SMEs.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that the SMEs studied are connected to social networks, especially Facebook. The principal reason for this type of firm connecting to social networks has to do with the possibility of presenting services to a greater number of potential customers.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The empirical evidence obtained also shows that the motives associated with cost reduction influence both financial indicators (profit growth) and non-financial indicators (human resource results), and communication and innovation influence only non-financial performance (level of satisfaction).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study contributes to advancing theory in the field of social networks in SMEs. More precisely, this study suggests that to assess their performance, SME leaders should not use only measures of a financial nature (sales volume, level of growth, etc.), but rather in combination with non-financial indicators such as customer satisfaction, reputation and others.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/jsit-06-2016-0036","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,11,18]],"date-time":"2016-11-18T13:11:13Z","timestamp":1479474673000},"page":"383-403","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Empirical study about the role of social networks in SME performance"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"M\u00e1rio","family":"Franco","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Heiko","family":"Haase","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Pereira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1108\/IMDS-07-2014-0205","article-title":"Factors influencing the use of social media by SMEs and its performance outcomes","volume":"115","year":"2015","journal-title":"Industrial Management & Data Systems"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref002","first-page":"401","article-title":"Adoption of social networks in business: study of users and potential \u2013 users in Oman","volume":"13","year":"2014","journal-title":"International Business and Economics Research Journal"},{"issue":"11","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"979","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.267","article-title":"The strategic impact of external networks: subsidiary performance and competence development in the multinational corporation","volume":"23","year":"2002","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref004","first-page":"123","article-title":"Internet technology: the strategic imperative","volume":"6","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Electronic Commerce Research"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-627X.2005.00138.x","article-title":"Strategic orientation, management characteristics, and performance: a study of Spanish SMEs","volume":"43","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Small Business Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref006","first-page":"27","article-title":"Competing effectively: environmental scanning, competitive strategy and organizational performance in small manufacturing firms","volume":"38","year":"2000","journal-title":"Journal of Small Business Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1016\/0969-5931(95)00023-2","article-title":"Social relationships and business networks: the case of Western companies in China","volume":"4","year":"1995","journal-title":"International Business Review"},{"key":"key2020121121113609700_ref008","volume-title":"Exchange and Power in Social Life","year":"1964"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.1016\/S0149-2063(03)00087-4","article-title":"The network paradigm in organizational research: a review and typology","volume":"29","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121121113609700_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x","article-title":"Social network sites: definition, history, and scholarship","volume":"13","year":"2007","journal-title":"Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication"},{"key":"key2020121121113609700_ref011","unstructured":"Bradley, A. 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