Publications
Publications
- 2008
- HBS Working Paper Series
The Strength of Peripheral Ties: Maintaining Status When Firms Lose Resources
By: Mikolaj J. Piskorski and Bharat N. Anand
Abstract
This paper examines conditions under which high-status firms can retain their positions, even if they lose resources. Firms are considered high status when they obtain ties from other high-status firms. Among high-status firms, we distinguish between those that also receive ties from peripheral low status firms and those that do not. Though the peripheral ties contribute little to firms' status, we hypothesize that they play a critical role in maintaining it in the event of resource loss. Specifically, following resource loss, high-status firms with peripheral ties will retain their status, but those without such ties will lose it. Results of an empirical examination of venture capital syndicate formation in the United States support for these predictions.
Keywords
Venture Capital; Resource Allocation; Rank and Position; Status and Position; Financial Services Industry; United States
Citation
Piskorski, Mikolaj J., and Bharat N. Anand. "The Strength of Peripheral Ties: Maintaining Status When Firms Lose Resources." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 08-067, February 2008.