TY - CHAP
T1 - The Role of Social Networks and Mentorship in MSME Growth
T2 - Scoping Insights from Indonesia and Beyond
AU - Malihah, Fadhila Dhia
AU - McMurray, Adela
AU - Manoharan, Ashokkumar
AU - Rajesh, J. Irudhaya
PY - 2026/1/1
Y1 - 2026/1/1
N2 - Social networks and mentorship are understood to play an important role in supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, there is limited empirical evidence on how MSMEs leverage social networking and mentorship to support MSMEs’ growth, especially in the Indonesian context. This chapter aims to identify how mentorship within MSMEs is influenced by existing social network structures and how both social networks and mentorship contribute to MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia. The methodology involves a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Scopus, Business Source Ultimate, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2021 to 2025. Drawing on Social Capital Theory (SCT) as a guiding framework, the analysis found that informal mentorship, often steeped in community and peer networks, is a critical factor in MSMEs’ growth. The significant finding highlights three major themes on the role of social networks as an important support to MSMEs’ growth, mentorship as a strategic guidance for entrepreneurial orientation, and organisational growth in MSMEs. The chapter concludes by proposing future research directions to examine the social networking and mentorship for MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia.
AB - Social networks and mentorship are understood to play an important role in supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, there is limited empirical evidence on how MSMEs leverage social networking and mentorship to support MSMEs’ growth, especially in the Indonesian context. This chapter aims to identify how mentorship within MSMEs is influenced by existing social network structures and how both social networks and mentorship contribute to MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia. The methodology involves a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Scopus, Business Source Ultimate, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2021 to 2025. Drawing on Social Capital Theory (SCT) as a guiding framework, the analysis found that informal mentorship, often steeped in community and peer networks, is a critical factor in MSMEs’ growth. The significant finding highlights three major themes on the role of social networks as an important support to MSMEs’ growth, mentorship as a strategic guidance for entrepreneurial orientation, and organisational growth in MSMEs. The chapter concludes by proposing future research directions to examine the social networking and mentorship for MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia.
KW - social networks
KW - mentorship
KW - MSMEs
KW - Indonesia
KW - social network structures
KW - Research directions
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105032524383
U2 - 10.4324/9781003666165-18
DO - 10.4324/9781003666165-18
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:105032524383
SN - 9781041127109
SN - 9781041127116
T3 - Routledge Advances in Management and Business Studies
SP - 200
EP - 214
BT - MSME Development in South and Southeast Asia
A2 - Weerakoon, Chamindika
A2 - Athukorala, Wasantha
A2 - Ekanayake, Athula
PB - Taylor and Francis - Balkema
ER -