The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

Der langfristige Erfolg von Unternehmensgründungen hängt von ihrem Sozialen Kapital ab und damit von ihrer Fähigkeit, Netzwerkbeziehungen zu unterschiedlichen Partnern aufzubauen und zu gestalten. Dies gilt insbesondere in innovativen und durch hohes Investitionsrisiko gekennzeichneten Branchen wie der Biotechnologie. Erstens eröffnen diese Netzwerkbeziehungen den Zugang zu kritischen Ressourcen, wie beispielsweise Kapital, Information, wissenschaftlich-technologischem Know-how, aber auch Forschungseinrichtungen und Vertriebskanälen. Zweitens ziehen Investoren und potentielle Kooperationspartner die bestehenden Netzwerkbeziehungen einer Neugründung und insbesondere die Reputation der Netzwerkpartner als Indikator für die zukünftige Erfolgswahrscheinlichkeit heran.In diesem Zusammenhang bleibt zumeist unberücksichtigt, dass junge Unternehmen im Zeitablauf unterschiedliche Netzwerkbeziehungen pflegen sollten, weil ihr Ressourcenbedarf ständigen Veränderungen unterworfen ist. Ziel der Arbeit ist folglich, Aufschluss über die Entwicklung des Sozialen Kapitals junger Biotechnologieunternehmen zu geben.Aufgrund der Neuartigkeit der Forschungsfrage folgt die Untersuchung einem Grounded Theory Ansatz. Die Erstellung von Fallstudien in sechs Biotechnologieunternehmen, die unter ähnlichen Rahmenbedingungen operieren, dabei jedoch unterschiedlich erfolgreich sind, ermöglicht so, Aussagen über die Erfolgswirksamkeit des Sozialen Kapitals abzuleiten.

The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

The sharing economy is one of the most influential developments of the last decade. The emergence of new forms of organizing it brings with it has affected modern (business) life at multiple levels: Sharing organizations have blurred the distinction between the individual roles of provider, user, and employee; they have introduced organizational practices of coordinating members and communities; and they have sparked societal, political, and economic debates in multiple fields. These dynamics at the individual, organizational, and field level provide an opportunity for organization scholars to take stock of and theorize the sharing economy. This volume takes advantage of this opportunity by presenting a collection of empirical and conceptual work that explores the variety and the trajectories of new forms of organizing in the sharing economy, and in doing so builds on, rejuvenates, and refines existing organization theories. Together, the chapters included in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of theoretically grounded research that deepens our understanding of new forms of organizing and indicates future avenues for research.

Der langfristige Erfolg von Unternehmensgründungen hängt von ihrem Sozialen Kapital ab und damit von ihrer Fähigkeit, Netzwerkbeziehungen zu unterschiedlichen Partnern aufzubauen und zu gestalten. Dies gilt insbesondere in innovativen und durch hohes Investitionsrisiko gekennzeichneten Branchen wie der Biotechnologie. Erstens eröffnen diese Netzwerkbeziehungen den Zugang zu kritischen Ressourcen, wie beispielsweise Kapital, Information, wissenschaftlich-technologischem Know-how, aber auch Forschungseinrichtungen und Vertriebskanälen. Zweitens ziehen Investoren und potentielle Kooperationspartner die bestehenden Netzwerkbeziehungen einer Neugründung und insbesondere die Reputation der Netzwerkpartner als Indikator für die zukünftige Erfolgswahrscheinlichkeit heran.In diesem Zusammenhang bleibt zumeist unberücksichtigt, dass junge Unternehmen im Zeitablauf unterschiedliche Netzwerkbeziehungen pflegen sollten, weil ihr Ressourcenbedarf ständigen Veränderungen unterworfen ist. Ziel der Arbeit ist folglich, Aufschluss über die Entwicklung des Sozialen Kapitals junger Biotechnologieunternehmen zu geben.Aufgrund der Neuartigkeit der Forschungsfrage folgt die Untersuchung einem Grounded Theory Ansatz. Die Erstellung von Fallstudien in sechs Biotechnologieunternehmen, die unter ähnlichen Rahmenbedingungen operieren, dabei jedoch unterschiedlich erfolgreich sind, ermöglicht so, Aussagen über die Erfolgswirksamkeit des Sozialen Kapitals abzuleiten.