THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORK THEORY ON ENTREPRENEUR’S LINKAGES DEVELOPMENT

To embark on any housing project, a developer needs to have support from various parties. The housing and construction industries are interrelated; they are in a relationship where construction plays a major part in the development process. Housing developers need to have strong support from the contractor, consultant, and suppliers (CCS) in completing their project. Studying the CCS selection methods can enhance the knowledge on the application of the social network theory (SNT) in the housing industry. Questionnaires were posted to 600 private housing developers (PHDs) and 54 were returned. Findings conclude that social factors were given mediate priority in consultant and contractor selection but non-social factors were more dominant in material supplier’s selection. Before start-up, PHDs get more advice from their strong ties (family/relatives/close friends) in selecting the most suitable CCS; while at the start-up and later stage, PHDs get more advice from weak ties (individual/s from the same industry and their acquaintances). PHDs place their personal trust more on the strong ties providing information related to CCS.