Net social capital processes

Purpose - The paper seeks to use the concept of net social capital to help explain the behaviour of a business constellation, a group of entrepreneurial firms in different businesses that cooperate to their mutual benefit. Design/methodology/approach - The paper takes the form of an in-depth case study of the Canadian Groupement Quebecoise. Findings - The members of the group create and maintain net social capital among themselves in a variety of ways both social and economic and in turn use that net social capital outside the group in dealings with other organisations, profit and non-profit. Practical implications - The findings suggest ways in which firms can work with other non-competing firms. Originality/value - The concept of net social capital is novel and the study is the first of its kind that investigates such a tightly knit and productive business constellation.