Influence of entrepreneurial social network on the competitiveness and the growth of msmes based on the theory of structural hole

The objectives of this research were to study the factors of structural hole in entrepreneurial social network, the determinants of competitiveness and growth of MSMEs, and the influence mechanism between entrepreneurial social resources and the growth of MSMEs based on structural hole theory. The research was a quantitative research used survey questionnaires to collect data from entrepreneurs or senior managers of MSMEs in China. Independent variables composted of two dimensions of structure hole including richness and diversity while mediating variable was ability to deal with sudden difficulties and industrial policy changes, independent variable was the growth of MSMEs. Pearson Correlation and One-Way ANOVA were employed to test the relationships among variables. The findings of this study showed that relationships between the structural hole, the competitiveness, and the growth of MSMEs are significance, and also revealed the intrinsic value of entrepreneurial social network on the growth of MSMEs, and it provided a new perspective of the social resources of entrepreneurs supporting the growth of MSMEs. The findings also offered a theoretical and practical reference for entrepreneurs in choosing, shaping and optimizing their social networks, in order to increase the competitiveness of their enterprises, so as to reach the development of MSMEs