NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS FOR BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY IN NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The present case study examines social capital from the perspective of a national entrepreneurship development centre. Considering that one role of the Malaysian government is to develop long-term competitiveness of entrepreneurial firms at a national level, social capital is recognized as providing a platform for connectedness among entrepreneurs within related business sectors. Based upon a case study of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB), the present paper proposes a causal network model in an attempt to describe and explain social capital concepts and processes within the context of business financing and servicing, instilling entrepreneurial value and culture in specific target areas, including the Bumiputera (sons of the soils) entrepreneurs’ development, government strategic initiatives, and policies targeting national entrepreneurial processes