THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PROMOTINGENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS IN HOSPITALITY SECTOR IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the role of social networks and support systems, in promoting
entrepreneurial success in the hospitality sector in Delta State. The specific objectives of the
study are to: assess the relationship between social network density and the level of
entrepreneurial success, ascertain the relationship between social capital and entrepreneurial
success and evaluate the influence of support system quality on entrepreneurial success in the
hospitality sector in Delta state. This study adopts a cross-sectional research design. The
population of the study consists of 10 management staff and 64 general staff, amounting to 74
participants. A structured questionnaire was developed as the primary data collection
instrument. The collected data were coded and entered into the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and
percentages, were used to summarize demographic data. Inferential statistics, specifically
multiple regression analyses was conducted to examine the relationships between study
variables. The results of the study revealed that there is a significant positive correlation
between network density and entrepreneurial success in the hospitality sector in Delta State (r
= 0.582, p < .001). There is a strong, statistically significant relationship between social
capital and entrepreneurial success in the hospitality sector in Delta State (r = 0.634, p <
.001). There is a moderately strong and statistically significant relationship between the
quality of support systems and entrepreneurial success in the hospitality sector in Delta State
(r = 0.512, p < .001). The study concluded that the quality of formal and informal support
systems significantly influenced adaptability, innovation, and long-term business viability. The
study among other things recommended that hospitality entrepreneurs should build moderately
dense networks to improve trust and resource sharing without limiting innovation or exposing
themselves to redundant information.