Using Data Envelope Analysis for Measurement of Entrepreneurial Network Performance in Manufacturing Firms

Abstract The aim of the paper is the analysis of the possibilities of measurement of entrepreneurial network performance in manufacturing firms, using Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) method – a non-parametric approach, allowing for the assessment of the effectiveness of the entrepreneur’s social networks in the context of generating information effects. The research uses data obtained from 30 randomly selected Polish enterprises to explore the levels of entrepreneurial networks and their information effects (as performance indicator). The research limitations are the following: the research is limited exclusively to Polish randomly selected entities, and the results cannot be generalized. The originality/value of this paper consists in the fact that this study constitutes both the contribution to the development of the discipline of management and practical guidelines for managers-entrepreneurs since it should be pinpointed that the recognition of the efficiency of gathering information from social networks can be the basis for the conscious creation of the effectiveness of acquiring information from social networks, and thus the conscious use of social networks in economic activity. The novelty of the results presented consists in filling the gap while conducting the research taking into account the assessment of entrepreneurial networks performance using DEA method.