The husband andwife were interviewed regarding networking using a semi-structured questionnaire, toidentify their main network ties and the manner in which their network had developedhistorically. Their responses were mapped initially individually and later as part of thewider family pattern and validated via a series of follow-up interviews that consideredin depth individual mappings, their accuracy and additions. Hill et al. (1999) looked atthe transition from near-dependence on social networks to more focused businessnetworks as firms develop. The rationale for the decision to use a case studymethodology is therefore based primarily around the richness of network data,alongside the acknowledged role of case study research in the development of theory