TABLE 4
Mean Level of Networking, by Ownership Structure
Items Overall Mean by ownership T-test
mean Private State- t Sig. (2-
SMEs owned tailed)
SMEs
Long duration of relationship with
suppliers 3.44 3.52 3.26 2.853 .005
Visit suppliers/friends/relatives on
regular basis 2.03 2.13 1.81 3.817 .000
Offer personal greetings to suppliers 1.95 2.03 1.78 3.259 .001
Suppliers are managed by family
members or friends 2.53 2.63 2.31 3.274 .001
Pay to suppliers in time 3.66 3.67 3.64 .374 .709
Be regular clients 3.49 3.51 3.47 .399 .690
Availability to SMEs of alternative
suppliers 2.92 2.84 3.09 –2.297 .022
Notes: Five point horizontal scale, with 1 = very weak, and 5 = very strong.
Number of observations = 558.