Designing a model for the development of new small and medium businesses with an emphasis on the social capital of employees

Rasouli, Golnaz; Zahedi, Seyed Mohamad; Daneshfard, Karamollah

doi:10.22034/jvcbm.2026.581493.1746

Designing a model for the development of new small and medium businesses with an emphasis on the social capital of employees

Document Type : Original Article (Qualitative)

Authors

Golnaz Rasouli ¹

Seyed Mohamad Zahedi ²

Karamollah Daneshfard ³

¹ Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management, Tehran Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Public Administration, Public Administration Training Center, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management, Tehran Research Science Unit, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/jvcbm.2026.581493.1746

Abstract

The objective of this study is to design a development model for emerging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an emphasis on employees’ social capital. In terms of purpose, the present study is applied, and in terms of implementation, it adopts a qualitative approach. The research population consisted of managers, experts, and owners of emerging SMEs in Tehran Province. From this population, 21 participants were selected using purposive sampling through the snowball technique.Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and the data collection process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings of the thematic network analysis revealed six organizing themes, fifteen basic themes, and fifty-four initial codes representing the components and categories related to the development of emerging SMEs with an emphasis on employees’ social capital.The organizing themes were presented in six dimensions: “administrative rules and policies,” “innovative production practices,” “human resources and organizational learning,” “empowerment and knowledge development of human resources,” “financial support,” and “creation and development of infrastructures.”Emerging SMEs are considered highly effective and fundamental mechanisms for the comprehensive development of a country. Therefore, the growth and prosperity of these businesses require achieving long-term objectives by relying on employees’ knowledge, expertise, and social capital.

Keywords

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Emerging Businesses, Employees&rsquo

Social Capital, Human Resources, Organizational Learning

Subjects