Paper info

Use of the Internet in maintaining networks in small businesses - a study in European art markets

Annukka Jyrämä and Teemu Ylikoski

The paper was published at the 16th IMP-conference in Bath, U.K in 2000.

This paper focuses on networks and relationships in an unusual type of market that ischaracterised by high uncertainty, the markets of contemporary arts. We discuss theimportance of reputation and legitimacy in entry to the network and argue that theways in which actors adapt to each other are changing due to the use of new media.However, the role of new media does not seem to affect the importance of personalcontact in creating relationships, particularly in these highly uncertain markets whererelationships are still founded on trust and friendship. Results are based on extensivequalitative interviews in four European countries.