| Professional networks are considered critical assets for entrepreneurial and career success, especially in emerging and turbulent high-tech industries (Nohria, 1992 Saxenian, 1996). One mechanism for developing and maintaining these professional networks is social network brokers---organizations that link together professionals with complementary needs (Aldrich & Zimmer, 1985). Using an embedded case study design with qualitative and quantitative data from the industry, organizational, and individual levels of analysis, this research examines how and why professionals in the Los Angeles digital media industry use a social network broker, Venice Interactive Community (VIC), for career and professional development.Qualitative data analysis revealed that the digital media industry in Los Angeles has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, yet no clear career development path for the industry's constituent professional network has emerged. Nonetheless, the study's findings showed that VIC plays an important, yet subtle role for career development in an evolving industry sharing cultural values from Silicon Valley's high-tech regional industry culture and Los Angeles' incumbent entertainment regional industry culture.Paired sample t-tests using survey data from 169 respondents indicated that while utilization rates of the social network broker varied across its different service offerings, face-to-face offerings were perceived as more valuable than virtual, online components. Exploratory regression analyses revealed a strong positive relationship between two key boundaryless career paradigm variables, career development autonomy and industry commitment, and the utilization of the social network broker. Furthermore, a strong positive relationship was found between career development autonomy and internal perceptions of career success. The role of community also emerged as an important feature of VIC as a social network broker, as the more individuals felt a sense of community with VIC, the more likely they were to receive career-related benefits from using VIC.Integrating the multiple levels of analysis examined in this research, a strong cultural fit between the Los Angeles digital media industry and VIC as an organization was detected. Furthermore, cultural values and assumptions found at these levels of analysis reflected core concepts defining the boundaryless career paradigm observed at the individual level of analysis.Research findings suggest that social network brokers may benefit from developing a sense of community among their constituents. Furthermore, findings suggest that the boundaryless career paradigm and traditional definitions of organizational commitment need to be reconceptualized for the significantly more entrepreneurial New Economy. |
