Banks and Business Networks: Management, Governance and Financial Implications

The book investigates the phenomenon of business networks in terms of management and governance processes, and the related effects on relations with the financial system in general, and credit institutions in particular. The research is meant to identify the governance processes of business networks and the relationships that come to be developed within the network. The central idea the book intends to investigate both under a theoretical perspective and surveying a sample of firms relates to the economic and financial implications of the wide net of transfers (knowledge, services) that develop through the network. How such relations interact with firm’s investing decisions, alter firm’s riskiness and eventually can impact on firm’s value are taken into consideration. Investigating how firm’s financing decisions might change as a result of joining a network becomes an intriguing question to be addressed. The book also investigates possible adaptations to rating modes to properly account for network effects on the economics of the firm. The point of view of credit institutions in approaching the assessment of firm’s creditworthiness within networks is also considered.