Firms cooperate in inter‐firm networks to foster their competitiveness and improve their innovation outcomes. In many cases, network facilitators who are either embedded in a lead firm or a third‐party organization manage the cooperation among the network firms. This qualitative study adopts a microfoundations perspective to investigate the behavioural antecedents of the network facilitators, their facilitation practices and the related network‐level outcomes. Results show that lead‐firm facilitators more strongly invest in trust‐building measures since they are considered deficient in benevolence and integrity. Without these investments, they run the risk that conflicts of interest hinder the stimulation of positive network‐level outcomes. Third‐party facilitators, by contrast, enjoy certain credits of trust and focus on balancing firm interests from the network's activation, but need to invest in enhancing their competencies and skills with regard to the industry the firms operate in. The findings contribute to developing a theory of network facilitation by providing a nuanced understanding of how network‐level outcomes can be reduced to individual‐level factors.

中文翻译：

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走向网络便利化理论：网络便利化的前提，实践和结果的微观基础透视

企业通过企业间网络进行合作，以增强竞争力并改善创新成果。在许多情况下，嵌入在牵头公司或第三方组织中的网络服务商可以管理网络公司之间的合作。该定性研究采用微观基础的观点来研究网络促进者的行为前因，他们的促进实践以及相关的网络级结果。结果表明，铅公司的推动者更大力投资于建立信任的措施，因为他们被认为缺乏仁慈和正直。没有这些投资，他们就会冒着利益冲突阻碍刺激积极的网络级成果的风险。相比之下，第三方促进者