The Role of Social Networks and Mentorship in MSME Growth

Social networks and mentorship are understood to play an important role in supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, there is limited empirical evidence on how MSMEs leverage social networking and mentorship to support MSMEs’ growth, especially in the Indonesian context. This chapter aims to identify how mentorship within MSMEs is influenced by existing social network structures and how both social networks and mentorship contribute to MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia. The methodology involves a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Scopus, Business Source Ultimate, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2021 to 2025. Drawing on Social Capital Theory (SCT) as a guiding framework, the analysis found that informal mentorship, often steeped in community and peer networks, is a critical factor in MSMEs’ growth. The significant finding highlights three major themes on the role of social networks as an important support to MSMEs’ growth, mentorship as a strategic guidance for entrepreneurial orientation, and organisational growth in MSMEs. The chapter concludes by proposing future research directions to examine the social networking and mentorship for MSMEs’ growth in Indonesia.