The importance of network for SAF and Swedish companies

Olof Erixon, Region manager for SAF, Växjö

• A company or an association is an organised network, as well as other actors in public or private sectors. The networks for companies can be business associations (employers, chambers of commerce, industrial), business co-operative ventures (industrial, R&D, EU projects) or social (Rotary, religious).
• SAF and its member associations are a part of these networks, and SAF is lobbying for companies in a network form.

• ...give increased trust.
• ...reduce cost of transactions.
• ...spread the cost of risk.
• ...speed the decision-making process (trust!).

There are, however, some weaknesses in networks between SMEs:

• Too little cross-business interaction
• Too little cross-border interaction. The word "transnational" implies that there are no more borders, but mental borders do exist!
• Too few women in companies, they are too loath to give access to the boardroom. Why? Because SMEs tend to have weak boards of directors.
• Too little competence

The structure of the members in SAF: 30 000 companies have less than 10 employees, only 890 companies have over 200 employees, 12 000 have 11-200 employees.

• The big companies – like Volvo – give SAF authority to speak for all enterprises. They are members, but they do not themselves need SAF.