Social network analysis in the pharmaceutical industry: a study of pharmacies and drugstores

Abstract

The purpose of this study is, by data integration mapping among pharmacies and drugstores, identify the effects of Information Technologies on social networks building and check if the social ties promote an environment of collaboration, even among firms that compete in the industry. Interviews and in locus observation were made in 66 drugstores and pharmacies from 11 districts of Vila Velha/ES. The social network analysis (SNA) was made using the software UCINET. Among the companies studied, 48 are connected through a social network of both formal and informal relationships, in which information can flow enhancing communication and integration in the industry. Pharmacies represent 66.67% of the most isolated companies, which indicates a trend of not belonging to the network compared to drugstores. The social network density was 4.20%, reflecting the existence of isolated vertices and components with a small number of vertices. If it was considered only the main component, the density rises to 7.62%, signaling that the social network density can be increased if the actors of the main component make enough effort to integrate the others. However, there is a wide range of possible connections that have not been established and that can help reduce the social network fragility.