University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research 2008-4838 52 2 2021 06 22 Conceptualization of Networking in Home-based Businesses based on Agricultural Products with a Qualitative Approach Conceptualization of Networking in Home-based Businesses based on Agricultural Products with a Qualitative Approach 343 353 82433 10.22059/ijaedr.2021.311869.668962 FA Ramezan Alizadeh Ph.D. Student, Department of Entrepreneurship, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran Gholamhossein Hosseininia Associate Professor, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran. Tehran, Iran Mohamadjavad Taghipourian Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran Journal Article 2020 10 14 Networks are important resources for business and entrepreneurship. The purpose of the current research study was to utilize a qualitative approach in order to conceptualize networking in home-based businesses based on agricultural products. Using random sampling method, 31 experts were recruited and interviewed until data saturation was reached. The interviews were then transcribed and after that, the transcribed passages underwent open, axial, and selective coding. These coding procedures were conducted by using MAXQDA software. In order to validate the findings, criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability were employed. Results showed that networking in home-based businesses can be identified as eight components including customer-orientedness, key contribution, knowing competitors, good products processing, channels of promotion and sale, suggested values, and material and spiritual supporters that were all conceptualized and their frequencies were estimated. Thus, it is expected that the results of the present study can efficiently contribute, at the theoretical level, to developing theoretical bases and offering new pathways, and at the practical level, to exploiting the target market within the realm of home-based businesses in general, and in agricultural products sector, in specific. It is hoped that such influences can help business owners to improve their current state of affairs. Networks are important resources for business and entrepreneurship. The purpose of the current research study was to utilize a qualitative approach in order to conceptualize networking in home-based businesses based on agricultural products. Using random sampling method, 31 experts were recruited and interviewed until data saturation was reached. The interviews were then transcribed and after that, the transcribed passages underwent open, axial, and selective coding. These coding procedures were conducted by using MAXQDA software. In order to validate the findings, criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability were employed. Results showed that networking in home-based businesses can be identified as eight components including customer-orientedness, key contribution, knowing competitors, good products processing, channels of promotion and sale, suggested values, and material and spiritual supporters that were all conceptualized and their frequencies were estimated. Thus, it is expected that the results of the present study can efficiently contribute, at the theoretical level, to developing theoretical bases and offering new pathways, and at the practical level, to exploiting the target market within the realm of home-based businesses in general, and in agricultural products sector, in specific. It is hoped that such influences can help business owners to improve their current state of affairs. https://ijaedr.ut.ac.ir/article_82433_b2ef2dc65c0a9960223fc71647a95bbd.pdf