The bandwagon effects in networks: a literature review

The bandwagon effect is an adoption diffusion process among networks that results from pressure exerted by prior adopters in the extant environment. The absence of a review within this context is surprising given the relevance of networks and information contained within networks for individual and organizational decision-making, particularly in an entrepreneurial context. An initial screening identified 561 articles addressing the topic of the bandwagon effect among organizational and behavioral scholars. This paper reviews the current literature to identify relevant research streams, to synthesize definitions and constructs, and to look into antecedents that trigger such effects as well as their outcome variables. Relevance and opportunities for future research directions are outlined and highlighted with a particular focus on new venture value creation.