Analyzing the Mediating Role of IT on Relationship Between Social Capital and Individual Performance in Organization

Abstract

Social capital can provide a suitable context for higher human resource productivity in the organization and exploitation of other organizational assets. As the administration of the firms is not possible except with the tools of information technology, IT tools expand the process of social interactions among individuals; they can play a crucial role in the success of exploiting social capital. Research purpose is to consider the importance of social capital in the organization and its impact on the individual performance level so that the role of the mediating variable of IT would be measured. Banks and financial institutions considered for survey purpose and implementation of the research methodology, as they are one of the pivot social organizations. Two sample groups selected including experts and experienced people in the field. After gathering information, using Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM), the factors influencing the relationship between social capital and individual performance were extracted. The result showed compatibility with theoretical concepts; IT plays a crucial role in the relation of social capital and performance. Also, social capital is not only independent factor in this relationship which affected by IT capabilities but also influences on organization’s IT features. This paper contributes theoretically to organization performance through the social capital and IT interdependency. Implications of results for practice and research are discussed.