Social Capital: The Crucial Link for Optimizing the Impact of Human Capital

Abstract

This is a qualitative case study that explores how social capital optimizes the power of human capital in enhancing government performance and realizing broader goals and objectives that benefit an entire country. Through the analysis of data pertaining to the Republic of Armenia, the study explores approaches to growing social capital to boost the power of human capital in the government. As such, the research reveals that several work dynamics contribute to growing social capital, among which reciprocal collaboration, idea exchanges, and socialization; shared values of mutual trust and respect among staff; enabling environment of learning, openness, and healthy competition; sense of ownership, teamwork, and team performance rewards; sense of belonging and regard for national goals across units of government; and elimination of political favoritisms among staff. Though many of these notions are discussed in separate works by social science theorists, this qualitative research bundles multiple strategies in a comprehensive discussion of building social capital within and among units of government that would measurably amplify human capacity and performance for the public good.