The Relationship between Social Capital and Organizational Commitment of Employees in Zanjan Education Organization: (A Case Study)

Abstract

The social capital creates a purposeful system among the members of a group or a community and guides them towards a certain goal. Employees’ commitment to the organization is critical to its success. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social capital and organizational commitment of employees in Education System of Zanjan province. This was a survey and applied research. The population consisted of all employees in Education System of Zanjan (N= 264 people in four levels of organizational posts). Using Cochran's formula, the sample size was estimated to be 157 subjects. The sample was selected using quota stratified sampling method. The social capital and organizational commitment were measured using researcher-made questionnaire and Allen and Meyer’s questionnaire, respectively. The reliability coefficient of social capital and organizational commitment questionnaires was measured to be 0.87 and 0.77, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that the level of social capital and organizational commitment of employees was higher than expected and there was a direct relationship between social capital and organizational commitment. The social relations of studied staff were friendly and informal to achieve the organization's goals and values. These relationships were manifested in the promotion of their social capital and organizational commitment.