Facets Of Social Capital Research Articles

The effect of social capital on exploratory and exploitative innovation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance new insights into how internal and external social capital (SC) facets influence exploratory and exploitative innovation directly, and indirectly through absorptive capability (AC), by drawing on the relational and knowledge-based views.Design/methodology/approachThe paper empirically tests the developed model using 135 survey responses from managers in construction contractor firms. Data were factor analysed, and path estimates determined using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results reveal that each social capital (SC) facet has direct benefits for both exploratory and exploitative innovation. The findings also show a mix of full and partial mediation paths between the facets of SC and innovation types through AC.Originality/valueExtant research linking SC facets with innovation categories is fragmented. Added to this fragmentation is the dearth of studies linking both intra-firm and inter-firm SC with exploratory and exploitative innovation in firms. This paper makes a novel contribution by testing a model of the direct and indirect links (through AC) between internal and external SC and both exploratory and exploitative innovation in the context of construction contractor firms. The findings show how both facets of SC are necessary for exploratory and exploitative innovation. It reveals the types of relationships and capabilities necessary for specific innovation objectives.

The Role of Citizenship Behaviors and Social Capital in Virtual Communities

This study proposes that organizational citizenship behaviors and social capital are influencing factors on knowledge-sharing in virtual communities, and it empirically tests these factors. The research model posits that the five dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior — altruism, conscientiousness, sportsmanship, courtesy, and civic virtue — influence social capital facets. In turn, the facets of social capital — social interaction ties, trust, norm of reciprocity, identification and, shared goals — influence members' knowledge-sharing intentions and knowledge quality in virtual communities. The model was empirically analyzed by structural equation modeling with respect to data from 424 users of virtual communities.The results showed that social interaction ties and identification of social capital have a strong impact on members' knowledge-sharing intentions and knowledge quality in virtual communities. Additionally, most of the organizational citizenship behavior dimensions have a significant impact on the facets of social capital in virtual communities.

The Facets of Social Capital

The emergence of the two facets of social capital, the individual and the collective, has contributed to much of the confusion in the field of social capital. The overall objective of this article is to elaborate on a theoretical model aiming at clarifying some bridges between the facets and dimensions of social capital previously suggested in the literature. Initially, the article shortly presents and discusses some important definitions of social capital. Furthermore, limitations and shortcomings of previous definitions are discussed. Moreover, a theoretical model is elaborated on suggesting that social capital comprises social resources that evolve in accessible social networks or social structures characterized by mutual trust. This model also emphasises some of the potential dark sides of social capital. The presented definition does not definitively address the theoretical uncertainties in the field; however, it suggests that a resource-oriented notion of social capital could be useful in bridging the facets of social capital.

Unsocial Capital and Self-Rated Health: Contrasts Between Latinos and Non-Hispanic Whites

A considerable body of literature has established a link between social capital and health. Although this research area has grown, very little of it has focused on the Latino population. Additionally, very few studies have examined whether investing resources in social capital should supersede investing in resources that create traditional forms of capital. Through structural equation modeling, this investigation focused on establishing a contextual investigation of social capital and health as it pertains to Latinos and non-Hispanic Whites. Utilizing nationally representative data from the 2000 Community Benchmark Survey, results show that although facets of social capital were significant for both groups, they were not as strong in promoting better health as other characteristics. In fact, only social trust was significantly associated with better health.

The role of social capital in sustaining partnership

Partnership is a dominant theme in education policy and practice in England and in other western countries but remains relatively under‐researched, especially with respect to what sustains a partnership. This article draws on a study of partnership working in the field of post‐16 learning that revealed the role of dimensions of social capital in supporting and sustaining the case study partnership. The research adopted a grounded approach and used multiple methods of data gathering including observations of partnership meetings, semi‐structured interviews and documentary research. The findings reported here focus on aspects of partnership working and facets of social capital that support and sustain partnership, including multiple layers of collaboration, networks and networking, high levels of trust and shared norms and values amongst key participants. The analysis suggests that the contested concept of social capital provides a useful theoretical frame for understanding the basis of sustainability in education partnerships.