Social Capital Perspective Research Articles

Multilevel Antecedents of Individual Social Capital and its Effect on Task Performance

This research employs the social information processing theory to examine the multilevel antecedents of individual social capital and its effect on task performance. Based on a dyadic sample collected from Vietnamese employees, the findings show that organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) can enhance an individual’s stock of social capital, which in turn is advantageous to task performance. At the same time, individual-level leader-member exchange (LMX) quality and firm-level innovative culture, respectively, play a prominent moderating role in the link between OCB and social capital. This research contributes to the coevolution perspective of social capital by identifying the significance of individual’s social endeavors in accumulating his/her social resources under the influences of social contextual factors.

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence: A Mixed Methods Study on Network Ties and Family Influence

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have gained in significance for all types of firms, including family-influenced firms. However, despite their idiosyncratic motives, little is known about the issues family-influenced firms face in adopting complex and knowledge intensive technologies, such as AI. Peculiar characteristics of AI technologies—specifically, autonomy, learning, and inscrutability— present both opportunities and challenges to family-influenced firms. To explore how family-influenced firms approach AI technologies, we adopt a social capital perspective and combine inductive qualitative and deductive quantitative research into a mixed methods design. In the first step, we conducted a multiple case study of eight case firms consisting of rich data from 112 interviews and additional archival documents. Building on within-case and cross-case pattern analysis, we reveal opposing implications of external social capital and (internal) family social capital on the adoption of AI. While external network ties with suppliers, customers, and competitors help overcome the challenges due to the unique aspects of AI technologies, family influence exacerbate those challenges. In the second step, we sought to test the conceptual framework that we developed with our multiple case study. Based on large-scale data from 1,444 firms, we find empirical support that increasing levels of external social capital with regard to suppliers, customers, and competitors drive AI adoption. Moreover, we find that family influence has a negative moderating effect on the relationships between supplier, customer, and competitor ties on the one hand and AI adoption on the other hand. Our study contributes toward a nuanced understanding of the idiosyncratic challenges of AI adoption faced by family-influenced firms, the role of both external and family social capital in this regard, and how and why AI-related characteristics cause owning families to exacerbate the AI adoption-related challenges.

A Social Capital Perspective to Explain Internationalization of Business Group Affiliated Firms

We construct a theoretical framework that offers two different forms (primary and secondary) of social capital to explain the mechanisms behind internationalization of business group (BG) affiliated firms. We propose that BG level interorganizational network ties creates domestic focus opportunity-motivation-ability in affiliated firm which is detrimental to affiliate level degree of internationalization. We further propose that affiliate level internal network configuration (combined effect of network density and network hierarchy) and external network relation (combined effect of trust and identification) create international focus opportunity-motivation-ability and alleviate negative effect of network ties on affiliate’s degree of internationalization. Our theoretical framework contributes to the global strategy of BG research where the key concepts of networks, social capital, and organizational international strategy intersect.

How spatial proximity facilitates distant search – a social capital perspective on local open innovation

ABSTRACT Distant search has evolved from the open innovation literature as an efficient mechanism to access external knowledge from heterogeneous fields of expertise. Despite its popularity and proven benefits, companies face multiple barriers to benefitting from distant search. In this study, we explore a local open innovation approach in which the spatial distance between solution-seeking firms and problem solvers was deliberately reduced to combine the benefits of distant search with those of spatial proximity. We studied eight local open innovation events and found that spatial proximity supports the implementation of open innovation, overcoming challenges of initiating organisational change towards openness, establishing trusting relationships for knowledge exchange, and successfully applying the external knowledge. By identifying social capital as the key success factor in local open innovation, our study contributes to the theoretical foundations of open innovation by showing how the dimensions of social capital enable key actions in each process phase.

From knowledge seeking to knowledge contribution: A social capital perspective on knowledge sharing behaviors in online Q&A communities

Previous research has examined knowledge seeking behaviors and knowledge contribution behaviors in online communities, but it is not clear what is the relationship between knowledge seeking and knowledge contribution, leading to a question on what drives knowledge sharing in online communities. Drawing on the social capital theory, this study proposes that knowledge seeking behaviors lead to knowledge contribution behaviors through online users' social capital which is accumulated as a result of knowledge seeking. Based on the data on >1000 online users' knowledge sharing activities in the Zhihu Community in China, this study provides empirical support for the proposed model and the result show that online community users' knowledge seeking behaviors have a positive impact on their social capital, which is further positively related to their knowledge contribution behaviors – a partially mediated process. This study enriches current research on knowledge sharing in the increasingly digitalized society, and the findings provide important insights on knowledge sharing activities that will help manage knowledge exchange more effectively in online communities.

Social capital in urban agriculture initiatives

PurposeThe study aims to investigate urban agriculture in the city of São Paulo from the perspective of social capital. The specific objectives are (1) to identify the effects of social capital on urban agriculture and (2) to investigate social capital formation (its sources and challenges imposed onto its development).Design/methodology/approachInitially, a review of the literature was carried out in order to understand the main concepts used in the field of study. Semi-structured interviews were also carried out with people from urban agriculture initiatives, and they were analyzed under the lens of social capital.FindingsAspects of social capital were recognized and organized in a framework including sources, effects and challenges. The first deals with consummatory or instrumental sources that generate social capital. The second deals with the following effects: generation of human capital, citizenship, engagement, access and mobilization of resources, and access to information. The third deals with the challenges to its formation related to homophily and the perception of benefits from this form of capital.Originality/valueUrban agriculture plays an increasingly important role in relieving the pressure generated by the food production system, being part of the solution to food security and sustainability issues. Many researchers recognize important social aspects acting on the dynamics of the movement and the effects of activities on the generation of social capital. The contribution of this work is to deepen the understanding of this type of capital in the context of urban agriculture.

Social ties, absorptive capacity, and the adoption of green innovation: a social capital perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how social ties (i.e. business ties and political ties) affect the adoption of green innovation in the context of emerging economies, separately and comparatively. In addition, this study also seeks to examine how absorptive capacity shapes the relationships between social ties and the adoption of green innovation.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model with hypothesized relationships is proposed and tested using regression in SPSS. This study’s sample consists of a dataset covering 272 Chinese firms (based on a total of 544 respondents) operating in various industries with two key informants in each firm.FindingsThe authors find that business ties and political ties both facilitate the adoption of green innovation, whereas business ties influence the adoption more strongly than political ties do. This study’s findings also show that absorptive capacity strengthens the positive relationships between the two types of social ties and the adoption of green innovation.Originality/valueAlthough scholarship has amply documented the role that social ties play in influencing corporate performance, few studies have considered how and under what conditions these ties can impact the adoption of green innovation. Overall, the authors add value to the environmental management and social capital literature by providing novel insights into the differential roles that business ties and political ties play in the adoption of green innovation under the influence of absorptive capacity.

Role of Actors in the Processes of Sustainable Development at Local Level—Experiences From the Czech Republic

In this text we are interested in the preconditions for, and opportunities provided by sustainable development at local level in non-metropolitan areas, i. e., in rural areas and villages. These areas are generally seen as having an important role in achieving sustainability. The literature review highlights the general principles of endogenous development with an emphasis on local resources including human potential and social capital, and the Czech context. In practice, the empowerment and cooperation of regional actors is crucial for the sustainable transition of rural areas; an analysis of the local situation was thus conducted from the perspective of social capital. Research primarily questioned the role of local actors in different areas related to sustainable development, their relationships and involvement in sustainability processes, as well as deficiencies in social conditions creating barriers to sustainable development. The research methods selected to answer these questions reflected the context-specific, scientifically-overlooked character of the theme of this research where emerging phenomena were at the center of our interest. A survey conducted with representatives of the National Network of Local Action Groups (LAGs) mapped the situation in 50 (out of 180) LAGs in the Czech Republic (28 % of the total number). Data were analyzed quantitatively (single and multiple-choice questions), in combination with qualitative methods which were used to transform and aggregate responses into conceptual categories which were monitored for frequency (to observe majority opinion). The diversity of local actors, their relationships and roles in the sustainable development processes was thus illustrated. A snapshot of actors' current involvement in specific areas of sustainable development was compared with their potential involvement in these areas illustrating the importance of social capital which is not always recognized in relevant policy documents. The engagement of these diverse actors in sustainability transition processes is less evident: in most of the categories of change, the role of public administration prevails. According to the respondents, these changes that would ensure a sustainable future of the regions are often not taking place. While some of these findings may be specific to geographically-defined regional conditions and the Czech historical context, the research raised theoretically relevant questions concerning the role of social capital in sustainability processes.

Social support acquisition in online health communities: a social capital perspective

PurposeThe authors empirically examined social capital factors affecting patients' social support acquisition with the aim of providing guidance to patients seeking social support online.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used social network analysis to extract data about social capital factors from online health communities and text mining to identify forms of informational support and emotional support grounded in online, text-based communication. Moreover, the authors employed a random coefficient model to understand the dynamic influence of social capital factors on both informational and emotional support.FindingsThe results from the empirical analyses show that structural connections have a lasting impact on the acquisition of both types of support; that is, social connections developed in the past will have an effect on the future. For relational capital, strong ties were less important; the quantity of connections mattered more than the quality when acquiring informational support. The use of health-related language increased the amount of informational support acquired. Over time, patients gained increasing social support, which primarily came from the patients' historical threads, likely via searches from peers facilitated by accumulated social capital.Originality/valueThe authors' research adds to the literature on social capital and social support in online health communities by exploring how the three dimensions of social capital affect social support acquisition. The authors' research also contributes to the online health care literature by examining social support from a dynamic perspective. Practically, the authors' findings provide guidance for patients on what decisions to make to acquire more social support.

How to Realize Business Model Innovation for New Ventures? Psychological Capital and Social Capital Perspective.

Business model innovation has become a necessary means for enterprises to break through path constraints, achieve sustainable development, and obtain sustainable competitiveness, which has been paid more and more attention by entrepreneurs and scholars. Based on the resource conversation theory and signal theory, this study constructs a research model with psychological capital (PC) and social capital (SC) as independent variables and business model innovation as dependent variables along the logical path of “resource acquisition-resource utilization.” By dividing business model innovation into pioneering business model innovation and perfect business model innovation, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore the impact of dual capital on business model innovation of new ventures. This study takes entrepreneurs from the eastern part of China's seven entrepreneurship active provinces as investigation objects, based on the analysis of the collected 242 valid questionnaire results, emphasizing that any single antecedent can not be a sufficient and necessary condition for pioneering and perfect business model innovation. In this case, we carried out research with a certain antecedent variable as the core and supplemented with other antecedent variables to form seven different configurations. The results showed that the combination of the antecedent variables could effectively achieve the pioneering and perfect business model innovation. The theoretical contributions of this study are as follows: (1) it enriches the research on the antecedents of business model innovation in new ventures; (2) it expands the application scenarios of resource conversation theory and signal theory; and (3) it is emphasized that the innovation of business model of new ventures is the result of the interaction and value-added linkage of various internal and external resources.

“Who you know affects what you know”: Knowledge transfer in the university–private partnership – a social capital perspective

The research literature on university–private partnerships shows that these partnerships can contribute significantly to the building of a knowledge-based economy. At the heart of this contribution is the practice of knowledge transfer. Through the analytical lens of social capital theory, this paper reports on a systematic review of 23 studies, from 2000 to 2021, on partnerships between universities and private sector organisations. The findings reveal inconsistencies in knowledge transfer, especially from the perspective of the cognitive frame of this theory. Based on these findings, a more rigorous theoretical framework is proposed for the enhancement of knowledge transfer in such partnerships, as moderated by the intermediary factor, and future research directions are suggested.

Parents with intellectual disability and their reflections about relationships and support

Summary It is reported that parents with intellectual disability are generally more likely to have depleted social networks and a lack of meaningful friendships. The aim of this study is to explore parents’ descriptions of the relationships in their networks and their reflections on support and what makes the relationships in their networks a valuable resource in their parenting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 mothers and 6 fathers. The data were analysed using content analysis and theoretical perspectives of social relations and social capital. Findings Three different network types were identified, including formal, informal, and formal/informal relations. Different types of support were identified as well as bonding, bridging and linking social capital, and strong and weak ties. A diversity of support and strong ties together with trustful relations seem to be the most important factors in building social capital for parents. Applications The study increases recognition of how parents reflect on their networks and what supports their social capital. The findings highlight the importance of professional awareness of the existence of social capital and how this is reflected among parents and can be used to improve social work practice.

Platform Firm’s IT Capabilities, External Informal Knowledge Governance, and Green Knowledge Integration in Low-Carbon Economy

Platform ecosystem provides internal firms with an abundant source of green technology knowledge for sustainable development. In a low-carbon economy, green technology could be accumulated via platform, thus utilized to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. From firm’s social capital perspective, this study explores the effects of platform firm’s IT capabilities and external informal knowledge governance on green knowledge integration. A theoretical model is constructed about their direct and interactive effects. Based on 372 samples of platform firms, the empirical test results show that IT capabilities have a significant positive impact on collaborative and sysematic green knowledge integration; external informal knowledge governance has a significant positive impact on socialized and collaborative green knowledge integration; and their interactive effects pose significant positive impact on socialized, collaborative, and systematic green knowledge integration.

“On My Head About It”: College Aspirations, Social Media Participation, and Community Cultural Wealth

Given the widespread use of social media among adolescents, online interactions that facilitate high school students’ college knowledge acquisition could have a transformative impact on college access patterns, especially for underrepresented students. Our study uses interview data collected from Black high school students in Detroit ( N = 24) to examine their experiences and perceptions as they prepare for the transition to post-secondary education. In contrast to traditional social capital perspectives that tend to dominate social media scholarship, we instead employ a Community Cultural Wealth framework to reveal how students access distinctive forms of cultural resources via online and offline interactions. Our findings suggest students used social media to access cultural wealth as they (1) developed post-secondary educational aspirations, (2) planned to navigate the post-secondary admissions process, (3) resisted stereotypes about youth from Detroit, and (4) engaged in platform-switching to cultivate their college information networks online.

From social capital to social cohesion: Syrian refugees in Turkey and the role of NGOs as intermediaries

ABSTRACT Since the first Syrian refugees arrived in Turkey with the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, NGOs have been a crucial actor in first distributing humanitarian aid and later facilitating refugees’ access to education, employment, and healthcare services. More recently, as intercommunal tension between Syrian refugees and the Turkish community has been increasing, many NGOs shifted their focus in building refugees’ social cohesion in Turkey. This study examines these efforts from a social capital perspective. We interviewed a total of twelve local/national, international and Syrian community-led NGOs working with refugees in İstanbul. We found that the intercommunal activities promoted by NGOs provide a space for both the Turkish and Syrian communities to meet, whose pathways would likely not cross otherwise. However, our study showed serious limitations in building bridging social capital as these activities attract participants already open to intercommunal dialogue and the language barrier hinders the sustainability of the relations. At the same time, however, we found that projects connecting refugees with people or institutions of authority have the potential to enhance social cohesion. These activities can facilitate refugees’ adaptation to the national system, which in turn entails more stable and sustainable relationship with Turkish people.

The generation of community social capital in the Poble Sec community plan (Barcelona)

ABSTRACT The perspective of social capital has gained prominence in the last 25 years in research and intervention in the social and educational fields.There is an open debate on the application of this concept in community action processes. The objective of this article is to identify and analyze the basic factors that influence the generation of social capital within the Community Development Plan of Poble Sec de Barcelona.A qualitative research process was designed in two phases: one to review the existing academic literature on the factors that generate community social capital, and a second focused on the case analysis of a Community Development Plan.Results such as the wealth of community associations, the feeling of belonging and the ability to mobilize neighbors to get involved in collective actions of a social nature, show that Community Development Plans can provide an adequate context for the generation of social capital.

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The purpose of this study is to explore the benefits of social capital obtained through the use of social media from the perspective of fashion. The study conducted in-depth interviews with 10 women in their 20s who utilized Instagram and YouTube for fashion-related activities. The results show that bonding social capital was related to Instagram and led increasingly to narrow and deep relationships with acquaintances who had already established offline relationships. The study also finds that informational benefit was derived from people who use Instagram image information for smart fashion consumption; in addition, positive feedback on their posts brought the emotional benefit of psychological satisfaction. On the other hand, bridge social capital developed from YouTube users and subscribers. The study discovers that YouTuber public communication or the exchange of opinions leads to an increase in bridge social capital, which is a wide and shallow relationship. Video-based YouTube brought informational benefits as a specific product description, and there were emotional benefits in terms of entertainment while watching videos that combined fashion and entertainment. This report sheds light on individual fashion activities on social media, which is discussed from the perspective of social capital.

The perilous path toward supply chain integration addressed from social capital perspective: An aggregated theoretical framework exploring the potential mediating role of knowledge sharing

The perilous path toward supply chain integration addressed from social capital perspective: An aggregated theoretical framework exploring the potential mediating role of knowledge sharing

Knowledge management system implementation success: A social capital perspective

BACKGROUND: Organizations develop knowledge management (KM) strategies with the intention to leverage knowledge across all functional areas. A knowledge management system (KMS) is used to facilitate KM processes such as the creation, storage, and application of knowledge. However, mere adoption and deployment of KMS do not warrant its effective use to facilitate knowledge-sharing efforts. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the facilitative role of social capital in the use of KMS by considering three social capital dimensions –cognitive (i.e., shared norms), relational (i.e., trust), and structural (i.e., social connectedness). METHODS: A case study strategy was used for this study. A mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative techniques was used to obtain relevant data for analysis. Instruments used to collect the data were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Documents regarding social policy, shared values, and shared goals were also obtained for triangulation purposes. A total of 15 respondents were interviewed while 73 respondents participated in the survey. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants and the survey data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The study found that each of the three dimensions of social capital has a positive and significant relationship with the use of KMS. Specifically, shared norms (i.e., cognitive social capital), trust (i.e., relational social capital), and strong connectedness (i.e., structural social capital) were good predictors of employees’ use of KMS while user attitude and perceived usefulness mediate social capital dimensions in terms of KMS usage for knowledge exchange or transfer in the organization. CONCLUSIONS: The application of social capital theory to KMS context should be a very important consideration by both researchers and practitioners due to the socio-technical nature of KMS and the need to recognize social capital as a mechanism for inducement and opportunity to promote KMS usage for successful knowledge sharing.

The link between HRD professionals’ social capital and career adaptability: a moderated mediation analysis of social network

PurposeFrom a social capital perspective, this study aims to shed light on the link between social capital and career adaptability by focusing on how social connections and interactions shape and nurture career adaptability. Drawing on socioemotional selectivity theory, the authors further examined the critical moderating role of age on the above relationship.Design/methodology/approachSurvey responses from 208 HRD professionals were analyzed via a moderated mediation analysis.FindingsThe results showed that there is a positive relationship between social capital (network size and intimate network) and career adaptability; frequent interaction increases intimacy, in turn enhancing career adaptability; and the indirect effect of social capital on career adaptability (via intimate network) is stronger when the employee is younger.Originality/valueThe most novel theoretical contribution of this study is that the authors lend empirical support to the connection between social capital and career adaptability moderated by age. The study also contributes to understanding how core aspects of social capital are inter-related each other and have directional relationships.