Social Capital Dynamics in Organizational Performance and Networks
Summary
Social capital encompasses the resources embedded within an organisation’s network of relationships, spanning cognitive, relational and structural dimensions. Cognitive social capital refers to shared norms and values that facilitate mutual understanding; relational social capital embodies trust and emotional bonds; structural social capital denotes the pattern and density of ties that enable information flow. Together, these facets influence innovation, knowledge sharing and resilience, shaping both individual and collective performance. Contemporary research highlights how dynamic shifts in ties—whether strengthening existing bonds or forging new bridges—affect adaptability in volatile markets, drive sustainable competitiveness and inform cross-sector collaborations. From multinational corporations to grassroots enterprises, the capacity to cultivate and leverage social capital has become a critical determinant of organisational success and network efficacy on a global scale.
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Social Capital Dynamics in Organizational Performance and Networks publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in social capital dynamics in organizational performance and networks across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Structural social capital: The configuration and density of an organisation’s network ties that enable or restrict information flow.
Relational social capital: Trust, mutual respect and emotional bonds that underpin collaborative relationships.
Cognitive social capital: Shared norms, values and understandings that facilitate common interpretation and coordinated action.
Network embeddedness: The extent to which actors are enmeshed in a network, influencing their access to resources and information.
Bridging ties: Connections linking disparate groups or clusters, fostering access to novel knowledge and innovation.
Bonding ties: Strong, homogenous relationships within a close-knit group, supporting mutual support and cohesion.
References
- Social capital as a facilitator of successful buyer-supplier performance management. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management (2023).
- Social capital and its effect on business performance in the Nigeria informal sector. Heliyon (2019).
- Nexus between social capital and performance of micro and small firms in an emerging economy: The mediating role of innovation. Cogent Business & Management (2017).
- Influence of Network Embeddedness and Network Diversity on Green Innovation: The Mediation Effect of Green Social Capital. Sustainability (2019).
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