*****  To join INSNA, visit http://www.sfu.ca/~insna/  *****

Laurence,

The answer to your main question is 'definitely.'
In understanding how this works, it is imperative to distinguish between social networks
and social capital. Organizational social capital derives from the networks of individuals
in the company, but also from networks between organizational units and from networks
between organizations and actors in their environment. Note that these networks can
also hinder organizations and impede the production of social capital.
We extensively deal with these issue in two edited volumes:
* Leenders, R.Th.A.J. and S.M. Gabbay, 1999, Corporate Social Capital and Liability,
Boston: Kluwer Academic Press.
* Gabbay, S.M., and R.Th.A.J. Leenders, 2001, Social Capital of Organizations. New
York: JAI Press (also known as 'Research in the Sociology of Organizations,' issue 18).
In them you will also find many references relevant to your questions.
good luck, Roger


Date sent:              Fri, 13 Sep 2002 11:19:32 +1100
Send reply to:          Laurence Lock Lee <[log in to unmask]>
From:                   Laurence Lock Lee <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Can Companies / Organisations have Social Capital?
To:                     [log in to unmask]

> *****  To join INSNA, visit http://www.sfu.ca/~insna/  *****
>
> Hi,
>
> I've been lurking on this list for some time. Have to admit that I've never
> set foot in a socialogy department, but became interested in social network
> analysis through my work in KM and Communities of Practice. I also have a
> strong interest in how intangible assets drive company market valuations.
> Combining my interests in intangibles and social networks I'm now looking
> to do some doctoral studies on and around the question of what "social
> capital" means to publically listed companies? Is it only related to the
> individuals in the company? Is it related to how well they alliance with
> others? Is it related to corporate community programmes, environmental
> responsibility, health & safety? Can we measure it? ....etc. If so, is it
> correlated to market performance? Looking for any leads on who else might
> be working in this area and any useful references. ..... I have seen some
> of the work of Valdis Krebs which has explored the alliances angle....have
> found it inspirational.
>
>
> Laurence Lock Lee
>
> Principal Knowledge Management Consultant
> Computer Sciences Corporation
> Selwyn St., Port Waratah NSW 2304
> Ph: +61 2 49401777; Fax +61 2 49401865
> Mobile: 0407001628
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> "Ask, Act, Acknowledge"
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    --------------------------------------------------------------
                     Roger Th.A.J. Leenders
           Associate Professor of Business Development
              School of Management and Organization
                    University of Groningen
                          Landleven 5
              9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
               phone  :  +31 50 3637296 (office)
                         +31 50 3636543 (secretary)
                         +31 50 5713268 (home, also fax)
               fax    :  +31 50 3632330 (office)
             el. mail : [log in to unmask]
http://www.bdk.rug.nl/medewerkers/r.t.a.j.leenders/index.html
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

_____________________________________________________________________
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