BUSINESS NETWORKS

Business networks

Business networks

Theories of social capital

The concept of social capital (though not labeled as such) existed since the small communities formed and people interacted with the expectation of reciprocity and trust. Social capital is a broad term that includes norms and networks facilitating collective action for mutual benefit. Such a broad definition of the term makes it susceptible to multiple interpretations and use of which cover several theoretical traditions (Coleman, 1998). At one end of social capital can be regarded as a concept, based on the premise that social relationships have the potential to promote economic assessments or not the economic benefits for individuals and at the other end of social capital can be seen to reside in the relationship, rather than the individuals themselves. There was a significant and growing interest in the theory of social capital in recent years, as evidenced by its application in various disciplines and multiple subject areas.

This interest is due to call a concept as it integrates sociology and economics, and combines a number of ideas, including the civil tradition, civic ness, civic participation and social cohesion. Existing studies suggest that social capital has significant advantages in a number of economic and sociological results. There are significant unknowns surrounding our current understanding of the theory of social capital. We know that there are different relationships between determinants and consequences of structural elements or manifestations, and the interaction are largely unknown (Coleman, 1998).

Robert Putnam's social capital theory

The concept of social capital has been around for decades. Whereas physical capital refers to physical objects and human capital refers to properties of individuals, social capital refers to the relationship between individuals - social networks and norms of reciprocity and trust that arise from them (Robert, 1981). Thus social capital is closely related to what a little have called civic virtue. The only difference is that social capital calls attention to the fact that the civil power is the most powerful when embedded in a sense network of reciprocal social relations. Society many virtuous but isolated individuals is not necessarily rich in social capital. In other words, interaction enables people to build communities, commit themselves to each other, and to knit the social fabric (Bim, 2007).

Sense of belonging and the concrete experience of social networks (as well as trust and tolerance, which may be involved) can, allegedly, will bring enormous benefit to the people. Robert Putnam also seeks to track new and significant generators of social capital - and to explore some of the qualities that make them significantly. Religion special attention - not surprising, because from his point of view of religious affiliation account for half of all American social capital. Bunting (2007) reports about him, citing U.S. megachurches that usually attract tens of thousands of members, as the most interesting social invention of the late 20th century.

Discussion of Robert Putnam, social capital provides informal educators with a powerful justification for their activities - after all the classic conditions for the work of the ...