scholarly journals Social Capital and Social Networks in the Life Sciences Industry Clusters. An Analysis of Selected Case Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-293
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Runiewicz-Wardyn
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Knowledge Spillovers ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Main Cluster ◽  
Evolutionary Paths ◽  
Different Origins

Abstract Subject and purpose of work: The study aims to explore the role of social capital in the new concept of “effective” cluster, by exploiting not only its human and financial assets but also the social networks with the cluster. Materials and methods: The study presents the case-study findings of the five life-sciences clusters which were conducted in 2018-2019. Additionally, the article discusses the role of social capital and the collaborative efforts within the life sciences clusters during the Covid-19 pandemic. Results: All the analyzed cluster environments have their own social dynamics. Considering the scale and scope of social ties, the Cambridge and Medicon Valley clusters conform with the concept of the “functional clusters”, while the Bay Area and Seattle clusters can be classified as “effective clusters”. Conclusions: All the cluster ecosystems have evolved from different origins and they follow different evolutionary paths. Yet, clusters with richer social capital achieve higher collaborative synergy, leading to an increase in knowledge spillovers and innovations. Public policies should focus on the active promotion of social networks and market-oriented intermediaries connecting main cluster partners.

Participation in Social Networks as Feral Information Systems

2014 ◽  
pp. 209-226
Author(s):  
Enrico Franchi ◽  
Agostino Poggi ◽  
Michele Tomaiuolo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Business Systems ◽  
Online Networks ◽  
Networks Of Practice

Social networking systems blur the distinction between the private and working spheres, and users are known to use such systems both at home and at the work place, both professionally and with recreational goals. In fact, several traditional information systems have been modified in order to include social aspects. However, in the vast majority of cases, social networking platforms are used without corporate blessing, maintaining their status as feral systems. This chapter provides some background notions about theories of participation in social networks. In particular, it reviews the notion of social capital, which may be important both for the individuals that are able to accumulate large amounts and for organizations. Subsequently, it shows the role of social capital in the participation in online social networking activities, in the various cases of virtual organizations, virtual teams, and online networks of practice. Finally, it describes the present situation and some possible prospects where social elements are being increasingly introduced into more traditional business systems, such as CRMs and ERPs, with great promises and mixed initial results.

Participation in Social Networks as Feral Information Systems

2015 ◽  
pp. 1947-1962
Author(s):  
Enrico Franchi ◽  
Agostino Poggi ◽  
Michele Tomaiuolo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Business Systems ◽  
Online Networks ◽  
Networks Of Practice

Social networking systems blur the distinction between the private and working spheres, and users are known to use such systems both at home and at the work place, both professionally and with recreational goals. In fact, several traditional information systems have been modified in order to include social aspects. However, in the vast majority of cases, social networking platforms are used without corporate blessing, maintaining their status as feral systems. This chapter provides some background notions about theories of participation in social networks. In particular, it reviews the notion of social capital, which may be important both for the individuals that are able to accumulate large amounts and for organizations. Subsequently, it shows the role of social capital in the participation in online social networking activities, in the various cases of virtual organizations, virtual teams, and online networks of practice. Finally, it describes the present situation and some possible prospects where social elements are being increasingly introduced into more traditional business systems, such as CRMs and ERPs, with great promises and mixed initial results.

Online Sisterhood

2016 ◽  
pp. 208-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane J. Utomo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Personal Income

Across developing countries, the role of social networks and social capital in facilitating women's access to income is well documented. However, less is known about how networks facilitated by social networking sites (SNS) may transform women's economic opportunities in these regions. In this chapter, I draw upon a relatively recent phenomenon of the use of SNS as a medium of trade in urban Indonesia. In 2010, I conducted preliminary interviews to examine the dynamics of Facebook-facilitated trade among urban middle-class married women residing in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. The interviews highlighted beneficial links between social media, social capital, and productivity – by means of increased personal income. However, this effective link between SNS and income-generating social capital is likely to be a rather distinctive example, as it depends largely on the class, gender, and cultural specificities that shape the nature of online and offline social interactions among my target group.

scholarly journals The influence of intangible forms of capital on farms 

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 251-262
Author(s):  
M. Lošťák
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Types Of Knowledge

Intangible issues, which are often very difficult to be quantified become more and more the field of interest of social sciences. There are many research works demonstrating that various types of knowledge, institutions, social networks, and social relations have a great influence on human activities as for efficient achievement of the actors’ goals. This paper relates expert knowledge (shaping professional qualification) to human capital and tacit knowledge (understood as a broader, general, and contextual knowledge) to cultural capital. Both forms of capital exist in their primary form only in concrete individual persons. Concerning collective persons (firm, community), cultural and human capitals are transformed into intellectual capital. Work with specific knowledge, tacit knowledge and capitals corresponding to them shows the role of social networks and social capital in their organization. Using the analysis of two farms based on natural experiment, the paper demonstrates the role of tacit knowledge and cultural capital (opposing to the overestimated role of expert knowledge and human capital). The conclusions outline social determination of both types of knowledge through social networks and social capital needed for an efficient work of a farm. 

Social capital, employees' well-being and knowledge sharing: does enterprise social networks use matter? Case of Tunisian knowledge-intensive firms

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Berraies ◽  
Rym Lajili ◽  
Rached Chtioui
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Enterprise Social Networks ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe objective of this research is to examine the mediating role of employees' well-being in the workplace in the relationship between the dimensions of social capital, namely structural, relational and cognitive social capital and knowledge sharing, as well as the moderating role of enterprise social networks between knowledge sharing and employees' well-being.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was performed within a sample of 168 middle managers working in knowledge-intensive firms in Tunisia. The Partial Least Squares method was used to analyze the data collected.FindingsResults highlight the importance of the dimensions of social capital as a lever for boosting knowledge sharing. It also reveals that employees' well-being plays a mediating role in the link between structural and relational social capital and knowledge sharing. Moreover, findings show that while enterprise social networks use does not moderate the relationship between employees' well-being and knowledge sharing, it has a positive and significant effect on knowledge sharing.Originality/valueOn the basis of a socio-technical perspective of knowledge management, this research pioneers the examination of the mediating effect of employees' well-being in the link between dimensions of social capital and knowledge sharing and the moderating role of enterprise social networks use within knowledge-intensive firms. Findings of this study may help managers of knowledge-intensive firms in boosting knowledge sharing within organizations, in improving knowledge workers' well-being and thus in motivating and retaining these talented employees.

scholarly journals The Role of Foreign Credentials and Ethnic Ties in Immigrants’ Economic Performance

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Different Origins ◽  
Immigrant Men

The literature has identified foreign credential devaluations and the shifting origins of immigrants to non-European sources as two factors that explain why some immigrants earn more than others. This study uses data from the Ethnic Diversity Survey to see how foreign credentials affect immigrants’ earnings, and whether immigrants with disadvantaged foreign credentials may be able to use ethnic social capital to mitigate the negative effect. Substantial gross earnings disparities exist among immigrant men and women of different origins, but much difference is due to human capital variations and duration of work. The study produces three major findings. First, foreign credentials benefit majority member immigrants but penalize visible minority immigrants. Second, immigrant men and women who maintain weak ethnic ties earn more than their counterparts with strong ties, suggesting that the enabling capacity of social capital for immigrants has been overstated. Third, there is no evidence of ethnic social capital being able to mitigate the negative effect of a credential deficit.

Social Capital as Network Capital: Looking at the Role of Social Networks among Not-For-Profits

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Prell
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Network Approach ◽  
Unique Context

Social capital's rise in popularity is a phenomenon many have noted (Kadushin, 2006; Warde and Tampubolon, 2002; Portes, 1998). Although the concept is a relatively old one, it is the works of Bourdieu (1986), Coleman (1988; 1990), and Putnam (1993, 2000) that often get credited for popularizing the concept. These three, while sharing a view that social networks are important for social groups and society, place differing levels of emphasis on the role of networks in building trust or the exchange of various types of resources. In this paper, I briefly revisit these three theorists, and the criticisms each have received, to provide background for discussing recent research on social capital from a social networks approach. The social network approach is then applied to my own case study looking at the relations among not-for-profits, and special attention is given to the unique context of not-for-profits, and how this context might elaborate or challenge current thoughts on social, aka ‘network’ capital. A final discussion is also given to some measurement problems with the network approach to social capital.

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