ComeUnity CAPACITY BUILDING

Social Capital
Social capital is a form of economic and cultural capital in which social networks are
central, transactions are marked by reciprocity, trust, and cooperation,
and market agentsproduce goods and services not mainly for themselves, but for
a common good.
Social capital is a sociological concept about the value of social relations and the role of
cooperation and confidence to achieve positive outcomes. The term refers to the value
one can get from their social ties. For example, newly arrived immigrants can make use
of their social ties to established migrants to acquire jobs they may otherwise have
trouble getting (e.g., because of unfamiliarity with the local language). A positive
relationship exists between social capital and the intensity of social network use. In a
dynamic framework, higher activity in a network feeds into higher social capital which
itself encourages more activity.
Network Position and Benefits
In many organizations, members tend to focus their activities inside their own groups,
which stifles creativity and restricts opportunities. A player whose network bridges
structural holes has an advantage in detecting and developing rewarding
opportunities. Such a player can mobilize social capital by acting as a "broker" of
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