1. NRU HSE International Laboratory for Applied Network Research
Applying SNA to Organizational Concepts, Part I (Social Capital and Knowledge Transfer)
Ivan Kuznetsov
May 27, 2014
NRU HSE International Laboratory for Applied Network Research

2. Article Info: “Social capital networks and knowledge transfer”
Authors: Andrew C. Inkpen, Eric W. K. Tsang
Journal: Academy of Management Review
Year of publication: 2005
Summary: Theoretical comparative analysis of social capital and knowledge transfer between members of 3 different network types
Question: How knowledge moves within networks and how social capital affects the knowledge movement?

3. Article Summary
Internal and external relationships between members of different network types vary greatly
Organizational benefits arise from knowledge transfer between network firms: the better efficiency of connections, the greater the benefit for organizations
Networks of relationships are a valuable resource both for individual and organization

4. Limitations 3 network types
Discussion of major network types is based on their typical members characteristics
Network knowledge transfer examined under only social capital concept
Limited facets of social capital dimensions (structural, cognitive, relational)

5. Network types

6. Network types
Intracorporate network – group of organizations with a unified corporate identity and joint headquarters
Strategic alliance - group of companies united by voluntary arrangements
Industrial district - independent firms operating in the same or related market segment and a shared geographic locality

7. Social Capital Dimensions
Structural – the pattern of relationships between the network actors which can be analyzed from the perspective of network ties, network configuration, and network stability
Cognitive – the resources providing shared meaning and understanding between the network members (Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998)
Relational – the relational dimension focuses on the role of direct ties and trust between actors

8. Networks & Social Capital

9. Networks & Knowledge Transfer

10. Individual and Organizational Social Capital
Social Capital can be created both on Organizational and Individual levels
Network knowledge transfer depends both on individual and organizational social capital
Three network types involve different dynamics between organizational and individual social capital

11. Conclusion
Social capital has significant influence on network knowledge transfer
Knowledge transfer drastically varies from one network type to another
Organizational and individual social capital affects both external and internal knowledge transfer