Social capital, a critical component in the development of organizations, refers to the resources ingrained in social ties or organizational relationships. It is composed of three dimensions: structural, relational, and cognitive. Extensive research has delved into defining and measuring social capital while highlighting its substantial impact on various aspects such as human capital, employee creativity, knowledge creation, resource acquisition, organizational innovation, and entrepreneurial activities. This foundational understanding sets the stage for addressing how social capital adapts to the evolving landscape of the digital technologies.

With the advent of digital technologies such as digital media, virtual reality (VR), and internet of things, social capital is undergoing a transformation. Technological advancements are reshaping modes of social communication and redefining traditional social capital forms. Online social relationships now permeate traditional boundaries resulting in altered structures of social networks. The interplay between online and offline interactions significantly influences information and resource flow. These dynamics can enhance social trust while simultaneously heightening individuals' perceptions of social risks. However, there remains limited understanding of how digital-era social capital functions and its impact on employee growth and organizational dynamics, emphasizing the need for further research.

This Research Topic aims to explore the characteristics of social capital within the digital technologies’ shifting landscape and investigates how it is constructed in organizations. By focusing on social capital's role in organizational growth at both the employee and company levels, this research seeks to advance social capital theory and shed light on its influence on individual and organizational development amid digital transformation.

To gather further insights into the interaction between social capital and individual/organizational growth in the digital age, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- The influence of emerging digital technologies such as digital media, virtual reality (VR), and internet of things on employees perceived trust and being trusted
- Trust among employees and its effects on employees' innovation and knowledge creation in digitally enabled companies
- The creation and evolution of team’s shared vision, cohesion in digitally enabled companies
- The psychological modes and mechanisms based on the evolution of social capital in the process of organizational digital transformation
- Managers' social capital and its effects on job performance and organizational growth in digital contexts
- Reshaping the relationship between leaders and subordinates and its impact on employee behavior
- Comparative study of social capital (structural, relational, and cognitive) between traditional companies and digitally enabled companies

We encourage the submission of various manuscript types, including original studies, literature reviews, and theoretical articles.

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Transforming Social Capital: Employee and Organizational Growth Enabled by Digital Technologies

Topic Coordinator