Is social capital really intangible? Taking a relational practice perspective.

Abstract

In this paper, we gain insight into how intangible value drivers play a role and how social capital can be created in a process of organizational change. The building blocks of relational social capital are examined in closer detail. A Relational Practice Perspective puts concrete observable characteristics of social capital right in the middle of attention and offers a ‘language’ to make intangible resources more visible and manageable. Concrete observable characteristics of relational practices are listed in a conceptual framework, allowing to grasp better the dynamics of interaction between actors. An in-depth comparative case study illustrates the Relational Practice Perspective in the domain of organizational change. The way people do things with and to each other in concrete ongoing practices is highlighted and connected to our conceptual framework that in this way is illustrated and concretized. Moreover, our study indicates that the observable characteristics of relational practices are always embedded in a specific and complex relational context. Contextual features can be constraining or supporting the relational value drivers during organizational change and have to be integrated adequately in the study and management of these value drivers.