Mobilizing Social Capital with ICT

From a theoretical point of view there is no lack on contribution as to how ICT might affect the social capital of individuals, groups and societies. The number of thorough empirical studies has however been scarce. On recent European research initiative is MOSCITO (Mobilizing Social Capital in ICT based Organizations), involving researchers from University of Trondheim, University of Michigan, University of Nijmegen, University of Oslo, as well as Chimera and Telenor R&I. The goal of the project is to "generate new empirical insights and accumulate evidence in the form of practical organizational knowledge as to how organizations operating on an international scene can use specific communication technologies to develop, maintain, combine and exploit social capital". The project will focus on three central types of technological clusters: mobile applications, web-based applications and e-mails & messaging, and investigate how each of these clusters affects the deployment of social capital in work settings. The project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council and managed by Studio Apertura at NTNU, Trondheim.