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.

ICT based networks and trust networks; what is the connection?

Growth of new data coming out of on tele- and computer based traffic offers new opportunities to conduct such studies, and to analyse structures of collaboration patterns in distributed groups. Yet, the emerging field of network studies calls for a closer understanding of the relationship between patterns of mediated interaction and other more subjective relations, like trust and friendship. I have argued that observable interaction may be seen as indicative representations of a close relation, but not as confirmation. In particular in work settings, a high interaction level should not be seen as confirmative for close relationship, since much interaction is related to formal tasks. If you are interested in this topic check out the article Collaboration Patterns in Distributed Work Groups: A Cognitive Network Approach in the last issue of Telektronikk. This volume includes a number of article about the interconnections between telecommunication and social networks by Geoffrey Canright, Kenth Engø-Monsen, Richard Ling, Sebastian Schnorff and others.