Social capital in modern companies

The transition to flexible, interconnected and knowledge-intensive production of material goods and the service economy has given great importance to cooperation within and between companies. The command and control control cannot ensure the achievement of the set goals. A “social lubricant” is needed in the form of social cohesion and independent action based on trust and rational behavior. Project management, teamwork and decentralization increase commitment and mutual support and reduce social inequality. Social capital is the key to understanding sustainable economic growth, as it reduces dysfunctional conflicts, develops entrepreneurial spirit, and creates a favorable environment for investment. It occupies an important place in the company’s development policy, as it focuses on the interactions of subjects and organizational forms. Social capital can also be a characteristic feature of openly antisocial organizations, for example, the mafia, and in caste-based companies, the power of “special trust” prevents the development of general reciprocity and trusting cooperation. The relevance of the topic of the article is due to the interdisciplinary (sociology, management, psychology) attention to the role of social structures in the process of achieving organizational goals. The article examines in detail the advantages of social capital and the influence of context on the effectiveness of its use.