Social Capital and HRD: Provocative Insights from Critical Management Studies
Advances in Developing Human Resources, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 413-435, 2007
Posted: 6 Oct 2007
Abstract
This paper initiates a critical management studies (CMS) evaluation of social capital in an HRD context by drawing on insights from both Foucault and Habermas. Alternative interpretations of three seminal social capital concepts - weak ties, structural holes and social resources - are presented. Pragmatic, albeit critical, insights for HRD theory and practice are illustrated to counter-balance the managerialist appropriation of social capital in pursuit of largely economic ends. It is argued here that social well-being is as relevant to HRD practice as economic well-being. Ethical dimensions are noted and avenues of reflexivity for HRD practitioners are suggested.
Keywords: critical management studies (CMS), Foucault, Habermas, human resource development (HRD), social capital
JEL Classification: D20, M12, M50
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation