Title: Racial identity and social interaction: the impact of 'diversity' on the structural dimension of organisational social capital

Authors: Giovanni Tagliapietra

Addresses: People Management and Development, Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Private Bag X680, 0001, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

Abstract: This study describes and analyses the impact of racial identity diversity on the structural dimension of social capital within multicultural organisations. Using data collected form multiple respondents of randomly sampled organisations operating in the municipality area of Tshwane (RSA), this study identifies as to what extent historically disadvantaged and advantaged identity groups interact socially within their companies. With the help of a self-administered questionnaire, many insights have been gained confirming some previous assumptions in regard to social identity processes in the workplace. Indeed, the structural dimension of social capital revealed to be highly affected by differences in racial category membership.

Keywords: organisational social capital; social interaction; racial identity; social psychological theory; knowledge workers; bonding; bridging; South Africa; structural dimension; social identity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2008.019786

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2008 Vol.9 No.5, pp.543 - 558

Published online: 30 Jul 2008 *

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