"The Impact of Social Capital on Organizational Creativity (Mazandaran Province Natural Resources)"

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

reza alipour ¹

hossein mirzaei ²

¹ Ferdowsi University

² Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

https://doi.org/10.22067/social.2026.94359.1660

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the impact of social capital on organizational creativity. Organizational creativity is recognized as a key factor in enhancing organizational performance and innovation, and social capital may play a fundamental role in strengthening this creativity. To achieve this goal, various dimensions of social capital—including cognitive and relational capital—have been examined to determine how these factors influence organizational creativity. This applied research adopts a quantitative approach. The statistical population consists of 150 employees of the Natural Resources Department in Mazandaran Province (including the cities of Babol, Babolsar, and Sari), selected through random sampling. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires: the Social Capital Scale by Chang and Chang (2011) and the Organizational Creativity Scale by Smith (2013). Validity was confirmed through face validity, and reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS version 23.

The results indicate a significant positive relationship between social capital and organizational creativity. In particular, cognitive capital has a substantial impact on enhancing creativity, while relational capital alone does not show a statistically significant relationship. Regression analysis also confirms that cognitive social capital is the strongest predictor of organizational creativity. These findings suggest that the development of cognitive social capital can play a critical role in improving employee creativity and enhancing organizational performance.

Keywords

Relational Capital

Structural Capital

Cognitive Capital

Organizational Creativity

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