Dublin Core
Title
Cultivating social capital:
an exploratory analysis of business
postgraduates in Ghana
an exploratory analysis of business
postgraduates in Ghana
Creator
Robert Ebo Hinson
Description
Purpose – This paper, grounded on social capital and social networking theory, examines how postgraduate
students in Ghana cultivate and utilise social resources towards career development.
Design/methodology/approach – Following a qualitative study design, the authors recruited and
conducted interviews with postgraduate student-workers undertaking a two-year Master of Science in
International Business.
Findings – There was an active engagement and consciously pre-plan mobilisation of social resources and
utilisation of social resources among the postgraduates. Despite the diverse processes of social capital
development identified, four important key themes emerged underpinning social capital mobilisation and
utilisation: (1) the recognition of the importance of social capital acquisition, (2) the strong link between social
capital and individual successes in employment and business opportunities, (3) the importance of the utilisation
of social resources for emotional support and (4) the use of social capital to reinforce the individual social
identity and recognition of an individual’s worth.
Practical implications – The authors offer a theoretical and practical contribution with a frame of
understanding by demonstrating that there is more to social capital than economic gain.
Social implications – Unlike the findings from prior research in Africa, the strong institutional and cultural
conditions did not constrain the key force of education and employability as drivers in attainment and social
positioning. This is an interesting and positive finding from the research, especially in terms of the importance
of providing educational opportunities to overcome institutional and cultural barriers to workforce
participation and career development.
Originality/value – Social networks contribute to career success, and while the participants used social
networks that reinforced ethnic and religious bonds, there is the opportunity to develop networks through
other identity processes, especially education. Formal education imparts more than formal skills and
qualifications. It provides the opportunity to access networks that transcend personal identity such as ethnicity
and to get support for career development.
Keywords Social capital, Social networking, Higher education, Qualitative methods, Ghana
Paper type Research paper
students in Ghana cultivate and utilise social resources towards career development.
Design/methodology/approach – Following a qualitative study design, the authors recruited and
conducted interviews with postgraduate student-workers undertaking a two-year Master of Science in
International Business.
Findings – There was an active engagement and consciously pre-plan mobilisation of social resources and
utilisation of social resources among the postgraduates. Despite the diverse processes of social capital
development identified, four important key themes emerged underpinning social capital mobilisation and
utilisation: (1) the recognition of the importance of social capital acquisition, (2) the strong link between social
capital and individual successes in employment and business opportunities, (3) the importance of the utilisation
of social resources for emotional support and (4) the use of social capital to reinforce the individual social
identity and recognition of an individual’s worth.
Practical implications – The authors offer a theoretical and practical contribution with a frame of
understanding by demonstrating that there is more to social capital than economic gain.
Social implications – Unlike the findings from prior research in Africa, the strong institutional and cultural
conditions did not constrain the key force of education and employability as drivers in attainment and social
positioning. This is an interesting and positive finding from the research, especially in terms of the importance
of providing educational opportunities to overcome institutional and cultural barriers to workforce
participation and career development.
Originality/value – Social networks contribute to career success, and while the participants used social
networks that reinforced ethnic and religious bonds, there is the opportunity to develop networks through
other identity processes, especially education. Formal education imparts more than formal skills and
qualifications. It provides the opportunity to access networks that transcend personal identity such as ethnicity
and to get support for career development.
Keywords Social capital, Social networking, Higher education, Qualitative methods, Ghana
Paper type Research paper