Social capital in the workplace: a study on Generation-Y in Malaysia

The term Social capital has been widely used in individuals and groups in a social context, for example in communities, neighbourhoods, countries and regions. However, there are signs of similarities between these groups and that of business organizations to suggest that social capital studies of the former can be applicable in business organizations or the workplace. As Generation-Y (Gen-Y), who are born within 1978 to 1994, mature in their organizations and take on bigger roles, an effort to understand how Gen-Y perceives social capital in their workplace is required. This study aims to explore the relationships amongst Gen-Y and their internal partners, those working within the same organization, by measuring the bonding, and theme of Internal Social Capital and with their external partners, those relationships outside of their organization (e.g. suppliers and customers), by measuring External Social Capital. The proposition of this study is that Internal and External Social Capital make up the Social Capital of the workplace. Relationships between Social Capital and Job Satisfaction, as well as Career Development were also examined. To achieve that, primary data were collected through both quantitative and qualitative approach, using questionnaire results and interviews, with 89 respondents from the questionnaires and 13 respondents from interviews, with regards to social capital in the workplace amongst Gen-Y, to measure Internal Social Capital and External Social Capital, providing an insight to the study of social capital here in Malaysia with a focus on the Gen-Y workforce