Achieving Success Through Social Capital by Wayne Baker

A Book Review by

Malavika Sundararajan

Achieving success could be and is often attributed by many of us to an individual’s intelligence, education, drive, passion and so on. In fact the author Wayne Baker states that most people perceive success to be an individual enterprise. However Baker goes on to explain that little do these people realize that in every walk of life it is actually our relationships with other people that help us achieve our goals. For example, our parents give us an education, teachers and colleagues help us learn new things everyday, friends or business acquaintances help us build a career, etc. In short Baker shows that “all the ingredients of success that we customarily think of as “individual”- natural talent, intelligence, education, effort and luck – are intricately intertwined with networks”.

Once Baker establishes the importance of one’s networks, citing established research studies, which show how getting a job, getting promotions or just selling products all depend on who all we know, with this foundation, the author helps us understand the importance of our social network and what social capital is.  “Social Capital refers to the many resources available to us in and through our personal and business networks.” 

The book is rich in its information about how one can evaluate, understand, develop and tap one’s social capital. Based on the research work of Ronald Burt, the author helps us understand key concepts and terms used in social network analyses like egos, alters and structural holes. Baker also introduces several exercises and techniques that are easy to use and can help us build strong networks. In addition, we are also made privy to the various types of networks, like close-knit tight networks versus large entrepreneurial networks and depending on what our purpose is which network would be most beneficial.

While the central focus of the book is tapping the hidden resources in our personal and business networks, the strength of this book lies in its courage to highlight the importance of being moral, ethical, honest and sincere in building and maintaining social networks.  For instance, Baker explains that, “If a person joins an association just to “network”, people see right through the false front. But if you join an association you believe in- one that has a mission you are passionate about- you will form new relationships as a natural by-product of your involvement with the association. Social Capital is the by-product, sometimes a very deliberate and conscious by-product, of the pursuit of meaningful activities.”

So while the apparent message of this book is that, one achieves success through one’s social capital (by developing and maintaining a strong social network), the deeper message is that, “In practice, “using” social capital means putting our networks into action and service for others”. It is only then, Baker reiterates, that you will be helped in return.

This book is an excellent primer to each and every individual interested in understanding how to build one’s social capital, and further how to achieve success through social capital. More specifically this book will be highly beneficial for MBA students and individuals interested in starting a new venture as well as for organizations that aspire to build social capital as one of their core competences.

Book Information: Title: Achieving Success Through Social Capital, First Edition, 2000

Author: Wayne Baker; Publisher: Josey-Bass, John-Wiley and Sons, NY, USA; Price: US$18.87

Rating Scale:

*- in terms of tips or concepts that can be learnt and applied

Overall rating (on a scale of 1-5: 1-being poor and 5 being excellent): 5

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