From your personal point of view, which is most important: your human capital (what you know) or your social capital (who you know) and why?
It may depend on the nature of task/work. For complex activities, who you know may be more important, especially to know what they know!
(what do you know) Is better than (Who do you know), Because the first lasts longer and works with all, While the (who do you know) is changeable because he or she may not stay in the organization.
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." said John Donne. Knowledge can be gained, sometimes with difficulty, but it is useless if—as in most (but not all) cases—it requires application and no one supports you. (Not to forget, most learning takes place through interaction.) In networked organizations, social media helps widen the "who you know" net, which calls increasingly for people skills both online and off-line. (Being liked or likable pays off too.) Indeed, some take this even further and claim it is not about "who you know" but, rather, "who knows you". This said, there can be no either/or: no one will succeed without a good dose of "what you know" and "who you know".
They are both important because the 'what you know' and 'who you know' are what makes one reach the top and succeed in this life. However, to choose between the two I think What you know (knowledge) is the most important because it is with you, everlasting while who you know (People) may not be there all the time and in most cases may even disappoint when the need is great. What you know would often lead you to the who you know in most times. Best regards
Dickson Adom
In Kurdish, we have a saying which goes as "knowledge -he what you know in your context- is better than parents". This means that what we know is with us wherever we go, while who we know may not be with us when we need them- be them your own parents. Based on this, I would day that what you know is more important.
It's all in application
I believe what you know is more important than who you know. Who you know, can help but it can create some problems.
In my opinion it depends on the situation, task... However I would also say that human capital can influence or build social capital: the more you know, the bigger social capital you can build, by connecting and attracting more people.
I believe that both are equally important. You can't have one without the other. They also link to economic capital. To me the capitals work together and we need equitable access to them. Probably the most important thing is knowing what to ask.
It certainly is important to be well connected . . . . but my experience has been that life is an ongoing learning process by which we strive to perfect ourselves and prepare to serve others more effectively. We are citizens of a world community and have the moral obligation to make this troubled world a better place.
Herewith are a paper I co-authored about Dr. Stephen R. Covey who offered profound insights about our lives -- and another paper recently in print about our social responsibilities in today's troubled world. I think these two papers express how and why I feel that what we know is so important -- and a lifetime endeavor.
Cam Caldwell
What you know is intrinsically linked and correlated with who you know. What you know leads you to join whom knows what you know, besides determine new knowledge and vision of what you will or shall know, influencing once more who you know.
This can be called virtuous circle or just be understood as a contextualist view, based on circunstancies that makes what you are, an objetive and simplified thought of Ortega Y Gasset. Very contemporary view and answer to this important interrogation!
If taken to ridiculous extremes, who you know is the final arbiter because knowing people and being capable of human relationships implies social/emotional intelligence. Without social/emotional intelligence, one's knowledge is necessarily truncated and deficient. That's my 2 cents.
What you know may be a necessary condition to build your self confidence and lay the foundation for you to access the opportunities available but, who you know can take you the extra mile to capture those opportunities. In a world of information sharing, what you know may be necessary but who you know is critical.
Human capital has skills, opportunities, aptitudes, talents, self esteem and self motivation. social capital consists of assets, wealth, investments etc. Personal point of view one has to balance these both aspects in order to excel in his life. Both has to play complimentary role while pursuing each other.
What you know is linked to who you know (and vice versa). That is, the two parts are connected/inter-related as many of the other comments have noted. I don't think they can actually be separated. For me, a potentially more interesting question is: who knows me/you/us? This is re-framing the issue towards thinking not necessarily about oneself and how one can 'get ahead' (the assumption of the question?) but how we might make ourselves known to others, and how we might share ourselves in the widest sense, with others?
What you know is very important but it will not be valuable without who you know specially in this democratic capitalistic economical model what you know is less significant.
sometime, you will investigate what you know through who you know and vise versa
Have a quality of life that makes you happy. This includes the capitals. Be a good friend and have good friends.
Knowledge comprises the Why, What, Who, Where and How.
Source: Erlach, C./Orians, W./Reisach, U. (2013) Wissenstransfer bei Fach- und Führungskräftewechsel. Erfahrungswissen erfassen und weitergeben (Knowledge Transfer in Business: How to Preserve and Forward Tacit Knowledge Based on Experience), Carl-Hanser-Verlag München 2013, ISBN: 978-3-446-43458-5, p. 57
Which is most important depends on the person(s) involved, the subject and the situation/context. Western cultures often focus on the What, Asian cultures often see the Who as more important - both might be right in their specific context.
I am looking at it from a educational leadership point of view, so neither concept is totally accurate. A well defined job description refines the selection process. If we are just considering an employment opportunity as opposed to our service to the global community. Then we will need to add a missing piece to this equation which is "who knows you?"
Both human capital and social capital are important.One is for self development and growth another for connecting to the whole world through human capital
Both are like arcs in a continuous circle. As you keep adding to what you know, you will attract more and more people of the type you would like to know.
And if you are able to spend time with the right people, you can be sure you will end up learning more and more, and so on!
Research on Health and Safety at Work suggests that what experts say depends upon where they sit and who owns the chair.See Bayer et al
From the point of managerial success, it is a well known fact that technical capability (ability to use tools, techniques and methods to perform the relevant work), human relation capability (the ability to understand and deal with people without creating disorders, negative conflicts and confusions), and conceptual capability (the ability to understand the organization as a total entity and to comprehend all activities and interests of the organization) are indispensable. Also intelligence, personality (appropriate), individual character (morality), personal management competencies (right attitude and positive thinking, continuous learning, balancing life and work, managing time, managing career, managing stress etc) are essential for achieving success (being good) and progress of success (being better) of what one does. All these competencies and right attitudes are under human capital.
Of course as mentioned by other scholars, one’s social capital will be a significant determinant of his or her success and progress of success. However, using social capital for being successful needs to be done ethically (without hurting others, destroying the optimism etc). Otherwise, there will be a danger. Those who help you might expect certain returns which will make you break laws, ethics and managerial policies, procedures, rules, etc). There may be a vicious circle as a consequence. Also human capital does not get reduced when it is used. It will get appreciated. But social capital may get reduced (fluctuated). Other people (who are out of one’s social network) may influence (owing to jealousy, or other reasons) and to diminish the quality and quantity of one’s social capital. Human capital is usually a thing which cannot be stolen by others.
Thus, human capital is more important than social capital.
While my sincere answer is why it is important? I suggest that people should focus on improving themselves and if they happen to know others, that is fine too!
Well I'll respond with question to the question, which is more important to catch fish the bait or the hook? May be "social capital" will help one to obtain a great opportunity, but it will be "human capital" that will determine the duration of the opportunity through continues deliverables.
Even to know what to know or you know, it is essential who to know. What you will know or what you know is an outcome of who you know in most cases. We have to be truthful, in today's society, the weight is solely on who you know, not what you know, assuming all know what a particular job or position requires.
In general - it's true - to my, and I guess - to our regret too.
Human capital (what you know) and social capital (who knows) are two mutually complementary and empowering forces / potentials important for smooth functioning and development. Both forces / potentials create conditions for increased activity, leading to synergies. This, in turn, creates a new quality of our, and above all, joint action - a source of creativity, efficiency and innovation.
Can we assume the true hypothesis: The quality of human capital is developed / strengthened by social capital, and the quality of social capital is shaped by the use / availability of human capital?
Interesting input! I do agree with Monika in the sense of the importance of social capital. Constituted by Mutual trust, reciprocity and recognition, high levels of social capital can facilitate knowledge transfer between and through people you connect with. On the other hand, low levels of social captial would probably hinder knowledge transfer (if that is the purpose, which is not outspoken in your question). This reasoning ends up to stress the importance of relations built upon trust. This is especially important in the relation between managers and subordinates where managers wants to transfer i.e. knowledge.
What do you know refers to Human Capital, who do you know to social capital. Both are important and both can complement each other. If one is weak in human capital one might be able to compensate this with strengths in Social Capital and vice versa. Strengths in both can be often observed as high Human Capital (advanced education, skills, etc) are often obtained in a social environment that creates networks and by this also enhances social capital. So aspects of synergies are happening as well.
Both are of equal importance, because in light of what you know you can take what is appropriate.