Evidence-based modelling of organizational social capital with incomplete data: An NCaRBS analysis

Abstract

Organizational social capital is critical to effective organizational functioning. Yet, different aspects of social capital are likely to be present to varying degrees within any given organization. In this study, alternative blends of structural, relational and cognitive social capital are modelled using a range of key organizational variables drawn from an incomplete dataset. A novel evidence-based approach to the ambiguous classification of objects (N-state Classification and Ranking Belief Simplex or NCaRBS) is used for the analysis. NCaRBS is uniquely able to capture the full range of ambiguity in the antecedents and effects of social capital, and to do so by incorporating incomplete data without recourse to the external management of the missing values. The study therefore illustrates the multi-faceted potential of analytical techniques based on uncertain reasoning, using the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence methodology.