Organizational Psychology

The current paper continues a run of articles prepared by the authors regarding the theory and methodology of studying organizational social capital. Purpose. To analyze the inconsistency of social-psychological effects of consolidation of organizational social capital. Considering a social psychological view, social capital might lead to both positive and negative social-psychological consequences. Methodology. The research methodology is based on a social-psychological model of cognitive organizational social capital developed by the authors and methodological evidence of study in gorganizational social capital. Social capital is a multidimensional construct. Its measurement must be conducted on the basis of the three dimensions, namely structural, cognitive, and relational. Findings. The findings of the methodological research conducted are the following: 1) positive and negative consequences of the consolidation of social capital are called in the literature as “light and dark sides” of social capital. A light side is a positive effect, namely creating a trust-based atmosphere, commitment to the goals, values and group norms, resource exchange, and opportunity for collective interactions. A dark side is negative consequences such as the probability for abuse of trust, enforcement of group norms, particularism, ostracism against non-conformists; 2) a social-psychological antecedent for consolidation of organizational social capital is ultimately ethical behavior of leaders and managers towards staff members; 3) social-psychological processes and effects are the utmost importance of consolidation of social capital. Exceeding the measure of the development of social-psychological processes such as either accelerated group dynamics or frozen statics might lead to negative consequences in their development. Overrunning group cohesion can start the effects of conformity and groupthink, while the high level of trust leads to authority compliance. Breaking down reciprocal norms and justice facilitates the effect of social loafing and reducing organizational identity. Originality. Finding inconsistency, which affects the effectiveness of the consolidation of organizational social capital.