No business person would deny the importance of financial capital. But social capital—the collection of “hidden resources” in one’s network of personal and professional relationships—is just as important to success, says a University of Michigan professor who will speak at a Nov. 9 conference in the Michigan Union Ballroom at U-M. The conference, “Social Capital and Information Technology Entrepreneurship,” will focus on such topics as networking in an information-based economy; recruiting, retaining, and training information technology talent; and encouraging local information technology entrepreneurship networks.

Speakers include Marvin Parnes, U-M associate vice president for research and executive director for research administration; Karen Bantel, managing director of the Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship in the School of Business; M.B.A. student Matthew Moore; Susan Lackey, president of the Washtenaw Development Council; Ken Nisbet, director of new business development for the U-M Technology Management Office; Steve Glauberman, president of the Ann Arbor Web design firm Enlighten; Rick Snyder, president of Avalon Investments; and School of Business Prof. Wayne Baker.

Baker, who has been studying the power of social capital since the 1970s, says the right kind of network can help a person get hired, get promoted faster and get paid better than peers who are not as well connected. Social capital also helps businesses attract investors and even fend off hostile takeovers, he says. Baker will lead a workshop during the conference designed to help participants evaluate their own social capital. from Baker at [email protected].)

The conference begins at noon and concludes with a reception at 4:30 p.m. A complete program is posted on the Web at http://itbiz.research.umich.edu. There is no registration fee, and lunch will be provided by the event sponsors: the U-M’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Division of Research Development and Administration, and Technology Management Office. Participants may register via the Web or by calling (734) 763-6048 or sending e-mail to [email protected].