Intellectual capital and financial performance in social cooperative enterprises

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 712-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Bontis ◽  
Massimo Ciambotti ◽  
Federica Palazzi ◽  
Francesca Sgro

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and economic performance, with focus on social cooperative enterprises (SCEs) that work in non-profit sectors. Design/methodology/approach A survey was developed and administered in Italy. A final sample of 151 SCEs participated in the study. Data were collected on IC measures, social enterprise activities and economic and mission-based performance outcomes. Findings Two hypotheses that proposed a positive association between IC sub-components (i.e. human capital, structural capital and relational capital) and the economic and mission-based performance of SCEs were tested. Findings highlight that human capital contributes to explain economic performance which is positively affected by the presence of graduate employees and value added per employee. However, economic performance is negatively affected by the yearly training per employee. In addition, human and relational capital contribute to explain mission-based performance which is positively affected by yearly training, the value added per employee and the quality of relationships with customers. However, mission-based performance is negatively affected by the relationships’ quality with the reference territorial community. Therefore, relational capital would seem to affect only mission-based performance, and human capital influences both dimensions of corporate performance. Structural capital does not affect social cooperatives’ performance. Practical implications Some of the results in this study are particular to this research setting. It is therefore important for senior leaders of SCEs to take the results of general IC literature with a grain of salt. Whereas most of the academic literature generally supports the positive relationship of all IC sub-components (i.e. human, structural and relational capital) with performance outcomes, this is not the case in this particular study. Originality/value This is the first empirical study that has examined the linkages between IC sub-components and performance outcomes in SCEs in Italy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1084
Author(s):  
John Salinas-Ávila ◽  
René Abreu-Ledón ◽  
Johnny Tamayo-Arias

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the relationships between the dimensions of intellectual capital (IC) and the generation of knowledge in public universities.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was developed and administered in Colombia. A total of 209 researchers participated in the study. Data were collected through IC measurements concerning the research mission of the universities. Scientific publications from the respondents and the citations received were taken as proxies for the generation of knowledge. To test the hypotheses, structural equation modeling was used.FindingsHypotheses proposing a positive association between the dimensions of IC, namely, human capital, structural capital, and relational capital, and the generation of knowledge were tested. The findings highlight that human capital is indirectly and positively related to the generation of knowledge through relational capital, as well as through the path of structural capital-relational capital.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that directors of research at universities could improve the results of this activity by analyzing and understanding the dimensions of IC that contribute to the development of scientific capacities and the generation of knowledge.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that has examined the interrelationships between the dimensions of IC at universities and the generation of knowledge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1107-1124
Author(s):  
Zhining Wang ◽  
Shaohan Cai ◽  
Mengli Liu ◽  
Dandan liu ◽  
Lijun Meng

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to develop a tool measuring individual intellectual capital (IIC) and investigate the relationship between self-reflection and IIC.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed a theoretical model based on social cognitive theory and the literature of self-reflection and intellectual capital (IC). This research collected responses from 502 dyads of employees and their direct supervisors in 150 firms in China, and the study tested the research model using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe results indicate that three components of self-reflection, namely, need for self-reflection, engagement in self-reflection and insight, significantly contribute to all the three components of IIC, such as individual human capital, individual structural capital and individual relational capital. The findings suggest that need for self-reflection is the weakest component to impact individual human capital and individual relationship capital, while insight is the one that mostly enhances individual structural capital.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that managers can enhance employees' IIC by facilitating their self-reflection. Managers can develop appropriate strategies based on findings of this study, to achieve their specific goals.Originality/valueFirst, this study develops a tool for measuring IIC. Second, this study provides an enriched theoretical explanation on the relationship between self-reflection and IIC – by showing that the three subdimensions of self-reflection, such as need, engagement and insight, influence the three subdimensions of IIC, such as individual human capital, individual structural capital and individual relational capital.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngoc Phu Tran ◽  
Duc Hong Vo

PurposeIn developed countries, banks are perceived to accumulate a higher level of intellectual capital than firms in other sectors. However, this perception has not been considered or tested in the context of an emerging market such as Vietnam, which has one of the most dynamic economies in the Asian region. This study estimates and compares the level of accumulation of intellectual capital and its four components by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam. Furthermore, this study examines the relationship between intellectual capital and its components and the performance of financial and nonfinancial firms.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data collected from the annual reports of 75 financial and 75 nonfinancial firms in Vietnam from 2011 to 2018. A modified value-added intellectual coefficient model is adopted to measure the level of intellectual capital at firms. Various aspects of intellectual capital are considered, including the efficiency of human capital, structural capital, capital employed and relational capital. In addition, the generalized method of moments is used to ensure the robustness of the findings.FindingsFindings in this study indicate that financial firms in Vietnam have accumulated a higher level of intellectual capital than nonfinancial firms. In addition, intellectual capital contributes positively to financial firms' performance. Three components of intellectual capital – structural capital efficiency, capital employed efficiency and relational capital efficiency – positively affect performance by financial firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam. Empirical studies in the future should incorporate the efficiency aspects of these types of firms because different industries might have different characteristics, in particular, their current efficiency level, which might cause differences in relation to the accumulation of intellectual capital.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications for executives and policymakers in creating, managing and enhancing intellectual capital within the Vietnamese context, in particular in the financial sector.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study conducted in the context of Vietnam, with the following two objectives: (1) to measure and compare the level of accumulation of intellectual capital by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam; and (2) to examine the contribution of intellectual capital and its components to the performance by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Partiwi Dwi Astuti ◽  
Anis Chariri ◽  
Abdul Rohman

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between intellectual capital and competitive advantage in the hotel industry in Bali Province, Indonesia. The interrelationship between components of intellectual capital –human capital, relational capital, structural capital – were tested in this study, and testing was also carried out for the association of intellectual capital – represented by structural capital – with competitive advantage. Methodology: Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 172 questionnaires were sent to general managers of three-, four- and five-star hotels in Bali Province. A total of 109 questionnaires were returned and could be analysed (a 63% response rate). The analysis was performed using covariance-based structural equation modeling with AMOS 21.0 software. Main Findings: The findings show that between the components of intellectual capital there is a positive and significant association: human capital with relational capital, human capital with structural capital and relational capital with structural capital. The findings also show that structural capital has a significant positive association with a competitive advantage. Implications: Mobilising and utilising human capital as much as possible can create and enhance relational capital and structural capital. Willingness to realise, utilise, compile and develop organizational knowledge enables long-term competitive advantages to be achieved. Novelty: This study examines the association of intellectual capital – facilitated by structural capital – and competitive advantage, which researchers have not done before in the hotel industry.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Fiano ◽  
Marco Sorrentino ◽  
Francesco Caputo ◽  
Margherita Smarra

PurposeWith the aim to enrich the ongoing debate about healthcare management, the paper has a twofold intent: [1] to emphasise the interpretative contribution that intellectual capital can provide to a better understanding of the relevant role of patients in the healthcare sector and [2] to investigate the relationships between the three main dimensions of intellectual capital – human capital, relational capital and structural capital – and patient satisfaction in the healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachThe intellectual capital framework is contextualised in the healthcare sector, and the relationships among patient evaluations of human capital, relational capital and structural capital and patient satisfaction are tested via structural equation modelling (SEM) using primary data collected with reference to a sample of 561 Italian patients involved in post survey treatments in three Italian hospitals.FindingsThe role of intellectual capital in supporting a better understanding of processes and dynamics of patient satisfaction in the healthcare sector is underlined. The empirical research provides possible guidelines for recovery patients centrality in healthcare management.Originality/valueThe paper shows how an intellectual capital framework can support a better understanding and management of dynamics and processes through which patient centrality and satisfaction in healthcare management can be enforced.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Xu ◽  
Jingsuo Li

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare the extent of intellectual capital (IC) and its four components in high-tech and non-high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in China’s manufacturing sector, and to examine the relationship between IC and the performance of high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the data of 116 high-tech SMEs and 380 non-high-tech SMEs listed on the Shenzhen stock exchanges during 2012–2016. The modified value added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) model is used incorporating four components, namely, capital employed, human capital, structural capital and relational capital. Finally, multiple regression analysis is utilized to test the proposed research hypotheses. Findings The findings of this paper reveal that there is significant difference in MVAIC between high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. The results further indicate a positive relationship between IC and financial performance of high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. Specifically, IC is positively associated with firms’ earnings, profitability and operating efficiency. Additionally, capital employed efficiency, human capital efficiency and structural capital efficiency are found to be the most influential value drivers for the performance of two types of SMEs while relational capital efficiency possesses less importance. Practical implications This paper will provide a valuable framework for executives, managers and policy makers in managing IC within the Chinese context. Originality/value To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first empirical study that has been conducted on high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs in the manufacturing sector in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Rajabalizadeh ◽  
Javad Oradi

PurposeWhile prior research in the area of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure has mainly focused on firm, board and audit committee characteristics, there is little research on whether managerial characteristics are associated with IC disclosure. This study aims to examine the relationship between managerial ability (MA) and the extent of IC disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThe study sample comprises 1,098 firm-year observations of Iranian listed firms during 2012–2017. This study uses the checklist developed by Li et al. (2008) and adopts a content analysis approach and calculates the IC disclosure index in 62 dimensions within three categories: human capital, structural capital and relational capital. To measure MA, this study uses the managerial ability score (MA-Score) developed by Demerjian et al. (2012) for Iranian firms.FindingsThe results show that MA is significantly and negatively associated with the overall extent of IC disclosure and all the three components of IC (human capital, structural capital and relational capital). Further analysis shows that the interaction between MA and firm performance is positive and significant, suggesting that the negative relationship between MA and IC disclosure is less pronounced for high-performing firms. This study addresses the potential endogeneity issue by using the propensity score matching approach. The findings are also robust to the alternative measure of MA.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both the MA literature and the IC disclosure literature. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between MA and IC disclosure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niccolò Paoloni ◽  
Giorgia Mattei ◽  
Alberto Dello Strologo ◽  
Massimiliano Celli

PurposeThis systematic literature review analyzes and identifies research areas where researchers have already studied the role of intellectual capital (IC) in the healthcare sector. This review also analyzes how they carried out their work to understand future research directions.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is conducted through a systematic literature review. Therefore, following systematic literature review protocol, it was possible to select 225 papers. An analysis of the content was done to identify the main topics debated and understand what components of IC are the most studied by scholars.FindingsThe authors highlight how the components of IC (human capital, structural capital and relational capital) in the healthcare sector have not been discussed with the same frequency and intensity by researchers. The research shows that there are already widely discussed areas, such as structural capital, while other components of IC have remained on the shadow, such as relational capital. Human capital is the most undiscussed component.Research limitations/implicationsThe manual analysis of the articles can be considered a limitation of this work.Originality/valueThis systematic literature review makes several useful contributions. First, it enables others to replicate scientific research, thanks to its clear and transparent process. Second, it identifies the main areas of research and the main research methods. It enables researchers to identify which issues their work should address and suggests possible areas for future research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ridhwan Ab. Aziz ◽  
Ahmad Azwan Meor Hashim

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between the Intellectual Capital (IC) efficiency empirically. It consisted of human capital, structural capital, capital employed, and relational capital with the impact on the productivity of Islamic banks in Malaysia. The Pulic’s Value-Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) method with the extended and modified version introduced by former scholars was used to measure IC, whereas bank productivity was measured through Assets Turnover Ratio (ATO). Three internal factors that might have determinants effect on VAIC, namely bank size, bank risks, and leverage were further tested to find their relationship. Structural stability tests and dynamic regression models for panel data were also used for the data of 16 Islamic banks in Malaysia from 2009 to 2016. The panel-corrected standard errors estimation technique was used to estimate a panel regression model with bank productivity and VAIC as the dependent variables. The regression analysis suggests that Malaysian Islamic banks are depending heavily on the capital employed component of intellectual capital, followed by human capital, structural capital, and relational capital. The results also suggest that bank’s risks and leverage play a major role in determining intellectual capital. The findings may serve as a useful input for Islamic bankers to indicate whether the contribution of intellectual capital and its components needs further improvement which it has produced the best results, and internal factor might affect IC.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina Buallay ◽  
Ala’a Adden Abuhommous ◽  
Gagan Kukreja

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and employees' productivity (EP) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.Design/methodology/approachThe value-added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) is used to measure IC performance in 198 firms listed in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from 2012 to 2014. The pooled-corrected estimation technique is used to estimate a panel regression model with EP as the dependent variable. Firm size and sectors are controlled for in the regression analysis. The independent variable (IC) has been measured using human capital efficiency (HCE), structural capital efficiency and capital employed efficiency (CEE) in order to measure the value of IC.FindingsBased on the VAIC, the authors found that the values of IC investments are mostly generated from investments in human capital. The results of the panel-corrected ordinary least square indicate that VAIC and its individual components are positive and significantly related to variations in employees' productivity. HCE contributed the highest and CEE contributed lowest VAIC.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is to show the importance of investment in the human capital as a key contributor of firm's performance. Hence, this study encourages firm's leaders and management in the GCC to invest and focus their management/leadership styles on human capital to achieve their goals. To the best of the knowledge of the coauthors, this is the first study which empirically examines the relationship between IC and EP in the GCC region.


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