Journal of Intellectual Capital

Publisher:: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:: 2021-02-01

ISBN:: 1469-1930

Issue Number

No. 23-7, June 2022

Latest documents

GEO and sustainable performance: the moderating role of GTD and environmental consciousness
Purpose: Congruent with the world-wide call to combat global warming concerns and advance intellectual capital (IC), organisations are being pressured to ensure that IC is managed effectively to encourage green initiatives. In this regard, green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) is emerged as a relevant IC. GEO is recognised as a mitigating factor of environmental degradation in the literature. Although prior literature has observed the nexus between GEO and firm performance, the role of GEO in leveraging sustainable performance has been limitedly explored. This study explored the relationship between IC as a GEO and enterprises' sustainable performance through the moderating roles of environmental consciousness and green technology dynamism (GTD) in the context of two developing countries (Pakistan and Malaysia). Design/methodology/approach: Data provided by 296 respondents from 264 manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan and Malaysia were analysed through a three-wave research design. AMOS 23 software was used to perform covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM), while hierarchical regression analysis was applied using the SPSS 25 software to examine the causal relationships in the model. Findings: IC as a GEO significantly influences sustainable performance, akin to environmental consciousness and GTD. Besides, GTD has a significant moderating effect between GEO and financial and environmental performance in Pakistan and Malaysia but not between GEO and social performance. Environmental consciousness has a significant moderating role in the impact of GEO on financial performance in Pakistan and Malaysia, but not on social and environmental performance. Practical implications: The study's findings are useful for managers of Pakistani and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs to identify ways to encourage GEO to improve sustainable performance in their firms. The findings suggest that managers should effectively implement GTD and environmental consciousness to strengthen the GEO and sustainable performance relationship. Managers can use GEO concretely as a reference for the companies that intend to support the United Nation SDG-2030 agenda and to find new business opportunities for the implementation of sustainable development. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the link between GEO and sustainable performance in developing countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia. Although the influence of various intangible assets or IC on sustainable performance has been widely examined in the literature, the role of GEO as IC has been limitedly explored. This study extends the literature by adding to the knowledge of GEO as a form of firms' IC that enhances boundary conditions in developing countries.
GEO and sustainable performance: the moderating role of GTD and environmental consciousness
Purpose: Congruent with the world-wide call to combat global warming concerns and advance intellectual capital (IC), organisations are being pressured to ensure that IC is managed effectively to encourage green initiatives. In this regard, green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) is emerged as a relevant IC. GEO is recognised as a mitigating factor of environmental degradation in the literature. Although prior literature has observed the nexus between GEO and firm performance, the role of GEO in leveraging sustainable performance has been limitedly explored. This study explored the relationship between IC as a GEO and enterprises' sustainable performance through the moderating roles of environmental consciousness and green technology dynamism (GTD) in the context of two developing countries (Pakistan and Malaysia). Design/methodology/approach: Data provided by 296 respondents from 264 manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan and Malaysia were analysed through a three-wave research design. AMOS 23 software was used to perform covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM), while hierarchical regression analysis was applied using the SPSS 25 software to examine the causal relationships in the model. Findings: IC as a GEO significantly influences sustainable performance, akin to environmental consciousness and GTD. Besides, GTD has a significant moderating effect between GEO and financial and environmental performance in Pakistan and Malaysia but not between GEO and social performance. Environmental consciousness has a significant moderating role in the impact of GEO on financial performance in Pakistan and Malaysia, but not on social and environmental performance. Practical implications: The study's findings are useful for managers of Pakistani and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs to identify ways to encourage GEO to improve sustainable performance in their firms. The findings suggest that managers should effectively implement GTD and environmental consciousness to strengthen the GEO and sustainable performance relationship. Managers can use GEO concretely as a reference for the companies that intend to support the United Nation SDG-2030 agenda and to find new business opportunities for the implementation of sustainable development. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the link between GEO and sustainable performance in developing countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia. Although the influence of various intangible assets or IC on sustainable performance has been widely examined in the literature, the role of GEO as IC has been limitedly explored. This study extends the literature by adding to the knowledge of GEO as a form of firms' IC that enhances boundary conditions in developing countries.
CAOS in Italian hospitals during COVID: an analysis of healthcare intangible resources
Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the roles of relational capital (RC) and knowledge management (KM) during the COVID-19 in Italian public and private hospitals, considering that intangible elements are essential during periods of uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach: Authors used a qualitative design in a case study on two Italian hospitals that have different ownership structures, which are located in the epicentre of the pandemic in Lombardy. The study was carried out using the CAOS (“caratteristiche personali”, “ambiente”, “organizzazione” and “start-up”) model (Paoloni, 2021), which allows for comprehending and commenting on RC because of the connections between typical factors that influence an organisation. The model also allows for discussion of the use of a network and how it supports organisations. Findings: Findings of the analysis showed that during the management of the COVID-19 health emergency, ownership structure was not a discriminating factor, the created relationships were similar and they were considered in the same way. The relationships were mainly formal (except for contributions by associations or individuals) and temporary. The RC's reactive role in overcoming crises was confirmed, and the findings indicated that this result was possible also, thanks to the KM's role played within the organisation. Originality/value: Theoretical implications of the work are that it contributes to the sparse healthcare literature on intellectual capital (IC) and on RC and its relationships with KM. The practical implications are related to the creation of new relationships during the healthcare emergency between hospitals and the central government, which can be considered a useful lesson for the future. The theoretical implications derived from the analysis are generalisable to all organisations regardless of their type and location, as well as the practical implications are applicable to the entire national territory.
CAOS in Italian hospitals during COVID: an analysis of healthcare intangible resources
Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the roles of relational capital (RC) and knowledge management (KM) during the COVID-19 in Italian public and private hospitals, considering that intangible elements are essential during periods of uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach: Authors used a qualitative design in a case study on two Italian hospitals that have different ownership structures, which are located in the epicentre of the pandemic in Lombardy. The study was carried out using the CAOS (“caratteristiche personali”, “ambiente”, “organizzazione” and “start-up”) model (Paoloni, 2021), which allows for comprehending and commenting on RC because of the connections between typical factors that influence an organisation. The model also allows for discussion of the use of a network and how it supports organisations. Findings: Findings of the analysis showed that during the management of the COVID-19 health emergency, ownership structure was not a discriminating factor, the created relationships were similar and they were considered in the same way. The relationships were mainly formal (except for contributions by associations or individuals) and temporary. The RC's reactive role in overcoming crises was confirmed, and the findings indicated that this result was possible also, thanks to the KM's role played within the organisation. Originality/value: Theoretical implications of the work are that it contributes to the sparse healthcare literature on intellectual capital (IC) and on RC and its relationships with KM. The practical implications are related to the creation of new relationships during the healthcare emergency between hospitals and the central government, which can be considered a useful lesson for the future. The theoretical implications derived from the analysis are generalisable to all organisations regardless of their type and location, as well as the practical implications are applicable to the entire national territory.
Framing intellectual capital for elite athletes
Purpose: This conceptual paper proposes an intellectual capital (IC) framework dedicated to elite athletes (EA) to demonstrate the usefulness of IC on individual persons. Thus, it connects EA with the concept of IC. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is inspired by the classical IC dimensions (human capital, structural capital and relational capital), which are used to develop the IC framework for EA. An exemplary case study is used to validate the framework. Findings: It is argued that there is a need to adapt the traditional IC framework for EA. Therefore, this paper proposes a specific IC framework consisting of natural capital, sports capital and media capital. Research limitations/implications: This paper deals with EA and the sports industry, but should be extended to other sectors where aspects such as image and celebrity represent significant intangible resources. Practical implications: The proposed IC framework can help EA and their managers to better understand how IC value is created. Originality/value: This paper extends the IC concept to other fields of application, i.e. EA, and thus individual persons.
Framing intellectual capital for elite athletes
Purpose: This conceptual paper proposes an intellectual capital (IC) framework dedicated to elite athletes (EA) to demonstrate the usefulness of IC on individual persons. Thus, it connects EA with the concept of IC. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is inspired by the classical IC dimensions (human capital, structural capital and relational capital), which are used to develop the IC framework for EA. An exemplary case study is used to validate the framework. Findings: It is argued that there is a need to adapt the traditional IC framework for EA. Therefore, this paper proposes a specific IC framework consisting of natural capital, sports capital and media capital. Research limitations/implications: This paper deals with EA and the sports industry, but should be extended to other sectors where aspects such as image and celebrity represent significant intangible resources. Practical implications: The proposed IC framework can help EA and their managers to better understand how IC value is created. Originality/value: This paper extends the IC concept to other fields of application, i.e. EA, and thus individual persons.
Guest editorial
Guest editorial
Guest editorial
Leadership, culture, intellectual capital and knowledge processes for organizational innovativeness across industries: the case of Poland
Purpose: This study aims to present the overview of intellectual capital creation micro-mechanisms concerning formal and informal knowledge processes. The organizational culture, transformational leadership and innovativeness are also included in the investigation as ascendants and consequences of the focal relation of intellectual capital and knowledge processes. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a sample of 1,418 Polish knowledge workers from the construction, healthcare, higher education and information technology (IT) industries, the empirical model was developed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. Findings: The study exposes that the essence of transformational leadership innovativeness oriented is developing all intellectual capital components. To do so, leaders must support both formal and informal knowledge processes through the organizational culture of knowledge and learning. Furthermore, for best results of the knowledge transformation into intellectual capital, the learning culture must be shaped by both components: learning climate and acceptance of mistakes. Practical implications: Presented findings can be directly applied to organizations to enhance innovativeness. Namely, leaders who observe that the more knowledge is formally managed in their organizations, the less effective the knowledge exchange is-should put more effort into supporting informal knowledge processes to smoothly develop human and relational intellectual capital components. Shortly, leaders must implement an authentic learning culture, including the mistakes acceptance component, to use the full organizational potential to achieve intellectual capital growth. Intellectual capital growth is essential for innovativeness. Originality/value: This study presents the “big picture” of all intellectual capital creation micro-mechanisms linking transformational leadership with organizational innovativeness and explains the “knowledge paradox” identified by Mabey and Zhao (2017). This explanation assumes that intellectual capital components are created informally (i.e. human and relational ones) and formally (i.e. structural ones). Therefore, for best effects, both formal and informal knowledge processes, must be supported. Furthermore, this study exposes that the intensity of all explored micro-mechanisms is industry-specific.