Abstract
This research aims to characterize the intellectual capital in Ecuadorian companies and to validate the applicability of a scale suitable for this context, considering each of its dimensions (human capital, structural capital, and relational capital), as well as innovation aspects of the Ecuadorian companies. The study uses a mixed approach, including factorial analysis and descriptive statistics, using a sample of 88 companies from different economic sectors, located in a single province of Ecuador. The results verified the applicability of the scale and its usefulness for future studies; and they showed that there are different kinds of configurations of intellectual capital, based on the sector and type of innovation usually implemented by companies. In order to be more innovative, construction firms in Ecuador need to focus more on the structural and relational dimensions of intellectual capital, and accommodation and food services industries should orient their efforts toward further developing their human capital. Future studies may explore the opportunities for enhancing innovation performance based on the management of intellectual capital in more detail, using larger sample sizes.
Highlights
Today, knowledge-based organizations are an important part of modern societies (Berezinets, et al 2016), as companies compete by relying more on their intangible resources as key value factors (Sharabati, Jawad & Bontis, 2010)
Convergent validity was confirmed by verifying that the average variance extracted from each construct (AVE) was above 0.5, following the suggestions of Fornell & Larcker (1981)
The main academic contribution of this study was the adaptation and verification of a scale to analyze Intellectual capital (IC) in emerging countries. This scale can be used in future research, which seeks to identify relationships between IC and organizational outcomes, such as innovation and financial performance, in companies located in Ecuador or other emerging countries
Summary
Knowledge-based organizations are an important part of modern societies (Berezinets, et al 2016), as companies compete by relying more on their intangible resources as key value factors (Sharabati, Jawad & Bontis, 2010). These intangible resources, which produce important benefits to overcome the weaknesses of small and medium enterprises (Verbano & Crema, 2016; Jordão & Novas, 2017) can be technologies, employee skills, process innovations, organizational structure, creativity, industrial networks, or relationships with customers and external suppliers (Starovic & Marr, 2004; Keong Choong, 2008). Much of this research has focused on assessing and analyzing IC in developed countries, or in knowledge-intensive industries such as technology, pharmaceuticals, banking, and telecommunications
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