Intellectual Capital Reporting in Iran

Abstract

This paper assesses the extent and quality of intellectual capital disclosures in the annual reports of the IRAN. This paper makes use of an Intellectual Capital Disclosure index constructed through a participatory stakeholder consultation process to develop a disclosure index which measures the extent and quality intellectual capital reporting in the 2011/2012 annual reports of 105 IRAN. The final index comprised 26 items divided into three categories: internal capital, external capital and human capital. The most reported items were joint ventures/business collaborations and management processes, while the least reported items were intellectual property and licensing agreements. The most reported category of intellectual capital was internal capital, followed by external capital. Human capital was the least reported category.The paper identifies a number intellectual capital items whose reporting could be improved to meet stakeholder disclosure expectations. In the internal capital category this included the disclosure of intellectual property. In the external capital category disclosure concerning ratepayer demographics and licensing agreements could be improved. While the disclosure of most items in the human capital category could be improved, particular attention should be given to entrepreneurial innovativeness and vocational qualifications