Relative Importance of Intellectual Capital Determinants, Using an Artificial Neural Network Approach: Case Study - Mellat Bank of Iran

Abstract

Intellectual capital (IC) is the main part of intangible assets and provides competitive advantages for organizations. Therefore, evaluating these assets has a significant value for companies. The aim of this study is to determine the relative importance of IC determinants. Two kinds of questionnaires related to IC were used to collect data for Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. In the next step the accuracy of ANN is compared with Multiple Linear Regression and Nonlinear Least Square Fitting methods. Factor analysis is also applied to validate the model and reduction of indicators. Finally, to gain assurance about the ANN results, the results are compared with the AHP’s outcome. The obtained importance order of three IC determinants in the studied banking system is relational capital, human capital and structural capital respectively.