scholarly journals Intellectual capital disclosure: evidence from UK accounting firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 768-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angus Duff
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Internal Capital ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent and quality of voluntary intellectual capital disclosures (ICD) by professional accounting firms (PAFs) in the UK. Design/methodology/approach The research method adopted for this study is content analysis considering the ICD in firms’ annual reports, corporate social responsibility reports, websites and recruitment materials. The sample for this research is based on 20 PAFs ranked by fee income. The paper employs institutional theory as its theoretical lens. Findings The findings of this paper show that ICDs vary across different forms of reports. The most frequently reported disclosure category is human capital, while the least reported category is internal capital. Monetary disclosures are most likely to relate to internal capital, while pictorial disclosures are most likely to relate to human capital. Research limitations/implications The sample size of the study is relatively small reflecting the extreme market concentration of accounting services in the UK and internationally. Future research can conduct a longitudinal study to capture the trend of reporting practices and consider narrative and discursive approaches to ICD. Originality/value No previous studies of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure have considered ICDs in professional service firms that are in themselves rich sources of human capital. Furthermore, the investigation uses a wide range of communications and assesses monetary, non-monetary, narrative and pictorial disclosures. This research extends both the IC disclosure and PAFs’ literatures.

Visualizing intellectual capital using service-dominant logic

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1745-1768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Davey ◽  
Rachael Alsemgeest ◽  
Samuel O’Reilly-Schwass ◽  
Howard Davey ◽  
Mary FitzPatrick
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Operant Resources

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate intellectual capital (IC) reporting, from a service-centric approach, in the hotel industry. The strategic enhancement of value-creation and sustainable competitive advantage requires both management and measurement. Sound measurement and reporting practices enable management performance to be judged; one such practice is IC disclosure. Service-dominant (S-D) logic emphasizes that intangible operant resources, the foundation of IC, are at the core of competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach A disclosure instrument based on S-D logic and designed specifically for the hotel industry was applied to the annual reports and sustainability reports (in English) of 30 Asian hotel companies. Content analysis measured the disclosures of dynamic IC assets typically overlooked by traditional IC disclosure instruments. Findings The majority of IC communication concerns lower-order basic operant resources. Although more than one-third of the companies’ disclosures of IC assets relate to collaborative processes and practices that support networked value-creation, most disclosures demonstrate a prevailing firm-centric orientation. IC items regarding reciprocated relationship and informational management were minimally reported. Research limitations/implications A single research approach was used. Future research could use other communication channels to triangulate. Practical implications The results highlight opportunities for hotel companies to better report their IC assets as part of their value-creating strategies. Originality/value This research is one of the first to operationalize S-D logic concerning IC. It provides a promising framework for understanding IC reporting in the hotel industry.

4.0 digital transition and human capital: evidence from the Italian Fintech market

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filomena Izzo ◽  
Viktoriia Tomnyuk ◽  
Rosaria Lombardo
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
The Impact

PurposeIn the intellectual capital literature, no studies have examined the causal relationship between Italian Fintech companies' performance and intellectual capital, especially the impact of digital industrialization on human capital. This paper aims to fill this gap in measuring human capital efficiency in the Italian Fintech market.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt Pulic's model and define the intellectual capital through three components (human capital, structural capital and capital employed) and perform an exploratory analysis of the Italian Fintech companies by using principal component analysis. Then the authors investigate the effects of the intellectual capital and its components on the Italian Fintech companies' performance by using parametric and nonparametric regression models.FindingsResults of regression models reveal that human capital and employed capital are positively related to the companies' performance, except for the structural capital.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on the Italian level, and future research could be extended to different European countries or to the global Fintech market. Moreover, it is advised to explore more components that contribute to intellectual capital measurement inside the companies operating in the 4.0 industrial revolution, such as the innovative capital and the relational capital.Practical implicationsThis study proposes a new vision for managerial procedures to find which features are critical for achieving profitability in this digital era. The study offers interesting reflections on the management decisions for both companies and public decision-makers. Results suggest that, among intellectual capital components, human capital plays a strategic role for the knowledge-intensive companies that are interested in potentiating their performance and competitiveness. Furthermore, this study finds that human capital is critical factor for achieving profitability in this digital era.Social implicationsThe Fintech sector is one that most benefited from the Digital Revolution, and if it is adequately managed, it can bring great benefits in terms of major employment, especially for the young population, and bring major financial inclusiveness all over the world.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examines the Italian Fintech market and analyzes the dependence relationship between companies' performance and intellectual capital components, identifying the role of human capital in a new completely digital sector. The analysis findings are strategic for the business decisions-making process.

The present and future of intellectual capital in the healthcare sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niccolò Paoloni ◽  
Giorgia Mattei ◽  
Alberto Dello Strologo ◽  
Massimiliano Celli
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Structural Capital

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.

Intellectual capital disclosure by Chinese and Indian information technology companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianyu Wang ◽  
Umesh Sharma ◽  
Howard Davey
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Capitalization ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
External Capital

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent and quality of voluntary intellectual disclosures by information technology (IT) companies of China and India. Design/methodology/approach – The research method adopted for this study is content analysis. The research is limited to the intellectual capital information disclosed in companies’ annual report. The sample for this research is based on 20 IT companies listed by market capitalization listed on Shenzhen or Shanghai stock exchange market, and the largest 20 companies listed on Indian stock market. Findings – Indian IT companies tends to perform better than Chinese IT companies in extent and quality of disclosures. The extent of disclosure of both countries is at a relatively high level. The most frequently reported disclosure category in India is external capital, while the least one is human capital. In China, external capital is the most frequently disclosed category, while the internal capital is the least one. Research limitations/implications – The sample size of the study is relatively small. Future research can expand on the sample size to get an overview of the intellectual capital disclosure, and conduct a longitudinal study to capture the trend of reporting practices. Practical implications – The findings of this study have implications for policy makers and standard setters for rethinking of inclusion of intellectual capital disclosure in annual reports as compulsory items. This will not only add tot he quality of information but various stakeholders will be able to make an assessment of the values of a firm. Originality/value – Previous studies of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure have covered little on the relationship between market capitalization and quality of disclosure and cross-country disclosure on IC. This research tends to extend the literature on IC disclosure.

scholarly journals Brand addiction: conceptualization and scale development

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1938-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Mrad ◽  
Charles Chi Cui
Keyword(s):  
Survey Study ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Brand Relationship ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This paper aims to develop a definition of brand addiction and a valid brand addiction scale (BASCALE). Design/methodology/approach The authors used focus-group results to define brand addiction and generate items for the BASCALE and validated the BASCALE with survey data collected in the UK. Findings Based on the 11 brand-addiction features found from the focus groups, the authors define brand addition as an individual consumer’s psychological state that pertains to a self-brand relationship manifested in daily life and involving positive affectivity and gratification with a particular brand and constant urges for possessing the brand’s products/services. Based on the survey study, the authors have established a valid ten-item BASCALE. Research limitations/implications Due to the survey’s setting in the fashion context in the UK, the authors do not intend to generalize the results to other product types and countries. Future research should replicate the BASCALE in different product categories and different countries. Practical implications The BASCALE can serve marketers in the behavioral segmentation and assist brand managers to identify brand addict consumers and maintain long-term relationships with them. Originality/value The authors have developed a definition of brand addiction and a valid BASCALE, which one can use for a wide range of theoretical and empirical research in the marketing and psychology fields. The definition and BASCALE also serve to differentiate brand addiction from other consumer–brand relationships and addiction constructs (e.g. compulsive buying, brand love and brand trust).

Voluntary reporting of intellectual capital

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Low ◽  
Grant Samkin ◽  
Yuanyuan Li
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Capital ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Australian Universities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality of voluntary intellectual capital (IC) by universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. Design/methodology/approach – An IC framework was developed to measure IC reporting in the university sector. Content analysis was used to analyse the 2011 annual reports before a three-year comparative analysis of 90 universities (eight New Zealand universities, 38 Australian universities, and 44 UK universities) was undertaken. Findings – New Zealand and Australian universities outperformed the UK universities in terms of IC disclosures. Additionally, the study found moderate increases in the levels of IC disclosures over the period of the study. The quality of IC disclosures by New Zealand universities was generally higher than their Australian and UK counterparts. Internal capital and human capital were the most disclosed categories with external capital being the least frequently disclosed in all three countries. However, the quality of external capital disclosures was higher than internal and human capital. Finally, most IC disclosures were narrative in nature. Practical implications – The framework developed in this study could be adapted, further enhanced, and then applied to exploring IC disclosures in higher educational institutes in other jurisdictions. Originality/value – This is the first comparative analysis of IC disclosures made by universities in three countries.

Why do firms adopt employee share ownership? Bundling ESO and direct involvement for developing human capital investments

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loris Guery
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Employee Motivation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Share Ownership ◽  
Employee Competencies ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employee share ownership (ESO) and employer-provided training. To be more specific, as both ESO and involvement practices can contribute to developing human capital, the paper addresses the question of whether they are substitutes or complements in the relationship with training. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical hypotheses are tested using the French nationally representative establishment-level survey, REPONSE, which is similar to the British WERS. The sample consists of 1,523 establishments. Findings – The results are consistent with studies conducted elsewhere (e.g. in the UK) and provide novel findings, thereby suggesting a complementarity between ESO and involvement practices with bundles of practices becoming increasingly more complex as training expenditures increase. Research limitations/implications – To provide further insights, future research that uses more precise information regarding ESO plans is needed. Practical implications – Results can provide HR managers with valuable information regarding the organisational characteristics necessary to ensure a fertile ground for their training expenses. Originality/value – The paper reflects a growing awareness that human capital development and share ownership plans may be related and that this relationship might be a more compelling explanation for share ownership plans than the standard agency theory. The contribution of ESO plans to the development of employee competencies may be at least as important as their possible effects on employee motivation and effort.

scholarly journals Managing customer-to-customer interaction (CCI) – insights from the frontline

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 798-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Nicholls ◽  
Marwa Gad Mohsen
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Service Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frontline Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Interaction ◽  
Service Organisation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Service Environments ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the capacity of frontline employees (FLEs) to provide insights into customer-to-customer interaction (CCI) and its management in service organisations. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study used focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews with FLEs to investigate their experiences and reflections in dealing with CCI in a complex service setting in the UK. Findings FLEs are able to recall CCI encounters, both positive (PCCI) and negative (NCCI), with ease. They are capable of conceptualising and exploring complex nuances surrounding CCI encounters. FLEs can distinguish levels of seriousness of negative CCI and variations in customer sensitivity to CCI. FLEs vary in their comfort in intervening in negative CCI situations. Whilst FLEs draw on skills imparted in an employee-customer interaction context, they would benefit from CCI-specific training. Propositions are advanced for further empirical testing. Research limitations/implications The authors studied FLE views on CCI in a customer-centric service organisation in the UK. Future research should further address the FLE perspective on CCI in less service-driven organisations and in other countries. A wide range of themes for further research are proposed. Practical implications The insights presented will assist service managers to assess the CCI context of their own organisation and develop strategies and guidelines to support FLEs in detecting, understanding and responding to CCI encounters. Social implications The paper highlights and discusses the complexity of intervening in negative CCI encounters in socially inclusive service environments. Originality/value Based on FLE-derived perceptions of CCI, the paper contributes conceptually to CCI knowledge by identifying the existence of “concealed CCI”, distinguishing between gradual and sudden CCI intervention contexts and exploring the human resource development consequences of this distinction, with original implications for service management. The study also contributes to extending the scope of research into triadic service interactions.

scholarly journals Proprietary costs of intellectual capital reporting: Malaysian evidence

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasnah Kamardin ◽  
Robiah Abu Bakar ◽  
Rokiah Ishak
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Capital Efficiency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) performance (value-added intellectual coefficient (VAIC)) and company characteristics with IC disclosure (ICD) in Malaysian listed companies. Design/methodology/approach – Sample of the study is 68 biggest Malaysian companies listed in Malaysian Stock Exchange based on market capitalization in year 2006. The paper follows the classification of ICD by Huang et al. (2007), with three broad IC categories in 45 items. Content analysis was used to collect the IC information from the annual reports. Regression analysis was conducted for VAIC and its components. Log linear analysis was also conducted to cater the possible misspecification in the model. Findings – Results of the study show that VAIC is negatively related to ICD. Further classification of VAIC shows that intellectual capital efficiency and human capital efficiency are negatively related to ICD whilst structural capital efficiency is not related to ICD. Company size and leverage are found to be positively related to ICD. Research limitations/implications – Negative association between VAIC and ICD suggests that companies reduce ICD for competitive advantage reason which supports the proprietary cost theory. The findings of the study may provide some evidence to regulators to enhance the reporting practices of IC for the benefits of users of financial reporting in making relevant decisions. The focus should be given on the reporting of human capital items. Originality/value – This is the first paper to use IC framework by Huang et al. (2007). Consistency of findings with other studies using different IC framework can be compared for the choice of IC framework in future studies.

Is Hong Kong ready for accounting education reform: an analysis of tri-partite views

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore T.Y. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Education ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Accounting Practitioners ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Big Four

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine whether Hong Kong is ready for accounting education reform. Design/methodology/approach – The approach for this study is using a Likert-scale questionnaire for the academic institutions, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the big four accounting firms, followed by detailed follow-up interviews with each. Findings – There is general agreement among accounting academics and the profession that the Accounting Education Change Commission initiatives should be adopted in Hong Kong. Hong Kong accounting academics in public institutions do not oppose to a balance between teaching and research, but would oppose to an emphasis of teaching over research. This is important as an overemphasis on research could mean less time for teaching and curriculum development. The big four accounting firms are either happy with the way Hong Kong universities have been educating the accounting graduates or have no complaints against them. This is also important as an urge for accounting education reform usually comes from the practitioners as in the USA. Originality/value – The USA was the first country that saw the need for accounting education reform as accounting practitioners felt that curriculum and pedagogical considerations placed heavy emphasis on the technical aspects of accounting at the expense of a general, broad-based education. Similar needs for change were also found in the UK and Australia. As Hong Kong is one of the world’s major financial centres with a large securities exchange, there is a great deal of emphasis on accounting standards, financial reporting, corporate governance, etc., and hence the importance of accounting education. Is Hong Kong ready for the change?

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