<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Objective</h3><p>This study is an attempt to identify crucial assets of intellectual capital (IC) of transnational corporations (TNCs). The author identifies key assets each of the IC layers: organizational, innovative, and institutional. Examining these complex constructions of IC and its comprehensive influence on achieving competitive advantage is justified as the topic has been investigated rarely till now.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>The paper presents literature review and the results of an authorial survey (252 corporations). The author used the following methodology concepts: the Grounded Theory Method, the Social Network Analysis, and the Multidimensional Statistical Analysis.</p></sec><sec><h3>Findings</h3><p>The results of the conducted analysis do sustain the postulated hypothesis that the main pillars constituting the intellectual capital of the most powerful transnational corporations (leaders) are the same in terms of the core irrespective of the type of industry. Based on the conducted research, the author points to the three key requirements for each of three IC layers (organizational, innovative, and institutional).</p></sec><sec><h3>Practical implication</h3><p>The proposed model of layers of intellectual capital may be used to identify the relationship in question, or its lack of relationship, in other types of international business. Furthermore, the study results provide guidelines for executives of corporations with respect to intellectual capital management.</p></sec><sec><h3>Originality/value</h3><p>It is a new, original proposal for measurement and presentation of the relationship between international competitiveness of transnational corporations and their intellectual capital efficiency (pillars of IC-layers).</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveThis study is an attempt to identify crucial assets of intellectual capital (IC) of transnational corporations (TNCs). The author identifies key assets each of the IC layers: organizational, innovative, and institutional. Examining these complex constructions of IC and its comprehensive influence on achieving competitive advantage is justified as the topic has been investigated rarely till now.MethodsThe paper presents literature review and the results of an authorial survey (252 corporations). The author used the following methodology concepts: the Grounded Theory Method, the Social Network Analysis, and the Multidimensional Statistical Analysis.FindingsThe results of the conducted analysis do sustain the postulated hypothesis that the main pillars constituting the intellectual capital of the most powerful transnational corporations (leaders) are the same in terms of the core irrespective of the type of industry. Based on the conducted research, the author points to the three key requirements for each of three IC layers (organizational, innovative, and institutional).Practical implicationThe proposed model of layers of intellectual capital may be used to identify the relationship in question, or its lack of relationship, in other types of international business. Furthermore, the study results provide guidelines for executives of corporations with respect to intellectual capital management.Originality/valueIt is a new, original proposal for measurement and presentation of the relationship between international competitiveness of transnational corporations and their intellectual capital efficiency (pillars of IC-layers).

The significance of intellectual capital in strategies of transnational corporations

Department of International Business and Trade

International Journal of Management and Economics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

ObjectiveThis study is an attempt to identify crucial assets of intellectual capital (IC) of transnational corporations (TNCs). The author identifies key...

The significance of intellectual capital in strategies of transnational corporations

Article Category: Conceptual Paper

Published Online: Nov 06, 2020

Page range: 291 - 306

Received: May 08, 2020

Accepted: Sep 22, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijme-2020-0025

Keywords
corporation, intellectual capital, competitiveness, knowledge management

© 2020 Magdalena Rosińska-Bukowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The significance of intellectual capital in strategies of transnational corporations

Article Category: Conceptual Paper

Published Online: Nov 06, 2020

Page range: 291 - 306

Received: May 08, 2020

Accepted: Sep 22, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijme-2020-0025

Keywordscorporation, intellectual capital, competitiveness, knowledge management

© 2020 Magdalena Rosińska-Bukowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
corporation, intellectual capital, competitiveness, knowledge management