Intellectual capital and knowledge management in the Iranian space industries

Abstract

Purpose

This paper experimentally examines the concept of intellectual capital in the Iranian space industries. The first objective of this study is to validate a model for assessing the relationships among some factors of intellectual capital and knowledge management; and organizational performance. The second objective is to evaluate the mediating role of some of them in the relationship between the intangible assets and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is designed to utilize a systematic sampling and survey method. Intellectual capital here is decided to be four items of human, structural, innovation and cultural capital while two items of “knowledge development and sharing” and “learning and knowledge application” are considered for knowledge management. The structural equation modeling approach is used to validate the research model.

Findings

These analyses suggest that human capital and structural capital are positively associated with organizational performance. The findings also indicate that both cultural capital and knowledge management practices fully mediate the effects of intangible assets on organizational performance while the latter does more.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature in two valuable ways. First, it validates a model for assessing the associations among organizational performance and adoption of knowledge management and intellectual capital. Second, it offers important results on the identification of mediating role of cultural capital and knowledge management practices.

Citation

Piri, M., Jasemi, M. and Abdi, M. (2013), "Intellectual capital and knowledge management in the Iranian space industries", VINE, Vol. 43 No. 3, pp. 341-356. https://doi.org/10.1108/VINE-08-2012-0036