TY - JOUR
T1 - Intellectual capital in East and West African social enterprises
AU - Sgrò, Francesca
AU - Ciambotti, Giacomo
AU - Bontis, Nick
AU - Ayiku, Andrews
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Purpose: This study aims to identify the main factors of knowledge assets
(i.e., human, relational and structural capital) that affect the value creation process of
social enterprises located in East and West Africa.
Design: A survey was administered to a sample of social enterprises located in developing
countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Ghana. The survey was
designed to gather background information about social enterprises, social entrepreneurs
as well as data pertaining to intellectual capital. Therefore, descriptive statistical
analysis, principal component analysis and Pearson correlations were employed to
identify the main components of IC for African SEs and the inter-relationship among
intellectual capital components.
Findings: Research findings confirmed that human capital (i.e., a social entrepreneur's
knowledge), relational capital (i.e., local and global relationship quality) and structural
capital (i.e., long-term and up-to-date firm knowledge) were validated as important
resources for African SEs in the value creation process. Moreover, correlation analysis
showed that human capital and relational capital were positively correlated;
whereas structural capital was positively correlated with the local and global relationship's
quality and with the social entrepreneur's skills.
Limitations: The main limitations concern the heterogeneity and the restricted sample
size due to challenges in the data gathering process. Moreover, the results could
potentially be influenced by the context and the low response rate. However, this
study can represent a starting point for future research in this unique but important
research setting.
Originality: This study can be considered original for several reasons. First, empirical
evidence on knowledge assets in developing countries in Africa is still scarce, despite
the potential of being a new frontier for intellectual capital studies and social and
economic growth. Second, the use of a survey method as an IC measurement tool in
this context is unique. Finally, this study helps in providing a platform for further
investigation in Africa.
AB - Purpose: This study aims to identify the main factors of knowledge assets
(i.e., human, relational and structural capital) that affect the value creation process of
social enterprises located in East and West Africa.
Design: A survey was administered to a sample of social enterprises located in developing
countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Ghana. The survey was
designed to gather background information about social enterprises, social entrepreneurs
as well as data pertaining to intellectual capital. Therefore, descriptive statistical
analysis, principal component analysis and Pearson correlations were employed to
identify the main components of IC for African SEs and the inter-relationship among
intellectual capital components.
Findings: Research findings confirmed that human capital (i.e., a social entrepreneur's
knowledge), relational capital (i.e., local and global relationship quality) and structural
capital (i.e., long-term and up-to-date firm knowledge) were validated as important
resources for African SEs in the value creation process. Moreover, correlation analysis
showed that human capital and relational capital were positively correlated;
whereas structural capital was positively correlated with the local and global relationship's
quality and with the social entrepreneur's skills.
Limitations: The main limitations concern the heterogeneity and the restricted sample
size due to challenges in the data gathering process. Moreover, the results could
potentially be influenced by the context and the low response rate. However, this
study can represent a starting point for future research in this unique but important
research setting.
Originality: This study can be considered original for several reasons. First, empirical
evidence on knowledge assets in developing countries in Africa is still scarce, despite
the potential of being a new frontier for intellectual capital studies and social and
economic growth. Second, the use of a survey method as an IC measurement tool in
this context is unique. Finally, this study helps in providing a platform for further
investigation in Africa.
KW - Intellectual capital
KW - knowledge
KW - Africa
KW - Intellectual capital
KW - knowledge
KW - Africa
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/235371
U2 - 10.1002/kpm.1638
DO - 10.1002/kpm.1638
M3 - Article
SN - 1092-4604
VL - 27
SP - 332
EP - 343
JO - Knowledge and Process Management
JF - Knowledge and Process Management
ER -