The Reproduction Approach Methodology as a Framework for National Intellectual Capital Management

Abstract

Subject. The paper considers the role of economic reproduction in intellectual capital management, which means focusing on the management of intellectual capital reproduction factors.

Purpose. To represent some theoretical and empirical arguments in favor of the following hypothesis: if intellectual capital is an intangible resource it cannot be the object of direct administrative influence and therefore real management object is intellectual capital reproduction process.

Methodology. At theoretical part the literature sources considered on intellectual capital reproduction is reviewed by case study method. Empirical arguments are represented by the analysis of two groups of data. First, data on management decisions on intellectual capital — on their basis it is shown that measures to manage intellectual capital in practice are concerned not with intellectual capital itself, but on factors of its economic reproduction. Secondly, data on the assessment of intellectual capital of 40 developed and developing countries, derived from the NICI model, one of which components can be interpreted as an evaluation of the intellectual capital reproduction factors.

Results. The analysis allows stating that, as the level of economic development increases, the importance of the intellectual capital reproduction in ensuring the level of GDP increases.

Conclusions. The role of economic reproduction in the intellectual capital management is substantiated and thereby a new direction of studying the issues of national intellectual capital management is indicated. The results of the research could be used as a theoretical and methodological basis both for further research on the intellectual capital management and for the formation of national economic policy.