Influence of Intellectual Asset on Competitive Advantage of Higher Institution of Learning in Kenya

Abstract

In today's competitive global market, intellectual assets have become important in achieving institution competitive advantage. This is due to inadequate government funding which has led to stiff competition amongst institutions of higher learning in Kenya to attract Self Sponsored Programme (SSP) students in order to meet the short-fall. This paper aims to review current literature and contributes a set of empirical evidence that capture the current state of intellectual asset and institution competitive advantage in Kenya. Pragmatism philosophical paradigm and explanatory survey research design was utilized. Target population of 450 was considered, out of which a sample of 212 employees drawn from 28 universities were obtained using Slovin's sample size formula. Simple random sampling technique was adopted. Questionnaires were then administered to these employees. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze data collected. The findings revealed positive significant relationship between institution competitive advantage and human capital, between institution competitive advantage and structural capital, and between institution competitive advantage and relation capital. F-test as an overall test indicated high significance effect of intellectual asset on institution competitive advantage. It was concluded that the findings extended the use of competitive advantage and resource based view theories. Subsequently, it extended the literature on the match between intellectual assets on institution competitive advantage. The findings clarified the alignment of intellectual asset on institution competitive advantage for practitioners to best allocate intellectual resources based on their capability.