Intellectual Capital Research: A Route Map to the Highway

Abstract

Purpose – This paper develops an idea   about intellectual capital (IC) research with a view to extending the types of questions that can be posed and explanations that can be given about the roles and effects of IC. The aim is to contribute to the debate on how it is possible and fruitful to study IC with a contemporary mindset, toolset and skill set. This is done from the theoretical, methodological and pragmatic considerations.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper surveys the extant literature on IC research to know how to review literature,   leverage both  pure and applied research, make the best of IC both as  explanatory  and design science, research  gaps, the two approaches to IC research and the focus for the future.

Findings – The paper concludes that it is possible for IC researchers to have an eclectic mindset to enrich IC as art and science in the interest of business and industry and society at large.  IC will enhance the possibilities of developing new and interesting propositions about how IC works and is involved in organisational and social transformation with the world at large.

Originality/value – The main implication of this paper is that research in IC can take up new forms of inquiry that will complement and optimize the currently used frameworks and methodologies.