A multidimensional measure of employees' intangibles: A managerial implementation of the tool

Purpose The aims of this research are: to develop and test an evaluation model of the intangible resources related to the employees; to value the impact that these intangible resources have on individual work attitudes such as job satisfaction and turnover propensity. Design/methodology/approach Two surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2006 for employees of a leading Italian company in the agricultural food sector. A structural equation modelling methodology was used to define the quantitative measures of the system of resources and to determine the relations among the different constructs. Findings It was found that the items adopted in the study capture the constructs of human capital and structural capital and, moreover, these two dimensions positively affect individual work attitudes such as job satisfaction and turnover. Originality/value The measurement system developed in this research can be used in any firm that seeks to measure the intangible resources related to employees. The system represents a tool that may support managers in planning and control of human resource investments of the firm. One of the main limitations is that the study is based on surveys of employees, so it only enables comparison among different departments, production plants, professional category or seniority within the company. Moreover, the indicators used are not measured objectively, making it difficult for any inter-company comparison. © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited