A methodology for measuring intellectual capital. A structural equations modelling approach

The past decade has been characterized by a process of growing dematerialization of the strategic resources possessed by firms. The relational capabilities of the firm, technology connected with the planning and management of firm processes, know-how, as well as the decisional autonomy and technical competencies of the employees all represent intangible assets that are determining in the value creation process of a firm. The chapter we propose describes the development and implementation of an IC measurement system within an Italian company that is leader in the agricultural food product sector. Since IC creation and development is primarily founded on the actions and capabilities of the employees, the individual employee has been used as the unit of analysis of this study. This element constitutes an innovative factor with respect to other studies which instead use MBA students or adopt the managers’ perceptions as proxy of the company they work for.