Resumo

The business environment of the 21st century is progressively considered by uncertainty, hypercompetition and rapid technological change, which has made survival, the primary challenge faced by business firms. Therefore, developing and sustaining superior competitive advantage under such conditions has proven to be a serious task and seem to rely on innovation to achieve its success. Due to those aspects, over the las two decades, matters involving Intellectual Capital have acquired space, being considered a subject of great interest in academic communities and in the business environment.

The purpose of the present study is to empirically examine the use and value creation of Intellectual Capital dimensions in small and medium-sized enterprises. It takes a broad analytical perspective on Intellectual Capital valuation by using an online survey, and it is based on a practical and relevant problem that aims to identify the important role of intellectual capital in creating value for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The resource-based theory of the firm suggests that firms can be seen as a unique pack of active, multifaceted, and intangible resources. This set of physical and intangible assets is at the heart of the firm’s competitive advantage. In this context, the management of knowledge figures as a key resource for firm value creation. Therefore, measure and manage Intellectual Capital is indeed important to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The online survey was answered by 183 respondents. The descriptive statistics findings, retrieved from all the answers of the 18 survey questions, enable us to put forward some preliminary arguments about the use and value creation of Intellectual Capital in small and medium-sized enterprises. Findings suggest that the Intellectual Capital dimensions adhere to small and medium-sized enterprises in a positive way. Indicating that the use of Intellectual Capital dimensions may positively enhance value creation in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Empirical findings show that human skills are, undoubtedly, the key element to maintain and enhance the profitability, however, small and medium sized enterprises lack of investment readiness in human resources. A trademark concern can observe but the scarcity of system acquisition and processes supporting innovation, shows that the ability to innovate is certainly a challenge to small and medium sized enterprises. There is a concern towards the need to offer solutions to customers and reduce problems, but the answers reveal a fragility in customers’ participation in companies’ operations.

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