Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management. Performance Measurement and Challenges

Academic Paper from the year 2017 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 78, University of South Wales (Business School), course: Strategic Systems Thinking, Tools and Techniques, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses Gray's statement: 'Before we measure something, we must ask whether we understand what it is we are trying to measure', relating it to business performance management and management information system theories. With today's knowledge of management - which involves the way of organizing humans and the use of computers to manage information systems - the paper highlights the importance of hidden values (intellectual capital) in business success, knowledge and performance management, measurement techniques and challenges as well as how communities of practice are managing to solve real firm's problems and help it meet its goals. It was argued by Gray (2015) that all businesses operate with specific sets of activities that result in their deliverables. The most challenging and important discussion topic, is how these business processes are effectively managed and measured against the firm's objectives, as well as how companies measure the contribution of their intangible assets to business outcomes. Intellectual capital is the intangible assets of an organization resulting from employees' physical efforts, knowledge assets and other results of human innovation and thoughts. Due to firms that have neglected intellectual capital to focus on finance and operations for many years, Leif E. (1991) describes intellectual capital as a hidden value and explains its importance on the company value. Intellectual capital, as argued by some scholars and authors, including Edvinsson, can take many forms.

Dr. Sixbert Sangwa is a Rwandan Christian minister, Academic, Kingdom Entrepreneur and Non-profit Practitioner. Sixbert has extensive experience in managing economic empowerment projects in the humanitarian and development arena, through national and international NGOs. He leveraged his strategic and business development skills to become a caring SME consultant and is known as the founder of various entrepreneurial initiatives. Today, Sixbert has remained instrumental to higher education in the fields of business, entrepreneurship and theology. He believes that the future of employment belongs to social entrepreneurship. However, he is concerned about the disconnect between faith and business, hence his continental mission to integrate faith and work. Sixbert's education is twofold. His first secular degree is in Rural Development and Agribusiness. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Arts in Online and Distance Education as well as a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Branding. His religious track yielded him a Bachelor of Divinity, a Master of Ministry, a Master of Theological Studies, a Doctor of Chritsian Business Administration and a PhD in Religious Studies. As his research interests rest on general business management, open education and Christian affairs on the one hand, he is also open to offering advisory support in the same areas.