Leveraging invisible assets: the human factor

Abstract

Though invisible and therefore difficult to measure, knowledge and human expertise are the principal creators of value for every organization. What new approaches might business leaders adopt to ensure that this intangible source of value is managed and enhanced? The success of a knowledge-based organization will always depend on the willingness of its people to share their knowledge and expertise. Because of this dependence on the human factor, the following areas are key to making progress: 1. shifting management attention from tangible to intangible assets; 2. focusing resources—e.g. new roles with titles like ‘Chief Knowledge Officer’; 3. encouraging and rewarding people for sharing their knowledge and expertise.