Valuation of information assets on the balance sheet

Abstract

The perspective taken in this article reflects two particular angles: it adopts an international focus rather than a UK focus — especially with regard to regulatory issues influencing the inclusion of information assets in financial reports; and it recognizes that there are reasons other than meeting statutory/ regulatory requirements which support the recognition (if not always the valuation) of information assets in the management of organizations — commercial and otherwise. The article proceeds by considering the recognition and approaches to the valuation of intangible assets in general, following which it homes in on information assets as a particular category of intangible assets, and concludes with a discussion of the attributes of information that give rise to its value as an asset.