Posted by Umesh on July 25, 1997 at 12:49:24:

The intangible asset 'knowledge' seems to be the most important raw material for the production of any product and probably the hottest 'commodity' to sell given the kind of attention focused on it in the academic world and the fast growing interest in the commercial world.
The books 'Intellectual Capital' by Thomas Stewart and 'Knowledge Management' by Dr.Sveiby are excellent foundations to this new concept. And the Swedes, characterized by such companies as Skandia, have already taken positive steps to attempt to create a tangible value to it. But the world at large will be impacted only when the value of 'knowledge', which Dr.Sveiby in his book illustrates very well in form of a balance sheet, gets sub-divided into plausible numbers into three segments ( and a combination of the three) of the invisible asset in his balance sheet.

It is a difficult task and is dependent on Industries/Companies and strategies. But I think there should be more effort put in trying to develop a map and place industries and companies on it based on the extent of 'knowledge' required as a raw material or as a product or service for present and future market conditions. It is definitely not directly proportional to the number of PCs' or the number of post graduates in the company.

Are there any reports/papers on this issue ?

Finally will the concept 'knowledge' follow the principles of the stock market. Suppose every commercial enterprise invests in the concept 'knowledge'. Will it then adjust its price according to the efficient capital market rules or will its value continue to appreciate?

My rationale for this kind of reasoning comes from the typical depreciable ( or sometimes appreciable) value of a tangible asset.

Umesh

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Follow Ups:

• Re: 'Knowledge' - Please tell me its cost and selling price jack w. bonney 18:31:25 10/09/97 (0)
• Re: 'Organizational Knowledge' - Financial & Non-Financial Aspects Yogesh Malhotra 14:03:20 7/27/97 (0)

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