Applied Intellectual Capital Management: Experiences from an Australian public sector trial of the Danish Intellectual Capital Statement

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe outcomes from a trial of the Danish Intellectual Capital Statement (ICS) within the Australian public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Two work teams within the Department of Primary Industries, Farm Services Victoria (FSV) participated in the trial over a six-month period. Data were collected and triangulated from structured focus groups, researcher guided workshops and individual project record journals kept by participants and observers.

Findings

This trial has tested and confirmed existing European Intellectual Capital Management (ICM) theory in a new context, confirmed the strategic management and communication utility of the Danish ICS. It also revealed the utility of this method: to assist the organisation articulate its knowledge-related needs; in developing knowledge management (KM) strategy, in planning and reviewing KM initiatives, in developing clarity and shared context and in navigating change.

Research limitations/implications

This research focuses on a single in-depth case study and concurrent organisational restructuring impacted on team focus.

Practical implications

The strategic management and communication utility of the Danish ICS was confirmed. The paper demonstrates new insights for practitioners using this ICM method as a useful tool to assist an organisation to articulate KM needs.

Originality/value

The primary research gap in the ICM field is examination of the practical application of methods in a real-life context (particularly outside Europe). This work has tested and confirmed existing theory in a new and different context – the Australian public sector.

Citation

Whyte, M. and Zyngier, S. (2014), "Applied Intellectual Capital Management: Experiences from an Australian public sector trial of the Danish Intellectual Capital Statement", Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 227-248. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-08-2013-0090