The Impact of Intellectual Capital Components on Competitive Advantage

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of intellectual capital (IC) components on competitive advantage (CA). In this study, the components of intellectual capital are human capital, structural capital and relational capital. In this study, questionnaire technique was used as data collection tool. Data were obtained from a total of 220 participants. Data analyses and hypotheses were tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). As a result of the analysis, it has been understood that human capital and relational capital have a positive and statistically significant effect on competitive advantage. In addition, it is another important result obtained in the study that structural capital does not have a statistically significant effect on competitive advantage. Based on the results of this study, companies should understand the importance of the contribution of intellectual capital components in creating competitive advantage. In particular, companies should give due importance to structural capital, which plays an integrating role between human capital and relational capital, and in this direction, they should engage in activities that improve structural capital elements such as software systems, organizational structures, business processes, strategies, and license rights.