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Harnessing network-based intellectual capital in online academic networks. From the organizational policies and practices towards competitiveness

Elena-Mădălina Vătămănescu (Faculty of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Bucharest, Romania and Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania)
Andreia Gabriela Andrei (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania)
Diana-Luiza Dumitriu (Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Bucharest, Romania)
Cristina Leovaridis (Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Bucharest, Romania)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 9 May 2016

1037

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the standpoints and practices of university members from European developing countries regarding the harnessing of the intellectual capital (IC) within online academic social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey with 210 university members was conducted, with the indicators adopting prior measurement scales which were further adapted to a network framework.

Findings

The organizational policies and practices relate positively and highly significantly with the valuation of the network-based IC components. Moreover, 63 per cent of the professional and organizational competitiveness of higher education institutions is determined by the exploitation of the IC embedded in online academic networks.

Research limitations/implications

All survey respondents were from the European developing countries, which may limit the general applicability of the findings. Also, the emphasis is laid solely on online academic networks.

Practical implications

This paper brings to the fore both the potential and the state-of-the-art in leveraging the IC of online specialized networks which are indicative of the academic field. When acknowledged as such, the network-based IC is liable to generate substantial competitive advantages at the professional and organizational levels at the same time.

Originality/value

This research adds to the extant literature in two main ways. First, it advances a new construct – network-based IC – in the context of the online academic social networks. Second, it proposes a research model for addressing the network-based IC from a competitive advantage perspective.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Andreia Gabriela Andrei was supported for this work by the strategic grant POSDRU/159/1.5/S/133652, co-financed by the European Social Fund within the Sectoral Operational Program Human Resources Development 2007-2013.

Citation

Vătămănescu, E.-M., Andrei, A.G., Dumitriu, D.-L. and Leovaridis, C. (2016), "Harnessing network-based intellectual capital in online academic networks. From the organizational policies and practices towards competitiveness", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 594-619. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-05-2015-0208

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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