Rachunkowość zasobu wiedzy przedsiębiorstwa

The article lays down the theoretical foundations of an accounting process known as the accountancy of knowledge. This new discipline of financial accounting involves the process of communicating financial information about a knowledge-based business entityto users including shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in monetary terms the knowledgeresources under the control of management. Research related to the accountancy of knowledge involves the application of two methods—semiotic and axiomatic, Niemczyk says. In the semiotic method, two key terms, “knowledge” and “assets,” are used. The author looks at the analogy between these terms, distinguishing the traditional narrow meaning of the term “assets” from its broad definition that also covers knowledge. The author uses the term “assets” in the broad sense—as understood in an alternative approach to the theory of economics developed by medieval Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli, known as the father of modern accounting. Niemczyk draws the following conclusions from his research: (1) the term “accountancy of knowledge” has been introduced into economics; (2) the subject matter of the accountancy of knowledge has been defined and the theoretical foundations of the process have been formulated; (3) new accounting tools and terms have been developed, such as “balance of personal knowledge,” “competence assets,” “intellectual capital,” and “marketing assets;” (4) basic methodology has been proposed for estimating the economic value of professional experience. According to Niemczyk, the promotion of accountancy-of-knowledge standards can contribute to stimulating the development of a knowledge-based economy. A business following the principles of the accountancy of knowledge obtains a wealth of information needed for managing knowledge and key competencies, the author says. The accountancy of knowledge shows that the theory of financial accounting, despite its centuries-old tradition, remains a dynamic discipline open to new ideas.