Transformative visualisation and emergent capabilities: experiences and insights gained from an activity-based view of intellectual capital

During the last decade, there has been a strong interest in a more in-depth understanding of knowledge-based value creation. In the business world this interest gained impetus by the introduction of intellectual capital in the early 1990s. Since then, companies have tried to measure and manage their intellectual capital to improve performance and internal and external communication. Unfortunately, experiences indicate that the methods used are far from sufficient to grasp the essential aspects of knowledge production processes or to give any guidance on how and where improvements could be achieved. In this paper, we present experiences and lessons gained the last three years from the use of Value+™, a methodology originating from an activity-based view of intellectual capital. Through three in-depth case examples illustrating the phases of modelling, measuring, and actions for improvements, we discuss and evaluate the methodology and its outcome in terms of the concepts resolution, elevation, and conveyance.