Human Interaction: The Critical Source of Intangible Value

Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 82-99, 2003

17 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2005

See all articles by David O'Donnell

David O'Donnell

Intellectual Capital Research Institute of Ireland

Philip O'Regan

University of Limerick - Kemmy Business School

Brian Coates

University of Limerick

Tom Kennedy

University of Limerick - Kemmy Business School

Brian Keary

University of Limerick

Gerry Berkery

Independent

Abstract

In this theoretical, empirical and occasionally speculative paper we argue that human interaction is the critical source of intangible value in the intellectual age. This argument is supported with some perceptual evidence on the dimensions of intellectual capital (IC) from the Irish ICT sector. Key fndings are that almost two thirds of organizational value is perceived to be intellectual and that half of this IC value is perceived to stem directly from the people dimension. Drawing on the system/lifeworld distinction in Habermas' Theory of Communicative Action we claim that the dominant tenets of market and hierarchy are changing in both nature and scope in an increasingly knowing-intensive economy. We argue strongly that these tenets must be complemented with ideas of community and lifeworld that place human interaction at the center of a more enlightened economic and social equation.

Keywords: Communicative action, Human relations, Interaction, Habermas, Intangible Value, Intellectual capital, Ireland

JEL Classification: A13, D20, L20, L63, M10, M50, O31

Suggested Citation

O'Donnell, David and O'Regan, Philip and Coates, Brian and Kennedy, Tom and Keary, Brian and Berkery, Gerry, Human Interaction: The Critical Source of Intangible Value. Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 82-99, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=817944

David O'Donnell (Contact Author)

Intellectual Capital Research Institute of Ireland ( email )

Clonee Road
Ballyagran
Limerick County
Ireland

Philip O'Regan

University of Limerick - Kemmy Business School ( email )

Limerick
Ireland

Brian Coates

University of Limerick ( email )

Castletroy, Co
Limerick
Ireland

Tom Kennedy

University of Limerick - Kemmy Business School ( email )

Limerick
Ireland

Brian Keary

University of Limerick ( email )

Castletroy, Co
Limerick
Ireland

Gerry Berkery

Independent ( email )

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