PurposeKnowledge management (KM) and intellectual capital (IC) are believed to influence each other, and the relationship between the two constructs is of vital importance to organizational effectiveness. While a two‐way relationship between KM and IC is conceivable, the relevant empirical research has yet to produce satisfactory evidences on the nature of the relationship between the two constructs. This paper aims to empirically investigate the plausible KM‐IC two‐way relationship in the Egyptian software industry.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts a cross‐sectional field survey strategy. It adopts a research model depicting a two‐way relationship between KM processes and IC dimensions. Two sets of hypotheses describing the predicted mutual influence between KM and IC are proposed. An instrument was adopted to collect the required data set on KM processes and IC dimensions from 38 Egyptian software firms. The partial least squares (PLS) procedure was used to assess the measurement model and test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe analysis revealed three patterns of relationships between KM and IC: one‐way influence from KM to IC (e.g. knowledge application influences each of human capital, organizational capital, and relational capital; one‐way influence from IC to KM (e.g. human capital influences knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer); and two‐way influence between KM and IC (e.g. between knowledge documentation and organizational capital, between knowledge transfer and relational capital).Originality/valueContrary to most of the prior KM‐IC relevant research, this research has adopted a comprehensive research model and research method to facilitate the exploration of the mutual influences between KM processes and IC dimensions in the Egyptian software industry. To a certain extent, the research findings confirm and support the general proposition of a mutual KM‐IC relationship. These findings should contribute to the growing research efforts aiming at developing models that can provide a better explanation of the complex KM‐IC relationship phenomenon.

Purpose-This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness) project national cultural dimensions of values and practices and the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Design/methodology/approach-Most empirical research on culture dimensions and corruption is based on Hofstede's dataset of culture conducted more than 25 years ago. Evidence from a more recent dataset of culture dimensions is needed before current generalizations can be made. The GLOBE project is based on the perceptions of 18,000 individuals. Findings-The results provide empirical support for the influence of uncertainty avoidance values, human orientation practices, and individual collectivism practices on the level of corruption after controlling for economic and human development, which, in turn, adds to the efforts to build a general theory of the culture perspective of corruption. Research limitations/implications-The findings offer valuable insights on why cultural values and cultural practices should be distinguished as they relate to corruption. Practical implications-International policy makers as well as managers at multinational corporations can benefit from the findings of this research study. Originality/value-The research reported is among the first to investigate the issue of corruption from the perspective of national cultural values and practices.

Purpose-The paper seeks to test empirically a variety of hypotheses related to human capital and organizational performance within software companies in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach-A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey of 38 software companies who are representative of the 107 members of the Software Industry Chamber of Egypt. A correlation analysis and stepwise regression were conducted to ascertain the validity of the hypotheses. Findings-Statistical support was found for six of the nine hypotheses tested. Research limitations/implications-One of the limitations of this study is that human capital metrics were based on CEO self-reported scores. Thus, the ability to generalize is limited to this context. Practical implications-Of all the human capital metrics collected, the number of superstar developers seems to be the most critical variable in predicting export intensity. Superstar developers are those individuals whose productivity equals four times that of the other developers and twice that of the star developers. Originality/value-This paper tests empirically the relationship between human capital and organization performance in the Egyptian software industry context and provides support for the recruitment and development of superstar developers.

The distribution of knowledge around the world varies significantly with developed countries possessing most of the world's current intellectual capital (IC) compared to developing countries. Most IC research has been conducted in a variety of international settings such as the UK, Scandinavia, Australia, Canada, Austria, Malaysia, the USA, and Ireland. However, no empirical research has been conducted at the organizational level in the field of IC in Arab countries. These nations are socially, economically, and culturally different from most countries in the aforementioned list. This study describes the IC in Egyptian software firms. The study's objective is to contribute to the IC theory development by building a measurement system in an unique context. This paper highlights the key IC indicators as reported by Egyptian CEOs. Ultimately, the resultant report provides them with a direction for building a strong knowledge base for future IC development. IntroductionWith the emergence of the knowledge-based economy, we have witnessed many changes in the nature of work and the demands placed on organizations to become the storehouses of innovation, nourishing and sustaining wellsprings of talent. The knowledge-based economy has provided us with new notions of globalization (i.e. borderless economies) and new models for firms (i.e. networked learning organizations). These emergent trends have a great influence on management research and require new approaches for investigation. Over four decades back, Penrose (1959) looked at the firm as a repository of knowledge and experience and argued that knowledge is the critical factor in explaining the growth of firms. More recently, intellectual capital (IC) is considered as the critical antecedent for the sustained performance of a firm