Business processes management as a tool to enhance intellectual capital in the digitalization era: the new challenges to face

Abstract

PurposeDigitalization is affecting business management and pushing for new strategies, innovative products, new ways to communicate with stakeholders and new channels. This phenomenon is unavoidable, and companies have to face it in a holistic and integrated way. One holistic and interconnected approach, when studying enterprise challenges, is represented by the business process management method, a fitting mechanism when digitalization needs to be amalgamated in business practices, enhancing the intellectual capital (IC), therefore, this study researches digitalization under business process lens, in a sample of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), that constitute an under-explored set, as regard digitalization, process management and IC. The research aims to explore the digital tools and business processes link and the related impact on performance, benefits and IC.Design/methodology/approachIn exploring digitalization, a sample of Italian SMEs was scrutinized. The data were elaborated using two types of tests: (1) the binomial tests for the categorical questions and (2) the zeta test was used for quantitative variables. Furthermore, the partial least square (PLS)-SEM model was applied.FindingsFindings reveal that some digital tools are more adopted in the sample analysed, and also some particular digital tools are more inclined to support certain business processes. Furthermore, not only performance benefits emerge, but also benefits in terms of better communication and faster decisions, supporting the decision making process of managers, also considering that business processes approach is one way to manage IC.Practical implicationsThanks to the conducted research it is possible to make aware managers and owners of SMEs to consciously choose the right type of digitalization investments, without neglecting training programme, to realize the company digital transformation, providing a map and bearing in mind the value added creation, protecting their IC.Originality/valueThe paper's originality is represented by the contribution in opening the black box about digitalization, business process management and IC in small and medium companies.

Green intellectual capital and employee environmental citizenship behavior: the mediating role of organizational agility and green creativity

“…GIC builds an organization’s capacity to effectively communicate and transfer knowledge, which involves creating, disseminating, and applying knowledge. These findings are consistent with studies of Broccardo et al. (2024) and Mataveli et al.…”

“…GIC builds an organization's capacity to effectively communicate and transfer knowledge, which involves creating, disseminating, and applying knowledge. These findings are consistent with studies of Broccardo et al (2024) and Mataveli et al (2024). Findings highlight the critical role of OA and EGC as underlying mechanisms to link GIC with employee ECB.…”

Editorial: Digital technologies, innovation and competitiveness: shaping the future of economies and societies

“…To navigate in the digital age, it is vital to develop scientific networks where relevant stakeholders (academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, etc.) can converge to discuss and shape the roadmap for the green and digital transition (Almunawar and Anshari, 2024;Broccardo et al, 2024;European Commission, 2024a, 2024bLi and Lin, 2024;Ord oñez de Pablos, 2004a, 2004b, 2004c, 2005Lytras and Ord oñez de Pablos, 2008;Naseem et al, 2024;Sharma et al, 2022;Zhao et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2015;2023.…”