Assessing Digital Readiness of Intellectual Capital: A Global Study of Human, Structural, and Relational Dimensions

This study investigates the readiness of companies’ intellectual capital (IC) for digital transformation in a global business context. The research focuses on the three dimensions of IC: human capital, structural capital, and relational capital. By linking the concepts of IC and digital transformation, the study aims to assess the status quo of companies’ intangible resources in supporting the ongoing digitalization process. The methodology involves a global survey using the "Digital Transformation Assessment" tool developed by Fraunhofer IPK, which captures and assesses the essential value creation elements of companies in the context of digital transformation. The survey results, based on responses from 948 companies across various industry sectors and regions, reveal that structural capital shows the highest readiness for digitalization, followed by human capital. Relational capital, particularly in terms of integrating external stakeholders like customers and suppliers into digital process chains, presents the greatest potential for improvement. The study also conducts an international comparison, highlighting regional differences in the IC dimensions. The findings provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of companies’ IC in the context of digital transformation, offering implications for business strategies and practices to navigate the challenges of digitalization successfully.