Managing Intellectual Capital in Entrepreneurial University: a Collective Intelligence approach

The purpose of the paper is to provide a new paradigm and practical model whereby Intellectual capital (IC) in the evolving entrepreneurial university can be managed and created taking in consideration the collective intelligence (CI) perspective. A review of existing theories and practical experiences is undertaken to build the core conceptual model. The underlying assumption behind the model is to consider the Entrepreneurial University as a Collective intelligence system in which the tangible and Intellectual assets are coordinate toward the achievement of the third mission goal. The conceptual model harnesses the power of IC collectively created by the engagement of multiple stakeholders inside the University network. Taking the metaphor form the biology, the model is broken down in four main blocks or genes harnessing the IC collectively created. The genes are particular answer to the four questions: what is being done? Who is doing it? How is done? Why is done?. These questions provide the conceptual pillars to describe, respectively, an overall approach to IC management articulated in the final goal of an entrepreneurial University, the “collective Human capital” to achieve the goal, the processes activated inside the University and finally the motivations behind the achievement of the goal. The creation and management of IC is thus an operational priority to evaluate the alignment between the strategic orientation and the performance within a university contributing to the regional development. Even if the research has to be considered as exploratory, the model is comprehensive because it can thus represent a useful ground for refinements, mostly related to the links between creation, measurement and management of IC. Moreover, the approach can be used to strategically manage IC in other systems interpreted as “collective intelligence systems” in which the role of IC creation and management from multiple actors is relevant. The originality of the paper resides in bringing together issues that are usually dealt in literature separate domain such as Intellectual Capital Management and Collective intelligence perspective.