| Abstract |
Effective, dynamic management of intangible assets can be an important contributor to identifying and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage that cannot easily be imitated, both in the domestic market and internationally. Case studies of small and medium enterprises were used to validate a five-stage maturity model based on the relevant literature that characterises increasingly sophisticated intellectual asset management. The results provide insight into the influence of the perception of the entrepreneur, learning patterns, the critical activities and behaviours in which companies engage, as well as facilitating understanding of the impact of specific factors such as the sector and business model of the company as well as the importance of R&D+I on intellectual asset management practices. The maturity model provides a robust and well-structured conceptual framework with implications for business and policy makers as well as the research community. |
