Exploring the impacts of intellectual property on intellectual capital and company performance

Purpose This paper aims to empirically explore the effects of intellectual property (IP) on intellectual capital (IC) and firm performance in Iran. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire‐oriented survey from senior and top managers in the Iranian computer and electronic industry was utilized for regression analysis. Findings The findings indicate that IP significantly influences other dimensions of IC, which consists of human capital (HC), relational capital (RC) and structural capital (SC). The study also provides empirical evidence that gaining firm performance is positively related to these three elements of IC. Research limitations/implications First, more advanced statistical techniques with a larger number of respondents could be used to evaluate the regression equations. Second, the companies chosen for the study are from two specific and fairly similar industries in Iran. Thus, the results may not be applicable to other industries in different countries. Practical implications With a broad view on IP that considers its creation, protection and utilization too, IP has a central role in knowledge‐based organizations to enhance competitive advantage. Originality/value This study builds on and extends the research made by Bollen et al., to link IP and IC to company performance. The paper focuses on the effects of IP on other parts of IC.