Relational capital : a study on its importance, quantification and its impact on business sectors and markets.

Abstract

This study explores the of concept relational capital. Relational capital is a part of the intellectual capital or the intangible value of a company. The knowledge of the intangibles of a company has been receiving increasing importance in the last years, due to the gap between market value and the value of intangible assets. Some argue this to be the real assessment of the firm.

The focus on the awareness of relational capital is a main point of the thesis. The level of awareness is compared to different sectors. The question of quantifying relational capital is addressed and a benchmark is proposed and exposed in order to be able to measure relational capital, and thus compare between sectors.

Finally the focus is set upon the importance of relational capital concerning internationalization. Is it important to have relational capital when going international, and if so, does the level of relational capital change from the first entrance in a country to a maturity mode? All these aspects are further discussed in the thesis.

Key words: intangibles, relational capital, intellectual capital, measurement, sectoral division, internationalization