Title: The relationship between R&D productivity and knowledge intensity of firms: from the perspective of ''brand power as an integrated intangible asset''

Authors: Takashi Kikuchi, Akira Kamoshida

Addresses: Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 W9-51, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552 Japan. ' Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuda-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan

Abstract: This research, using financial performance data of Japanese electronics companies over a 30-year period, focuses on the measure of knowledge intensity from the perspective of ||long-term incremental brand power||. It examines how excellent companies have maintained a constant high growth ratio even during the lost decade of the 1990s in Japan. R&D productivity, measured by the brand-to-operational assets ratio, was identified as the source of such power, supported by a fairly strong correlation between them. This paper also contends that such power is the most reasonable metrics for comparing brand excellence even among companies of various sizes and industries.

Keywords: R&D productivity; brands; incremental brand power; brand ratio; knowledge creation; knowledge intensity; knowledge ratio; intangible assets; management technology; knowledge management; brand excellence; financial performance; Japan; electronics industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMS.2009.023486

International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.134 - 153

Published online: 24 Feb 2009 *

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