Does the deployment of the ISO 9001 standard have an effect on intellectual capital?

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to verify whether the ISO 9001 standard has an impact on the three components of intellectual capital, namely: human, structural, and relational capital.

Design/methodology:  Drawing on the absorptive capacity theory, the knowledge creation theory, and the sociotechnical systems theory, we developed a conceptual model that was tested on a sample of 100 Moroccan companies certified under ISO 9001.

Findings: The results indicate a direct impact of the ISO 9001 standard on human capital, an indirect impact on structural capital through human capital, and finally, the ISO 9001 standard influences relational capital through a serial mediation of human and then structural capital.

Originality / Value: This paper is a response to the current international debate on the importance of intellectual capital for value creation. Indeed, for intellectual capital to create value, it must be developed, and ISO 9001 standard precisely enables this development, as demonstrated by the results. Considering that more than a million organizations hold ISO 9001 certification worldwide, this aligns with the international scope of the debate on intellectual capital.