Visualizing, measuring and managing knowledge

As companies continue to trade at many multiples of their book value, executives are beginning to look for ways to manage and measure the intangible assets that are increasingly recognized as large contributors to their organizations' market value. Companies such as The Dow Chemical Company, Skandia and Buckman Laboratories International are developing measurement systems to assess how well they leverage organizational knowledge to create value for customers, which is ultimately reflect in stock prices. These organizations are developing measurement systems for intangibles that can: 1) align individual actions with organizational strategy, and 2) anticipate positive as well as negative financial outcomes in enough time to enhance the former and possible avoid the latter altogether.