Challenges Facing Accountants in Measuring Intellectual Capital from the Perspective of Faculty Members at the University of Benghazi

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the challenges facing accountants in measuring intellectual capital. The researcher reviewed the literature on intellectual capital, exploring various perspectives, this study examines global, Arab, as well as local research, including recent studies on the subject, to identify the challenges facing the measurement of intellectual capital. These challenges were largely agreed upon in recent studies. The opinions of faculty members in the Accounting Department at the University of Benghazi regarding these challenges were surveyed through a field study. The descriptive-deductive approach has been used to achieve the study's objectives. A questionnaire was distributed to 66 faculty members in the Accounting Department at the University of Benghazi as the data collection tool. The questionnaire data has been analysed using SPSS software. The study concluded that the views of researchers in previous studies as well as the opinions of the faculty members in the Accounting Department at the University of Benghazi concurred that measuring intellectual capital is difficult despite its importance. Furthermore, there is no specific accounting model for measuring intellectual capital, besides most of the measures currently used to measure it remain controversial among accountants in addition to the lack of general agreement. Therefore; the study recommended developing the conceptual framework of accounting to encompass intellectual capital concepts as well as establish a clear and agreed-upon reference for these concepts through research along with more seminars on the subject. The and necessity to recognize intellectual capital as an intangible asset, besides the necessity of developing a suitable accounting model whichever is most accurate for measuring intellectual capital across all institutions. Furthermore, it recommended that government agencies and professional organizations define specific models for measuring intellectual capital within each industry or sector individually.