ABSTRACT

Intellectual capital as the sum of human, structural, and relational capital is among the key resources for an organization to produce value. However, knowledge as an intellectual resource may show a dark side. Human capital, for instance, is often affected by cognitive bias coming from knowledge and beliefs. Cognitive bias may negatively affect decision-making processes. Bias may be dangerous in all fields. However, the situation can be particularly critical in medicine, where statistics state how up to 75% of all clinical errors are of cognitive origins. The chapter aims at investigating if and how intangibles management can help to overcome cognitive bias. The work employs a case study approach analyzing BACRI, a digital platform in the field of pediatric medicine. BACRI, which stands for “Critical Child” in Italian, allows identifying young patients at risk who need immediate care. The case study shows how the joint effect of structural capital, human capital, and relational capital is the key to the overcoming of cognitive bias, in a virtuous circle. Intangibles management can so limit the dark side of knowledge.