Table 1 Items of the scale of intellectual capital and firms’ performance

HC1901: Quality of the education

SC2301: Manual job description

RC2701: Firm’s market share

PERFOM1701: In the last two years, the company has introduced at least one new product (good or service)

HC1902: Percentage of workers with a college education

SC2302: Manuals of processes and procedures

RC2702: Existence of customer database

PERFORM1702: In the last two years, the company has improved at least one product (good or service)

HC1903: Proportion of workers with graduate education

SC2303: Standardized maintenance equipment and machinery

RC2703: Existence of a customer relationship management system

PERFORM1703: In the last two years, the company has introduced at least one new production process or has improved an existing one

HC1904: Technical and administrative skills

SC2304: Process maps and critical points

RC2704: Ability to identify potential customers

PERFORM1704: In the last two years, the company has introduced at least one new marketing or distribution method

HC2001: Human resources policy (equal employer)

SC2305: Report generation based on indicators

RC2705: Capacity to measure customer satisfaction

PERFORM1705: In the last two years, the company has introduced at least one new management or organizational method

HC2002: Gender policy

SC2306: Documentation of corrective actions

RC2705: Degree of customer satisfaction (previous year)

PERFORM1801: In the last two years, the company has launched more products (goods or services) than the competition

HC2003: Analytical and problem-solving capabilities

SC2307: R&D expenditure

RC2707: Capacity to track and recover customers

PERFORM1802: In the last two years, the company has increased its market share

HC2004: Creativity and inventiveness

SC2308: Time development and launch of product and services

RC2801: Degree of interest in strategic alliances (other firms and actors)

PERFORM1803: Nowadays, the company is in a stronger financial and economic position than the local competition

HC2005: Employee turnover rate

SC2309: Firm’s innovative profile of products and processes (high, medium, low)

RC2802: Capacity to identify competitors

PERFORM1804: Shareholders and partners are pleased with the firm’s performance

HC2006: Years of tenure of workers (experience)

SC2310: Degree of collaboration with universities and research centers

RC2803: Ongoing cooperative initiatives with other actors

PERFORM1805: In the last two years, the company has expanded into new regional and international markets

HC2007: Competitive salary level

SC2311: Flexibility and openness in the organization

RC2901: Legally established suppliers

HC2101: Training and education program

SC2401: Quality certification system implemented and verified (ISO-9000 series; ISO-1400 series)

RC2902: Preference for accredited and certified suppliers

HC2102: Observable improvement of technical skills

SC2402: Accreditation of lab testing and equipment calibration (i.e., ISO/IEC-17025)

RC2903: Strong relationships with suppliers

HC2103: Observable improvement of administrative skills

SC2501: Degree of knowledge of the national IP legal system

RC3001: Policy of corporate social responsibility

HC2104: Percentage of staff in training activities (last year)

SC2502: Degree of use of ONAPI facilities

RC3002: Bargaining power of the brand

HC2105: Average hours of training per employee

SC2503: Degree of use of IP legal procedures

RC3003: Firm’s prestige

HC2106: Average annual investment in training

SC2504: Degree of use of IP international procedures (PCT, USA, Japan, EU)

HC2201: Supportive and stimulating environment for learning

SC2505: Degree of the legal protection of developed innovations

HC2202: Codification of informal knowledge (learning-by-using-by-interacting)

SC2506: Degree of protection of trademarks

HC2203: Stimulating environment for team working

SC2601: Quality of ICT infrastructure (hardware and software)

HC2204: Degree of workers’ commitment and engagement

SC2602: Percentage of workers with access to terminals

HC2205: Good communication between management and staff

SC2603: Automation of production process of goods and services

SC2604: Automation of the procurement process

SC2605: Automation of the customer management process

SC2606: Automation of the administrative processes

SC2607: Degree of automation of human resource management