Utilizing Employee Intellectual Capital through Enterprise Social Network: A Case Study on Saudi Airlines Aviation Company

Abstract

This Research aims to clarify the fact of intellectual capital investment by using Enterprise Social Networks in organizations, as a study on the Saudi Airlines Aviation Company. In addition, this research aims to define the role which technology, social capital and organizational culture play it in the organization in this field. This research aims to define the obstacles of intellectual capital investment by using Enterprise Social Networks. The analytic method was used to achieve this goal, whereas this researcher is using questionnaire to collect raw data. The research community consists of organization’s employees (14000 employees), a random sample was selected from community of study and it was about (1500 employee). This rustles show that, there are several positive indicators which reflects that, the factor of intellectual capital investment by using Enterprise Social Networks in Saudi Airlines Aviation Company is going well. In the other side, the research found that, there are several factors related to intellectual capital investment by using Enterprise Social Networks which need to be activated for the purpose of using these networks effectively to be able to play its role in documenting, sharing and dissemination of knowledge through it. The research also found that, the best way for Saudi Airlines Aviation Company to earn more benefits is by increasing the use of this network among employees generally and between middle and high management particularly, this shall also include all employees and retired employees to learn from their experience. The research also found that, the employees are not having the awareness or they weren't trained on using and browsing the social media networks, they also are not having the idea about its role or its importance in the company, they don't use it as a tool for training and developing the knowledge of employees. In addition, the company doesn't provide the support whether it physical or mental for the employees to share the knowledge generally or by using networks particularly. The results shown that there are no technology obstacles or frequent breakdowns and this factor is not considered obstacle to use it. One of the most important recommendations that the research found it, verbalizing the training and raise awareness of employee about the role of social media networks in intellectual capital investment, it recommends to increase the use Enterprise Social Networks by employee in the company and support them physically and mentally by using determined system and make an strategy and guideline to clarify the system and how to use the network of company.Finally, the researcher recommends that, more studies that relating to this subject shall be made because it is not available widely in Arabic society.