Law Professor Andrew Sherman encourages organizations to ‘recycle’ and leverage intangible assets. It is no secret that human capital is a company’s most valuable resource, yet most companies would rather invest in buildings and equipment rather than its people.
Good talent is hard to find, and even more difficult to keep. Underutilization of this talent is a major source of frustration and a major reason why people seek change. Professor Sherman is clearly perplexed by the ‘strategic disconnect’ between the constant search for growth opportunities and the trillions of dollars of intangible assets in organizations that are wasted, or waiting to be put to good use.
We would rather invest serious money in tangible assets, and almost nothing in the people who use these assets as tools to create value. We need to seek a better balance between the two. We must invest in the right people — not just the right ‘things’.
About Hemant Rustogi