Intangible Resources as an Element of a Potential of an Enterprise Economic Security System: Content and Features

The aim of the study is to analyze the composition and properties of intangible resources as an element of the potential of an enterprise’s economic security system. The study provides an understanding of the enterprise’s economic security system and the concept of potential. Within the composition of intangible resources as part of the potential of the enterprise’s economic security system, intangible assets and capabilities of the enterprise are distinguished. The fundamental difference between these two groups is that the enterprise’s intangible assets can be divested from the enterprise and have a certain value, while intangible capabilities cannot be divested from the enterprise and do not have an independent defined value. The intangible capabilities of the enterprise included among its intangible resources as elements of its economic security system potential are: the reputation of the enterprise, clear competency of its employees, security-oriented culture, relational capital, informational capital, time, employee loyalty, and the quality of security management. The content and characteristics of each of these identified intangible capabilities of the enterprise have been revealed. The properties of the enterprise’s capabilities as a component of the potential of its economic security system have been defined. Such capabilities result from the work of the enterprise’s staff and management, have no material form or documentary design, influence the security of the enterprise’s activities, exist and are utilized, even though they do not belong to the enterprise, are difficult to imitate, can be assessed, and affect the value of the enterprise. The factors examined for creating and effectively utilizing the capabilities of the enterprise as a component of its economic security system’s potential include: balance of interests, motivation of the enterprise’s personnel, time, competencies of the staff, results of their work, team cohesion, transparency in management, and stakeholder expectations.