Intellectual currencies: an introduction to the concept of i‐commerce

Loyalty points or social currency systems like time banks and time dollars, which tackle the problem of social capital by measuring and rewarding people’s contribution, can be adapted to tackle the problem of knowledge capital inside organisations. “Intellectual currencies” or “i‐commerce” are descriptions of internal currency systems that encourage employees of departments to share knowledge and are intended as a solution to the key knowledge management problem – getting people to share, when it is not normally noticed or appreciated or reflected in the departmental bottom line.