Managing specific competences to preserve the immaterial capital : illiteracy in the workplace in the conservation of resources theory
The situations of illiteracy in companies question the capacity of managers and HR services to lead effective devices of management of the immaterial capital. The Conservation Of Ressources theory (Gorgievsky and Hobfoll, 2008) is used as a framework to understand better the gains and losses of immaterial capital such as knowledge, competences, coping capabilities and propensity to accept the change. For the authors, the individuals who miss resources are not inclined to risk them what slows down the acquisition of resources. Part of the human capital of the company is impoverished. Our results explain the reasons of a vicious circle, and reveal the resources to be mobilized to break this spiral of failure.