Development of theoretical approaches to the definition of intellectual capital

The article presents the evolution of theoretical approaches to the definition of intellectual capital. The author proposes three theoretical approaches to the definition of the studied object, which are located in the following chronological order: the object, structural and process approach. In accordance with the considered point of view the definition of the concept of intellectual capital, proposed by various researchers, has been analyzed, their advantages and disadvantagesare described. Particular attention is paid to the researchers, who have used the process approach, because it is dominant in the modern theory of intellectual capital. As a result of the analysis the author's approachhas been presented, which is called as combined one. According to it the intellectual capital is characterized as a collective notion of the intangible assets, summarizing the amount of human, informational, ideological, structural and customer capital, which in the process of interaction can increase profits.