Michael D. Moberly  January 8, 2015  ‘A business blog where attention span really matters’.

I am confident that nowhere in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) referred to as an intangible (asset), even though PTSD has numerous similarities.

In today’s business – organization economics, decision makers and management teams are obliged, akin to a fiduciary responsibility, to acquire sufficient operational familiarity with their IA’s insofar as determining when, where, and how their contributory value, sources of revenue, and competitiveness originate and materialize. After all, it is an economic fact that 80+% of most company’s value, etc., either lie in or evolve directly from IA’s, particularly mission centric variants-outgrowths of intellectual, structural, relationship, and competitive capital.

PTSD, on the other hand, not substantially unlike a company’s IA’s which are frequently so deeply embedded in business-organization culture that it’s difficult for management teams to recognize their existence and contributory role/value.. Similarly, evidence of behaviors which may be influenced, triggered, or produced by PTSD may take several years following one’s traumatic experience to surface, i.e., develop, mature, and materialize-exhibit behaviorally and/or emotionally. Too, as has been found to be the case, PTSD may manifest very individually, i.e., sparked by a myriad of circumstances, memories, situations, or conditions, to form equally diverse (sets of) behaviors.

If someone, perhaps a family member, spouse, close friend, or partner, etc., is actually ‘looking and listening’ with a modicum of care, PTSD markers, not unlike business IA’s, will be quite evident for which credentialed skill sets-training need not necessarily be a requisite aside from compassion, courage, and interest in the person.

I am respectfully doubtful that any Vietnam era combat veteran experiencing PTSD, whether it’s been officially diagnosed or not, would describe its impact – effect as an asset. Its lingering and persistent emotional destruction can lead to significant impairments to ones thoughts and perspectives, not unlike when business leaders are dismissive of their IA’s, much value, potential sources of revenue, and competitiveness are left on the proverbial table.

Mr. Moberly is an intangible asset strategist and risk specialist and author of ‘Safeguarding Intangible Assets’ published by Elsevier in 2014, [email protected]