ANALYSIS OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA

As the world advances into an increasingly complex and knowledge-driven economy, the significance of intangible assets has become more apparent, especially in the technology industry that depends on innovation and ideas. A lack of protection for their intangible assets would put companies at risk of intellectual property theft and unauthorised use. Considering the above, the following research objectives are proposed: The first objective is to explore the nature of intangible assets that are observed in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) technology companies in Malaysia. The second is to examine the challenges in the management and accounting of intangible assets, and the third is to present the possible improvement in the management and accounting of intangible assets. This research analyses intangible assets for SMEs through semi-structured interviews with five senior management or finance leads from Malaysian companies operating in the technology sector. The findings aim to contribute to the sustainability and development of SME technology companies in Malaysia, in terms of optimising the management of their intangible assets. Accordingly, the findings on the management and accounting of intangible assets, with a focus on SMEs in Malaysia, aim to inform the improvement of policy and practice in the future, including the accounting paradigm of MPERS.