PurposeThe authors examined intellectual capital (IC) components, namely human, structural and relational capital, on firm performance (FP) and innovation performance (IP), while also examining the role of knowledge management (KM) in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a meta-analysis using 81 studies from 2006 to 2020 using bivariate analysis, meta-analytic structure equation modeling (MASEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to study IC components on FP and IP.FindingsThe MASEM results show that IC affects positively on FP, but not in a significant level and affects positively and significantly on IP. The findings also reveal that the moderation effect of KM affects positively on FP but not on IP. Additionally, the fsQCA analysis shows that KM and its multidimensional role has a positive impact on FP and IP and has a potential to be consistent as a dynamic component for IC.Research limitations/implicationsThe results may be limited by different statistical biases and inverse causality issues or associated with contextualities related to the studies of the sample selected by our criteria.Practical implicationsManagers can identify the appropriate IC elements and act accordingly. The study suggests that mobilizing human, structural, relational and knowledge capital must begin from the firms' birth and continue further during firms' stages of the business.Social implicationsIC is the bridge of evolution for future societies. Knowing how its components impact all levels of corporate environment indirectly influences how societies build up their social bases and policies to fulfill new professional generations.Originality/valueBy using the MASEM and fsQCA, the authors have more detailed insights into the multidimensional context of KM in IC components on firm and innovation performance identifying configurations of intangible resources.