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  • Rondi et al._Family business innovation postures_081217_vER_vADM-CLEAN

    Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Family Business Strategy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Family Business Strategy, 10, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2017.12.001

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    Available under license: CC BY-NC-ND: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

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Unlocking innovation potential: A typology of family business innovation postures and the critical role of the family system

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number100236
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/12/2019
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Family Business Strategy
Volume10
Number of pages13
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date15/02/18
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

How can family firms unlock their innovation potential? Despite the recent growth in research on family business innovation, existing literature has yielded controversial findings. Family firms are recognized as more conservative and steadfast to their tradition, however many of the most innovative firms worldwide are family businesses. This points to an apparent willingness-ability paradox in family business innovation. Drawing on family business innovation and family systems literature, we argue that family characteristics are an important yet overlooked driver of this paradoxical tension. We develop the construct of family business innovation posture, and identify a typology of four ideal types: Seasoner, Re-enactor, Digger, and Adventurer. Furthermore, we explore and illustrate with empirical data the necessary fit between the family business innovation posture and family-related dimensions to resolve the willingness-ability paradox. The article examines the implications of the typology for family business innovation research by exploring the effects of intra-family succession, outlining important directions for future research aimed at advancing current understanding of the role of the family in family business innovation, and providing practical insights for family business owners, managers, and consultants.

Bibliographic note

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Family Business Strategy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Family Business Strategy, 10, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2017.12.001