Open innovation in family firms: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is threefold: first, to provide a comprehensive and systemized literature review on open innovation (OI) in family firms; second, to identify the antecedent of family firms’ heterogeneity (i.e. governance structure, goals and resources) and to outline how they affect OI behavior; and third, to propose potential avenues for further research. Design/methodology/approach The study consists of a systematic literature review and analyses the findings of 36 papers on OI and family firms. Findings Based on the results of the reviewed papers, authors show how family firms’ specific characteristics/factors strictly related to their governance structure, goals and resources affect OI behavior. Furthermore, the authors highlight also that adoption of different mechanisms/strategies can be useful to family firms to overcome OI barriers. Finally, discussion and avenues for further research are presented. Practical implications This review can be useful to family business managers, directors and/or external consultants to better understand family-specific characteristics to support family businesses in opening up their boundaries to external partners. Originality/value To the best knowledge, this is the first systematic review on OI and family firms that attempt to identify all family-specific characteristics/factors, known as the antecedent of heterogeneity that affects family firm OI behavior. The authors believe that it could represent an important guide for future research on this topic.

Impact of wise leadership, workplace friendships on open innovation in family firms: a developing country perspective

“…Several studies (e.g. Gjergji et al (2019), Kraiczy (2013), Leitão (2019), andSpender et al (2017)) have investigated the differences in innovative performance between FFs and other companies, in which such differences are caused by these firms' unique characteristics to enhance their competitiveness. Family businesses are often an ownership structure dominated mostly by members of a family(s) that have common family standards and values, and a common method of thinking shaped over a prolonged period (Baykal, 2018).…”

“…However, substantial research is necessary to understand how OI is energised within FFs (Gjergji et al, 2019). Oduro (2020) found that the contemporary literature discusses multiple and occasionally contradictory findings on energising OI in companies, including FFs.…”

“…In the context of the unique characteristics and behaviours of FFs, these firms face diverse challenges in OI adoption, which slow down firms from accessing target markets (Oduro, 2020). Amongst the most important challenges are poor knowledge resource and management capabilities and inadequate social capital that hinder the expansion and development of OI approaches in FFs (Gjergji et al, 2019). Pourdjam A et al (2015) asserted that firms with minimal innovation often suffer from the absence of development vision for knowledge resources, absence of clear strategies and lack of cooperation and harmony with innovation actors.…”

“…Therefore, understanding how to enhance FFs' characteristics and behaviours in energising OI by overcoming knowledge-strategic (KS) and collaborative-organisational (CO) challenges that face firms has become a field necessity and a research gap highlighted by numerous studies (e.g. Gjergji et al (2019), Leitão (2019) and Oduro (2020)). Accordingly, how OI models are activated in companies, including FFs, particularly those operating in Asian (specifically developing) countries, should be understood for their crucial role in the economic success of these countries (Fu, 2019;Spender et al, 2017).…”

“…Accordingly, how OI models are activated in companies, including FFs, particularly those operating in Asian (specifically developing) countries, should be understood for their crucial role in the economic success of these countries (Fu, 2019;Spender et al, 2017). Gjergji et al (2019) raised concerns with using the quantitative approach in studying family businesses owing to the small sample size, lack of generalisability of findings and use of simple regression rather than the structural equation modelling (SEM). Therefore, this study investigates the preceding issues through the following main research question:…”