IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/sbusec/v60y2023i4d10.1007_s11187-022-00669-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Overcoming the ability-willingness paradox in small family firms’ collaborations

Author

Listed:
  • Christina Guenther

    (WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management)

  • Maksim Belitski

    (University of Reading
    ICD Business School)

  • Nada Rejeb

    (ICD Business School)

Abstract

Family firms’ collaborative innovation is characterized by the so-called ability-willingness paradox i.e. they are less willing to engage in collaborations despite being more able to manage them for innovation purposes. In this paper, we introduce collaboration partner type and spatial proximity as two important boundary conditions of this paradox. We examine the differences in collaboration for innovation across different spatial proximities and partner types for small family and non-family firms. We use a large sample of 6272 small firms in the United Kingdom (UK) during 2002–2016 to show that this paradox is indeed not a universal phenomenon. Small family firms overcome their lower willingness when collaborating with customers within regional proximity and, based on their unique characteristics and superior ability to govern these collaborations, they are able to generate an innovation premium compared to small non-family firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Guenther & Maksim Belitski & Nada Rejeb, 2023. "Overcoming the ability-willingness paradox in small family firms’ collaborations," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1409-1429, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:60:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-022-00669-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-022-00669-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11187-022-00669-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11187-022-00669-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franz Kellermanns & Kimberly Eddleston & Ravi Sarathy & Fran Murphy, 2012. "Innovativeness in family firms: a family influence perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 85-101, January.
    2. Stefano Magistretti & Claudio Dell’Era & Alfredo De Massis & Federico Frattini, 2019. "Exploring the relationship between types of family involvement and collaborative innovation in design-intensive firms: insights from two leading players in the furniture industry," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(10), pages 1121-1151, November.
    3. Michael Hitt & M. Tina Dacin & Edward Levitas & Jean-Luc Arregle & Anca Borza, 2000. "Partner Selection in Emerging and Developed Market Contexts : Resource-Based and Organizational Learning Perspectives," Post-Print hal-02276706, HAL.
    4. Johanna Gast & Andreas Kallmünzer & Sascha Kraus & Katherine Gundolf & Judith Arnold, 2019. "Coopetition of small-and medium-sized family enterprises: insights from an IT business network," Post-Print hal-02945298, HAL.
    5. Massimo Baù & Francesco Chirico & Daniel Pittino & Mikaela Backman & Johan Klaesson, 2019. "Roots to Grow: Family Firms and Local Embeddedness in Rural and Urban Contexts," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(2), pages 360-385, March.
    6. Alfred Kleinknecht & Kees Van Montfort & Erik Brouwer, 2002. "The Non-Trivial Choice between Innovation Indicators," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(2), pages 109-121.
    7. Patricio Duran & Nadine Kammerlander & Marc van Essen & Thomas Zellweger, 2016. "Doing More with Less : Innovation Input and Output in Family Firms," Post-Print hal-02312103, HAL.
    8. Muzyka, Daniel & Breuninger, Hans & Rossell, Gerda, 1997. "The secret of new growth in old German 'Mittelstand' companies," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 147-157, April.
    9. Imen Mzid & Nada Khachlouf & Richard Soparnot, 2019. "How does family capital influence the resilience of family firms?," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 249-277, June.
    10. Patricio Duran & Nadine Kammerlander & Marc van Essen & Thomas Zellweger, 2016. "Doing More with Less : Innovation Input and Output in Family Firms," Post-Print hal-02276703, HAL.
    11. Marjorie J. Cooper & Nancy Upton & Samuel Seaman, 2005. "Customer Relationship Management: A Comparative Analysis of Family and Nonfamily Business Practices," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 242-256, July.
    12. Ron Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2009. "Some Notes on Institutions in Evolutionary Economic Geography," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 85(2), pages 151-158, April.
    13. Van Gils, Anita & Huybrechts, Jolien & Minola, Tommaso & Cassia, Lucio, 2019. "Unraveling the impact of family antecedents on family firm image: A serial multiple-mediation model," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 17-27.
    14. Czarnitzki, Dirk & Kraft, Kornelius, 2009. "Capital control, debt financing and innovative activity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 372-383, August.
    15. Hanqinq “Chevy†Fang & Robert V.D.G. Randolph & Esra Memili & James J. Chrisman, 2016. "Does Size Matter? The Moderating Effects of Firm Size on the Employment of Nonfamily Managers in Privately Held Family SMEs," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(5), pages 1017-1039, September.
    16. Michael Hitt & M. Tina Dacin & Edward Levitas & Jean-Luc Arregle & Anca Borza, 2000. "Partner Selection in Emerging and Developed Market Contexts : Resource-Based and Organizational Learning Perspectives," Post-Print hal-02312691, HAL.
    17. Amy E. Ingram & Marianne W. Lewis & Sid Barton & William B. Gartner, 2016. "Paradoxes and Innovation in Family Firms: The Role of Paradoxical Thinking," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(1), pages 161-176, January.
    18. Wouter Broekaert & Petra Andries & Koenraad Debackere, 2016. "Innovation processes in family firms: the relevance of organizational flexibility," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 771-785, October.
    19. Debellis, Francesco & De Massis, Alfredo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Frattini, Federico & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2021. "Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    20. Rondi, Emanuela & De Massis, Alfredo & Kotlar, Josip, 2019. "Unlocking innovation potential: A typology of family business innovation postures and the critical role of the family system," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4).
    21. Danny Miller & Jangwoo Lee & Sooduck Chang & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller, 2009. "Filling the institutional void: The social behavior and performance of family vs non-family technology firms in emerging markets," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(5), pages 802-817, June.
    22. Pierre-Alexandre Balland & Ron Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2015. "Proximity and Innovation: From Statics to Dynamics," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(6), pages 907-920, June.
    23. Thomas M. Zellweger & Robert S. Nason & Mattias Nordqvist & Candida G. Brush, 2013. "Why Do Family Firms Strive for Nonfinancial Goals? An Organizational Identity Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(2), pages 229-248, March.
    24. Santamara, Llus & Nieto, Mara Jess & Barge-Gil, Andrs, 2009. "Beyond formal R&D: Taking advantage of other sources of innovation in low- and medium-technology industries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 507-517, April.
    25. Pittino, Daniel & Visintin, Francesca, 2011. "The propensity toward inter-organizational cooperation in small- and medium-sized family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 57-68, June.
    26. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    27. Freel, Mark S., 2003. "Sectoral patterns of small firm innovation, networking and proximity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 751-770, May.
    28. Arndt Werner & Christian Schröder & Simone Chlosta, 2018. "Driving factors of innovation in family and non-family SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 201-218, January.
    29. Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1978. "Archetypes of Strategy Formulation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(9), pages 921-933, May.
    30. Vestal, Alex & Danneels, Erwin, 2018. "Knowledge exchange in clusters: The contingent role of regional inventive concentration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10), pages 1887-1903.
    31. Johanna Gast & Andreas Kallmünzer & Sascha Kraus & Katherine Gundolf & Judith Arnold, 2019. "Coopetition of small- and medium-sized family enterprises: insights from an IT business network," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 38(1/2), pages 78-101.
    32. Papke, Leslie E. & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2008. "Panel data methods for fractional response variables with an application to test pass rates," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 145(1-2), pages 121-133, July.
    33. Christopher T. Street & Ann‐frances Cameron, 2007. "External Relationships and the Small Business: A Review of Small Business Alliance and Network Research," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(2), pages 239-266, April.
    34. Maria Jesus Nieto & Lluis Santamaria & Zulima Fernandez, 2015. "Understanding the Innovation Behavior of Family Firms," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(2), pages 382-399, April.
    35. David G. Sirmon & Michael A. Hitt, 2003. "Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management, and Wealth Creation in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 27(4), pages 339-358, October.
    36. Nicolas Classen & Anita Van gils & Yannick Bammens & Martin Carree, 2012. "Accessing Resources from Innovation Partners: The Search Breadth of Family SMEs," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 191-215, April.
    37. Bird, Miriam & Wennberg, Karl, 2014. "Regional influences on the prevalence of family versus non-family start-ups," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 421-436.
    38. Kobarg, Sebastian & Stumpf-Wollersheim, Jutta & Welpe, Isabell M., 2019. "More is not always better: Effects of collaboration breadth and depth on radical and incremental innovation performance at the project level," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 1-10.
    39. André Spithoven & Wim Vanhaverbeke & Nadine Roijakkers, 2013. "Open innovation practices in SMEs and large enterprises," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 537-562, October.
    40. Stough, Roger & Welter, Friederike & Block, Joern & Wennberg, Karl & Basco, Rodrigo, 2015. "Family business and regional science: “Bridging the gap”," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 208-218.
    41. David Bruce Audretsch & Maksim Belitski & Rosa Caiazza, 2021. "Start-ups, Innovation and Knowledge Spillovers," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 1995-2016, December.
    42. Danny Miller & Lloyd Steier & Isabelle Le Breton–Miller, 2016. "What Can Scholars of Entrepreneurship Learn from Sound Family Businesses?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(3), pages 445-455, May.
    43. Coad, Alex & Segarra, Agustí & Teruel, Mercedes, 2016. "Innovation and firm growth: Does firm age play a role?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 387-400.
    44. Ritch L. Sorenson & Cathleen A. Folker & Keith H. Brigham, 2008. "The Collaborative Network Orientation: Achieving Business Success through Collaborative Relationships," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(4), pages 615-634, July.
    45. Feranita, Feranita & Kotlar, Josip & De Massis, Alfredo, 2017. "Collaborative innovation in family firms: Past research, current debates and agenda for future research," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 137-156.
    46. Nancy J. Miller & Harriet Mcleod & Karen Young ob, 2001. "Managing Family Businesses in Small Communities," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 73-87, January.
    47. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton‐Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2011. "Family and Lone Founder Ownership and Strategic Behaviour: Social Context, Identity, and Institutional Logics," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 1-25, January.
    48. Katiuscia Lavoratori & Sergio Mariotti & Lucia Piscitello, 2020. "The role of geographical and temporary proximity in MNEs’ location and intra-firm co-location choices," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(10), pages 1442-1456, October.
    49. Block, Joern H., 2012. "R&D investments in family and founder firms: An agency perspective," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 248-265.
    50. Berchicci, Luca, 2013. "Towards an open R&D system: Internal R&D investment, external knowledge acquisition and innovative performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 117-127.
    51. Alfredo De massis & Federico Frattini & Emanuele Pizzurno & Lucio Cassia, 2015. "Product Innovation in Family versus Nonfamily Firms: An Exploratory Analysis," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 1-36, January.
    52. Mark Freel & Richard Harrison, 2006. "Innovation and cooperation in the small firm sector: Evidence from 'Northern Britain'," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(4), pages 289-305.
    53. Audretsch, David B. & Hülsbeck, Marcel & Lehmann, Erik E., 2013. "Families as active monitors of firm performance," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 118-130.
    54. Massimo G. Colombo & Keld Laursen & Mats Magnusson & Cristina Rossi‐lamastra, 2012. "Introduction: Small Business and Networked Innovation: Organizational and Managerial Challenges," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 181-190, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Valentina Peruzzi, 2024. "Open innovation in family-owned firms," Working Papers CASMEF 2401, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, LUISS Guido Carli.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Belitski, Maksim & Rejeb, Nada, 2022. "Does open customer innovation model hold for family firms?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 334-346.
    2. Taewoo Kim & Jennifer C. Sexton & Laura E. Marler, 2023. "Innovation as a mixed gamble in family firms: the moderating effect of inter-organizational cooperation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1389-1408, April.
    3. Feranita, Feranita & Kotlar, Josip & De Massis, Alfredo, 2017. "Collaborative innovation in family firms: Past research, current debates and agenda for future research," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 137-156.
    4. Joern Block & Christopher Hansen & Holger Steinmetz, 2023. "Are Family Firms Doing More Innovation Output With Less Innovation Input? A Replication and Extension," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1496-1520, July.
    5. Francesco Aiello & Lidia Mannarino & Valeria Pupo, 2023. "Family Firm Heterogeneity And Patenting. Revising The Role Of Size And Age," Working Papers 202301, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    6. Francesca Maria Cesaroni & Gail Denisse Chamochumbi Diaz & Annalisa Sentuti, 2021. "Family Firms and Innovation from Founder to Successor," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, May.
    7. Julia K. Groote & Sabrina Schell & Nadine Kammerlander & Andreas Hack, 2023. "The role of similarity and complementarity in the selection of potential partners for open innovation projects in family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1347-1367, April.
    8. Espeche, José Francisco Tragant & Sacristán-Navarro, María & Zúñiga-Vicente, José Ángel & Crespo, Nuno Fernandes, 2023. "Innovation and internationalisation during times of economic growth, crisis, and recovery prior to Covid-19: A configurational approach comparing Spanish manufacturing family and non-family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    9. Arndt Werner & Christian Schröder & Simone Chlosta, 2018. "Driving factors of innovation in family and non-family SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 201-218, January.
    10. Sondos G. Abdelgawad & Shaker A. Zahra, 2020. "Family Firms’ Religious Identity and Strategic Renewal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(4), pages 775-787, May.
    11. Francesco Aiello & Paola Cardamone & Lidia Mannarino & Valeria Pupo, 2021. "Does external R&D matter for family firm innovation? Evidence from the Italian manufacturing industry," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1915-1930, December.
    12. Sherlock, Chelsea & Dibrell, Clay & Memili, Esra, 2023. "The impact of family commitment on firm innovativeness: The mediating role of resource stocks," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(3).
    13. Massimo Baù & Francesco Chirico & Daniel Pittino & Mikaela Backman & Johan Klaesson, 2019. "Roots to Grow: Family Firms and Local Embeddedness in Rural and Urban Contexts," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(2), pages 360-385, March.
    14. Martínez-Alonso, Rubén & Martínez-Romero, María J. & Rojo-Ramírez, Alfonso A. & Lazzarotti, Valentina & Sciascia, Salvatore, 2023. "Process innovation in family firms: Family involvement in management, R&D collaboration with suppliers, and technology protection," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Lin, Hsing-Er & Yu, Andy & Stambaugh, Jeff & Tsao, Chiung-Wen & Wang, Rebecca Jen-Hui & Hsu, I-Chieh, 2023. "Family CEO duality and research and development intensity in public family enterprises: Temporality as a model boundary," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    16. Julio Diéguez-Soto & María J. Martínez-Romero, 2019. "Family Involvement in Management and Product Innovation: The Mediating Role of R&D Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, April.
    17. María del Pilar Casado-Belmonte & María de las Mercedes Capobianco-Uriarte & Rubén Martínez-Alonso & María J. Martínez-Romero, 2021. "Delineating the Path of Family Firm Innovation: Mapping the Scientific Structure," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(8), pages 2455-2499, November.
    18. Nicolas Classen & Martin Carree & Anita Gils & Bettina Peters, 2014. "Innovation in family and non-family SMEs: an exploratory analysis," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 595-609, March.
    19. Nieto, María Jesús & Santamaria, Luis & Bammens, Yannick, 2023. "Digitalization as a facilitator of open innovation: Are family firms different?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    20. Fernando Muñoz-Bullón & Maria J. Sanchez-Bueno & Alfredo De Massis, 2020. "Combining Internal and External R&D: The Effects on Innovation Performance in Family and Nonfamily Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(5), pages 996-1031, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Small family firm; Customers; Innovation; Ability-willingness paradox; Collaboration; Region;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:60:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-022-00669-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.