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Organizational Capabilities for Family Firm Sustainability: The Role of Knowledge Accumulation and Family Essence

Author

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  • Ismael Barros-Contreras

    (Instituto de Gestión e Industria, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5480000, Chile)

  • Jesús Manuel Palma-Ruiz

    (Facultad de Contaduría y Administración, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31000, Mexico)

  • Angel Torres-Toukoumidis

    (Social Science Knowledge and Human Behavior, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca 010105, Ecuador)

Abstract

While prior studies recognize the importance of organizational capabilities for family firm sustainability, current research has still failed to empirically identify the role of different types of knowledge accumulation with regard to these organizational capabilities. Based on the dynamic capabilities theory, the main goal of this paper is to address this research gap and to explore the relationships between both internal and external knowledge accumulation, and ordinary organizational capabilities. This research also contributes to analyzing the complex effect of the family firm essence, influenced by both family involvement and generational involvement levels, as an antecedent of internal and external knowledge accumulation. Our analysis of 102 non-listed Spanish family firms shows that the family firm essence, which is influenced by the family involvement, strengthens only the internal knowledge accumulation but not the external one. Furthermore, our study also reveals that both internal and knowledge accumulation are positively related to ordinary capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ismael Barros-Contreras & Jesús Manuel Palma-Ruiz & Angel Torres-Toukoumidis, 2021. "Organizational Capabilities for Family Firm Sustainability: The Role of Knowledge Accumulation and Family Essence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5607-:d:556546
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