IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/entthe/v50y2026i2p502-535.html

Post-Succession Innovation in Family Businesses: Exploring the Tension Between Incumbent Imprinting and Successor Self-Determination

Author

Listed:
  • Ludovica Del Barone
  • Maria Carmela Annosi
  • Evelyn Micelotta
  • Filomena Buonocore

Abstract

This study advances the understanding of innovation across generations in family businesses by revealing how imprinting and self-determination shape innovation trajectories following succession. Through a case study of 16 Dutch family Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry, we identified four innovation trajectories—Inherited, Ancillary, Synergistic, and Detached Innovation. We disentangle the effect of structural imprinting and behavioral imprinting on the successor and examine how successor self-determination mediates imprinting forces. We rebalance the emphasis on incumbent-centric family business studies and explain the heterogeneity of post-succession innovation outcomes. These insights offer new theoretical tools for understanding and managing innovation during critical transition periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Ludovica Del Barone & Maria Carmela Annosi & Evelyn Micelotta & Filomena Buonocore, 2026. "Post-Succession Innovation in Family Businesses: Exploring the Tension Between Incumbent Imprinting and Successor Self-Determination," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 50(2), pages 502-535, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:50:y:2026:i:2:p:502-535
    DOI: 10.1177/10422587251382824
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10422587251382824
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/10422587251382824?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
    ---><---

    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. Porfírio, José António & Felício, José Augusto & Carrilho, Tiago, 2020. "Family business succession: Analysis of the drivers of success based on entrepreneurship theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 250-257.
    3. Eddleston, Kimberly A. & Kellermanns, Franz W. & Collier, Gregory, 2019. "Research on family firm innovation: What do family firms actually think and do?," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4).
    4. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1992. "Knowledge of the Firm, Combinative Capabilities, and the Replication of Technology," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 383-397, August.
    5. 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.
    6. Kristen K. Shanine & Kristen Madison & James G. Combs & Kimberly A. Eddleston, 2023. "Parenting the Successor: It Starts at Home and Leaves an Enduring Impact on the Family Business," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1093-1131, July.
    7. Rau, Sabine B. & Werner, Arndt & Schell, Sabrina, 2019. "Psychological ownership as a driving factor of innovation in older family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4).
    8. Dietmar Roessl & Matthias Fink & Sascha Kraus, 2010. "Are family firms fit for innovation? Towards an agenda for empirical research," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(3/4), pages 366-380.
    9. Isabelle Le Breton–Miller & Danny Miller & Lloyd P. Steier, 2004. "Toward an Integrative Model of Effective FOB Succession," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 28(4), pages 305-328, July.
    10. Miller, Danny & Steier, Lloyd & Le Breton-Miller, Isabelle, 2003. "Lost in time: intergenerational succession, change, and failure in family business," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 513-531, July.
    11. Zybura, Jan & Zybura, Nora & Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Woywode, Michael, 2021. "Innovation in the post-succession phase of family firms: Family CEO successors and leadership constellations as resources," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
    12. Paul Westhead & Carole Howorth & Marc Cowling, 2002. "Ownership and management issues in first generation and multi-generation family firms," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 247-269, July.
    13. Miruna Radu-Lefebvre & James Davis & William Gartner, 2024. "Legacy in Family Business: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Post-Print hal-04515862, HAL.
    14. Thomas Zellweger & Philipp Sieger, 2012. "Entrepreneurial orientation in long-lived family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 67-84, January.
    15. Jaskiewicz, Peter & Combs, James G. & Rau, Sabine B., 2015. "Entrepreneurial legacy: Toward a theory of how some family firms nurture transgenerational entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 29-49.
    16. Woodfield, Paul & Husted, Kenneth, 2017. "Intergenerational knowledge sharing in family firms: Case-based evidence from the New Zealand wine industry," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 57-69.
    17. Juliana R. Baltazar & Cristina I. Fernandes & Veland Ramadani & Mathew Hughes, 2023. "Family business succession and innovation: a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(8), pages 2897-2920, November.
    18. Hauck, Jana & Prügl, Reinhard, 2015. "Innovation activities during intra-family leadership succession in family firms: An empirical study from a socioemotional wealth perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 104-118.
    19. Mathias, Blake D. & Williams, David W. & Smith, Adam R., 2015. "Entrepreneurial inception: The role of imprinting in entrepreneurial action," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 11-28.
    20. Mattias Nordqvist & Karl Wennberg & Massimo Bau’ & Karin Hellerstedt, 2013. "An entrepreneurial process perspective on succession in family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1087-1122, May.
    21. Jeffery S. McMullen & Benjamin J. Warnick, 2015. "To Nurture or Groom? The Parent–Founder Succession Dilemma," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(6), pages 1379-1412, November.
    22. Torsten M. Pieper & Anne D. Smith & Jerry Kudlats & Joseph H. Astrachan, 2015. "The Persistence of Multifamily Firms: Founder Imprinting, Simple Rules, and Monitoring Processes," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(6), pages 1313-1337, November.
    23. Pramodita Sharma & James J. Chrisman & Amy L. Pablo & Jess H. Chua, 2001. "Determinants of Initial Satisfaction with the Succession Process in Family Firms: A Conceptual Model," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(3), pages 17-36, April.
    24. Vanessa Diaz-Moriana & Eric Clinton & Nadine Kammerlander & G. T. Lumpkin & Justin B. Craig, 2020. "Innovation Motives in Family Firms: A Transgenerational View," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(2), pages 256-287, March.
    25. 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).
    26. De Massis, Alfredo & Kotlar, Josip, 2014. "The case study method in family business research: Guidelines for qualitative scholarship," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 15-29.
    27. Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Landmann, Andreas & Woywode, Michael, 2015. "Gender preferences in the CEO successions of family firms: Family characteristics and human capital of the successor," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 86-103.
    28. Dieleman, Marleen, 2019. "Reaping what you sow: The family firm innovation trajectory," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4).
    29. Irmak Erdogan & Emanuela Rondi & Alfredo De Massis, 2020. "Managing the Tradition and Innovation Paradox in Family Firms: A Family Imprinting Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(1), pages 20-54, January.
    30. Wendy C. Handler, 1990. "Succession in Family Firms: A Mutual Role Adjustment between Entrepreneur and Next-generation Family Members," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 15(1), pages 37-52, October.
    31. Dubois, Anna & Gadde, Lars-Erik, 2002. "Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 553-560, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. 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.
    2. Rolf Wilmes & Leif Brändle & Andreas Kuckertz, 2024. "Seeds in rocky soil: the interactive role of entrepreneurial legacy and bridging in family firms’ organizational ambidexterity," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1041-1064, October.
    3. Reif, Tobias & Bauer, Dustin & Junge, Sebastian & Hossnofsky, Verena, 2025. "An update on family firm succession: A systematic literature review and future research directions," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    4. Zybura, Jan & Zybura, Nora & Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Woywode, Michael, 2021. "Innovation in the post-succession phase of family firms: Family CEO successors and leadership constellations as resources," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
    5. Chirico, Francesco & Ireland, R. Duane & Pittino, Daniel & Sanchez-Famoso, Valeriano, 2025. "Resource orchestration, socioemotional wealth, and radical innovation in family firms: Do multifamily ownership and generational involvement matter?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    6. Xuan Liu & Bing Zhou, 2026. "Entrepreneurial innovation dynamics and intergenerational succession in Chinese family firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Gómez, Juan M. & Rodríguez, Yeny E. & Pérez-Uribe, Miguel A., 2025. "Multi-level determinants of satisfaction in family business succession: The moderating role of cultural contexts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    8. Juliana R. Baltazar & Cristina I. Fernandes & Veland Ramadani & Mathew Hughes, 2023. "Family business succession and innovation: a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(8), pages 2897-2920, November.
    9. Xie, Peijun & Wang, Jian & Tang, Shiyi & Shahzadi, Irum & Bilan, Yuriy, 2025. "How does intergenerational transmission affect green innovation? Evidence from Chinese family businesses," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 158-169.
    10. Miruna Radu-Lefebvre & James Davis & William Gartner, 2024. "Legacy in Family Business: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Post-Print hal-04515862, HAL.
    11. Serhan, Carole & Nader, Rami & Gereige, William, 2023. "Modeling the effect of continuity and change as paradoxical forces in the inter-generational transition process of family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(4).
    12. Kandade, Kiran & Samara, Georges & Parada, Maria José & Dawson, Alexandra, 2021. "From family successors to successful business leaders: A qualitative study of how high-quality relationships develop in family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
    13. Clinton, Eric & McAdam, Maura & Gamble, Jordan Robert, 2018. "Transgenerational entrepreneurial family firms: An examination of the business model construct," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 269-285.
    14. Luis Cisneros & Mihai Ibanescu & Christian Keen & Odette Lobato-Calleros & Juan Niebla-Zatarain, 2018. "Bibliometric study of family business succession between 1939 and 2017: mapping and analyzing authors’ networks," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 919-951, November.
    15. Mattias Nordqvist & Karl Wennberg & Massimo Bau’ & Karin Hellerstedt, 2013. "An entrepreneurial process perspective on succession in family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1087-1122, May.
    16. Schell, Sabrina & de Groote, Julia K. & Moog, Petra & Hack, Andreas, 2020. "Successor selection in family business—A signaling game," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(3).
    17. Hauck, Jana & Prügl, Reinhard, 2015. "Innovation activities during intra-family leadership succession in family firms: An empirical study from a socioemotional wealth perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 104-118.
    18. Schell, Sabrina & Hiepler, Miriam & Moog, Petra, 2018. "It’s all about who you know: The role of social networks in intra-family succession in small and medium-sized firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 311-325.
    19. Chirico, Francesco & Duane Ireland, R. & Pittino, Daniel & Sanchez-Famoso, Valeriano, 2022. "Radical innovation in (multi)family owned firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(3).
    20. Arndt Werner & Sabrina Schell & Ljuba Haunschild, 2021. "How does a succession influence investment decisions, credit financing and business performance in small and medium-sized family firms?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 423-446, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:sae:entthe:v:50:y:2026:i:2:p:502-535. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.