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Innovation heterogeneity in family firms: Evidence from the date industry in Saudi Arabia

Alrubaishi, Dalal, Alarifi, Ghadah and McAdam, Maura orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-2203-5485 (2021) Innovation heterogeneity in family firms: Evidence from the date industry in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (IJESB), 22 (2). pp. 75-87. ISSN 1476-1297

Abstract
Researchers have argued that family firm innovation is paradoxical in nature, in that family firms often display less innovation than their nonfamily counterparts, yet they are able to be more innovative. The aim of this article is to unpack this paradox by exploring how differences in family firms’ ability (discretion and resources) and willingness (economic and noneconomic) affect their innovation activities. We adopt a qualitative, interpretive methodology based on four case studies of Saudi family firms operating in the indigenous date industry. Our findings emphasize the importance of having all four sources of ability and willingness in order for innovation to occur and how, when the new generation enters the business, the family firm’s innovation posture changes to either ‘lagging’ or ‘reviving’. By exploring innovation in the date sector in Saudi Arabia, we contribute to the ability–willingness paradox by distinguishing between the different sources of ability and willingness and add to an emerging narrative that acknowledges the integration of past knowledge with new innovative practices as an important and unique mechanism by which family firms can harness innovation.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Date industry; family firms; innovation heterogeneity; innovation paradox; Saudi Arabia
Subjects:UNSPECIFIED
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > DCU Business School
Research Institutes and Centres > National Centre for Family Business
Publisher:SAGE Publications
Official URL:https://doi.org/10.1177/1465750320930869
Copyright Information:© 2022 The Authors
ID Code:28176
Deposited On:21 Mar 2023 15:29 by Maura Mcadam . Last Modified 09 Mar 2024 10:20
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