Innovation in family and non-family SMEs: an exploratory analysis

N.A. Classen*, M.A. Carree, A.E.J. van Gils, B. Peters

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study provides an exploratory analysis of differences between family and non-family firms in innovation investment, product and process innovation outcomes, and labor productivity. Using data from the Community Innovation Survey on 2,087 German small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we observe significant disparities at each stage of the innovation process. Whereas family SMEs have a higher propensity to invest in innovation at all, conditional on investing in innovation, these companies do so less intensively than their non-family counterparts. Family SMEs further tend to outperform non-family SMEs in terms of process innovation outcomes when controlling for innovation investment. Given the level of product and process innovation, however, family SMEs underperform regarding labor productivity in comparison to non-family SMEs. These findings complement previous empirical research by illustrating how the presence of a dominant family relates to innovation inputs and outputs of SMEs in Europe's largest economy and its innovative SME sector.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)595-609
Number of pages15
JournalSmall Business Economics
Volume42
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Family firms
  • Innovation investment
  • Product innovation
  • Process innovation
  • Productivity
  • RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT
  • DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
  • SOCIOEMOTIONAL WEALTH
  • EMPIRICAL-EVIDENCE
  • FIRM PERFORMANCE
  • FOUNDER FIRMS
  • RISK-TAKING
  • OWNERSHIP
  • PRODUCTIVITY
  • MANAGEMENT

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