The impact of technological innovation efficiency on firm growth The moderating role of family involvement in management

• Published in: European journal of innovation management Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 134 - 155
• Main Authors: Martínez-Alonso, Rubén, Martínez-Romero, María J., Rojo-Ramírez, Alfonso A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 13-01-2020
• Subjects: Business administration; Competition; Efficiency; Family owned businesses; Innovations; Least squares method; R&D; Regression analysis; Research & development
• ISSN: 1460-1060; 1758-7115
• DOI: 10.1108/EJIM-09-2018-0210

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer new insights regarding an issue that has attracted the interest of multitude academics and practitioners in business management and family firm literature: technological innovation (TI). Specifically, this study brings new knowledge regarding both the impact of TI efficiency on firm growth and the moderating role of family involvement in management on such relationship. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a matched-pairs design and an ordinary least squares regression analysis to examine a sample of 152 Spanish manufacturing firms. Findings First, the authors show that firms obtaining higher TI efficiency are also those that achieve superior growth. Second, the authors reveal that as family involvement in management increases, the positive effect that TI efficiency exerts on firm growth is strengthened. Practical implications This study suggests that family managers should essentially consider various aspects such as tacit knowledge, social capital and long-standing collaborations with stakeholders to reinforce the relationship between TI efficiency and firm growth. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that analyses the effect of TI efficiency on firm growth, as well as, when and to what extent family involvement in management influences the TI efficiency–growth relationship. Thus, this paper provides a deeper understanding of the importance that family managers could have on firm growth deriving from TI efficiency.