How family firms execute open innovation strategies: the Loccioni case

Journal of Knowledge Management

Volumn 21, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 1459-1485

  Casprini, Elena ^a   De Massis, Alfredo ^b,c   Di Minin, Alberto ^a   Frattini, Federico ^d   Piccaluga, Andrea ^a  

^a SCUOLA SUPERIORE SANT ANNA   (Italy)

^b FREE UNIVERSITY OF BOZEN BOLZANO   (Italy)

^c LANCASTER UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^d POLITECNICO DI MILANO   (Italy)

Author keywords

Capabilities; Family firms; Noneconomic goals; Open innovation; Social capital

Indexed keywords

EID: 85031851766     PISSN: 13673270     EISSN: 17587484     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1108/JKM-11-2016-0515     Document Type: Article

References (96)

1. Antons, D. and Piller, F. (2015), “Opening the black box of ‘not invented here’: attitudes, decision biases, and behavioral consequences”, The Academy of Management Perspectives, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 193-217
2. Ardito, L. and Messeni Petruzzelli, A. (2017), “Breadth of external knowledge sourcing and product innovation: the moderating role of strategic human resource practices”, European Management Journal, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 261-272
3. Arregle, J.L., Hitt, M.A. and Sirmon, D.G. (2007), “The development of organizational social capital: attributes of family firms”, Journal of Management, Vol. 44 No. 1, pp. 73-95
4. Baraldi, E., Gregori, G.L. and Perna, A. (2011), “Network evolution and the embedding of complex technical solutions: the case of the Leaf House network”, Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 40 No. 6, pp. 838-852
5. Beer, M. and Eisenstat, R.A. (2000), “The silent killers of strategy implementation and learning”, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 41 No. 4, pp. 29-40
6. Bianchi, M., Croce, A., Dell’Era, C., Di Benedetto, A. and Frattini, F. (2016), “Organizing for inbound open innovation: how external consultants and a dedicated R&D unit influence product innovation performance”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 492-510
7. Boeker, W. (1989), “Strategic change: the effects of founding and history”, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 489-515
8. Carnes, C.M. and Ireland, R.D. (2013), “Familiness and innovation: resource bundling as the missing link”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 1399-1420
9. Carney, M. (2005), “Corporate governance and competitive advantage in family-controlled firms”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 249-265
10. Chesbrough, H. (2006), Open Innovation: Researching a New Paradigm, Oxford University Press,Oxford
11. Chiaroni, D., Chiesa, V. and Frattini, F. (2010), “Unravelling the process from closed to open innovation: evidence from mature, asset-intensive industries”, R&D Management, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 222-245
12. Chrisman, J.J. and Patel, P.C. (2012), “Variations in R&D investments of family and nonfamily firms: behavioral agency and myopic loss aversion perspectives”, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 55 No. 4, pp. 976-997
13. Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., De Massis, A., Frattini, F. and Wright, M. (2015), “The ability and willingness paradox in family firm innovation”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 310-318
14. Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., De Massis, A., Minola, M. and Vismara, S. (2016), “Management processes and strategy execution in family firms: from ‘What’ to ‘How’”, Small Business Economics, Vol. 47 No. 3, pp. 719-734
15. Chua, J.H., Chrisman, J.J. and Sharma, P. (1999), “Defining the family business by behaviour”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 19, pp. 19-39
16. Chua, J.H., Chrisman, J.J., Steier, L.P. and Rau, S.B. (2012), “Sources of heterogeneity in family firms: an introduction”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 1103-1114
17. Classen, N., Carree, M., van Gils, A. and Peters, B. (2014), “Innovation in family and non-family SMEs: an exploratory analysis”, Small Business Economics, Vol. 42 No. 3, pp. 595-609
18. Classen, N., Van Gils, A., Bammens, Y. and Carree, M. (2012), “The search breadth of family SMEs”, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 50 No. 2, pp. 191-215
19. Cohen, W.M. and Levinthal, D.A. (1990), “Absorptive capacity: a new perspective on learning and innovation”, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 128-152
20. Craig, J. and Dibrell, C. (2006), “The natural environment, innovation, and firm performance: a comparative study”, Family Business Review, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 275-288
21. Crittenden, V.L. and Crittenden, W.F. (2008), “Building a capable organization: the eight levers of strategy implementation”, Business Horizons, Vol. 51 No. 4, pp. 301-309
22. Dahlander, L. and Gann, D.M. (2010), “How open is innovation?”, Research Policy, Vol. 39 No. 6, pp. 699-709
23. Dahlander, L., O’Mahony, S. and Gann, D.M. (2016), “One foot in, one foot out: how does individuals’ external search breadth affect innovation outcomes?”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 37 No. 2, pp. 280-302
24. De Araújo Burcharth, A.L., Knudsen, M.P. and Sondergaard, H.A. (2014), “Neither invented nor shared here: the impact and management of attitudes for the adoption of open innovation practices”, Technovation, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 149-161
25. De Massis, A. (2015), “Family Business and Innovation”, in Audretsch, D.B., Hayter, C.S. and Link, A.N. (Eds), Concise Guide to Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham
26. De Massis, A. and Kotlar, J. (2014), “The case study method in family business research: guidelines for qualitative scholarship”, Journal of Family Business Strategy, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 15-29
27. De Massis, A., Chua, J.H. and Chrisman, J.J. (2012a), “State of the art of family business research”, in De Massis, A. (Eds), Family Business Studies: An Annotated Biography, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 10-46
28. De Massis, A., Di Minin, A. and Frattini, F. (2015a), “Family-driven innovation: resolving the ability and willingness paradox to unlock the innovation potential of family firms”, California Management Review, Vol. 58 No. 1, pp. 5-19
29. De Massis, A., Frattini, F. and Lichtenthaler, U. (2013), “Research on technological innovation in family firms: present debates and future directions”, Family Business Review, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 10-31
30. De Massis, A., Frattini, F. and Pizzurno, E. (2015b), “Product innovation in family versus nonfamily firms: an exploratory analysis”, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 53 No. 1, pp. 1-36
31. De Massis, A., Sharma, P., Chua, J.H. and Chrisman, J.J. (2012b), Family Business Studies: An Annotated Bibliography, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham
32. De Massis, A., Frattini, F., Kotlar, J., Messeni Petruzzelli, A. and Wright, M. (2016a), “Innovation through tradition: lessons from innovative family businesses and directions for future research”, Academy of Management Perspectives, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 93-116
33. De Massis, A., Kotlar, J., Frattini, F., Chrisman, J.J. and Nordqvist, M. (2016b), “Family governance at work: organizing for new product development in family SMEs”, Family Business Review, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 1-25
34. Del Baldo, M. (2012), “Family and territory values for a sustainable entrepreneurship: the experience of Loccioni Group and Varnelli Distillery in Italy”, Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 120-139
35. Di Minin, A., Frattini, F. and Piccaluga, A. (2010), “Fiat: open innovation in a downturn (1993-2003)”, CA Management Review, Vol. 52 No. 3, pp. 132-159
36. Di Minin, A., De Marco, C.E., Marullo, C., Piccaluga, A., Casprini, E., Mahdad, M. and Paraboschi, A. (2016), “Case studies on open innovation in ICT”, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre, JRC Science for Policy Report; EUR 27911 EN; doi:10.2791/433370
37. Dìaz-Dìaz, N.L. and de Saà Pérez, P. (2014), “The interaction between external and internal knowledge sources: an open innovation view”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 430-446
38. Easterby-Smith, M. and Prieto, I.M. (2008), “Dynamic capabilities and knowledge management: an integrative role for learning?”, British Journal of Management, Vol. 19, pp. 235-249
39. Eisenhardt, K.M. and Graebner, M.E. (2007), “Theory building from cases: opportunities and challenges”, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 50 No. 7, pp. 25-32
40. Enkel, E., Gassmann, O. and Chesbrough, H. (2009), “Open R&D and open innovation: exploring the phenomenon”, R&D Management, Vol. 39 No. 4, pp. 311-316
41. Fletcher, D., De Massis, A. and Nordqvist, M. (2016), “Qualitative research practices and family business scholarship: a review and future research Agenda”, Journal of Family Business Strategy, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 8-25
42. Garcìa-Alvarez, E. and Lòpez-Sintas, J. (2001), “A taxonomy of founders based on values: the root of family business heterogeneity”, Family Business Review, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 209-230
43. Gibbert, M., Ruigrok, W. and Wicki, B. (2008), “What passes as a rigorous case study?”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 29 No. 13, pp. 1465-1474
44. Gioia, D.A., Corley, K.G. and Hamilton, A.L. (2013), “Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: notes on the Gioia Methodology”, Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 15-31
45. Goh, S.C. (2002), “Managing effective knowledge transfer: an integrative framework and some practical implications”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 23-30
46. Gómez-Mejía, L.R., Haynes, K.T., Nunes-Nickel, M., Jacobson, K.J.L. and Moyano-Fuentes, J. (2007), “Socioemotional Wealth and business risks in family-controlled firms: evidence from Spanish olive oil mills”, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 52 No. 1, pp. 106-137
47. Gómez-Mejía, L., Campbell, J.T., Martin, G., Hoskinsson, R.E., Makri, M. and Sirmon, D.G. (2013), “Socioemotional wealth as a mixed gamble: revisiting family firm R&D investments with the behavioural agency model”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 38 No. 6, pp. 1351-1374
48. Grant, R.M. (1996), “Toward a knowledge-based theory of the firm”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 17 No. 7, pp. 109-122
49. Grant, R.M. and Verona, G. (2015), “What’s holding back empirical research into organizational capabilities? Remedies for common problems”, Strategic Organization, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 61-74
50. Habbershon, T.G. and Williams, M.L. (1999), “A resource-based framework for assessing the strategic advantages of family firms”, Family Business Review, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 1-26
51. Holste, J.S. and Fields, D. (2010), “Trust and tacit knowledge sharing and use”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 128-140
52. Hsu, L.C. and Chang, H.C. (2011), “The role of behavioural strategic controls in family firm innovation”, Industry and Innovation, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 709-727
53. Huizingh, E.K.R.E. (2011), “Open innovation: state of the art and future perspectives”, Technovation, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 2-9
54. Husted, K., Michaiova, S., Minbaeva, D.B. and Pedersen, T. (2012), “Knowledge-sharing hostility and governance mechanisms: an empirical test”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 754-773
55. Jesus Nieto, M., Santamaria, L. and Fernandez, Z. (2015), “Understanding the innovation behavior of family firms”, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 53 No. 2, pp. 382-399
56. Joia, L.A. and Lemos, B. (2010), “Relevant factors for tacit knowledge transfer within organisations”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 410-427
57. Kammerlander, N. and Ganter, M. (2015), “An attention-based view of family firm adaptation to discontinuous technological change: exploring the role of family CEOs’ Noneconomic Goals”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 361-383
58. Kammerlander, N., Dessì, C., Bird, M., Floris, M. and Murru, A. (2015), “The impact of shared stories on family firm innovation: a multicase study”, Family Business Review, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 1-23
59. Kim, B., Kim, E. and Foss, N.J. (2016), “Balancing absorptive capacity and inbound open innovation for sustained innovative performance: an attention-based view”, European Management Journal, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 80-90
60. Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1992), “Knowledge of the firm, combinative capabilities, and the replication of technology”, Organization Science, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 383-397
61. Konig, A., Kammerlander, N. and Enders, A. (2013), “The family innovator’s dilemma: how family influence affects the adoption of discontinuous technologies by incumbent firms”, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 418-441
62. Kotlar, J. and De Massis, A. (2013), “Goal setting in family firms: goal diversity, social interactions, and collective commitment to family-centered goals”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 1263-1288
63. Kotlar, J., De Massis, A., Frattini, F., Bianchi, M. and Fang, H. (2013), “Technology acquisition in family and nonfamily firms: a longitudinal analysis of spanish manufacturing firms”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 1073-1088
64. Kvale, S. (1996), Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing, Sage, London
65. Lichtenthaler, U. (2011), “Open innovation: past research, current debates, and future directions”, Academy of Management Perspectives, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 75-94
66. Lichtenthaler, U. and Ernst, H. (2006), “Attitudes to externally organising knowledge management tasks: a review, reconsideration and extension of the NIH syndrome”, R&D Management, Vol. 36 No. 4, pp. 367-386
67. Lichtenthaler, U. and Lichtenthaler, E. (2009), “A capability-based framework for open innovation: complementing absorptive capacity”, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 46 No. 8, pp. 1315-1338
68. Lichtenthaler, U., Ernst, H. and Hoegl, M. (2010), “Not-sold-here: how attitudes influence external knowledge exploitation”, Organization Science, Vol. 21 No. 5, pp. 1054-1071
69. Locke, K. (2011), “Field research practice in management and organization studies: reclaiming its tradition of discovery”, The Academy of Management Annals, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 613-652
70. Miller, D., Wright, M., Le Breton-Miller, I. and Scholes, L. (2015), “Resources and innovation in family businesses: the Janus-face of socioemotional preferences”, California Management Review, Vol. 58 No. 1, pp. 20-41
71. Noble, C.H. (1999), “The eclectic roots of strategy implementation research”, Journal of Business Research, Vol. 45 No. 2, pp. 119-134
72. Nonaka, I. (1994), “A dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation”, Organization Science, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 14-37
73. Pearson, A.W., Carr, J.C. and Shaw, J.C. (2008), “Toward a theory of familiness: a social capital perspective”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 949-970
74. Prahalad, C.K. and Hamel, G. (1990), “The core competence of the corporation”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 68 No. 3, pp. 79-91
75. Salter, A., Criscuolo, P. and Ter Wal, A.L.J. (2014), “Coping with open innovation: responding to the challenges of external engagement in R&D”, California Management Review, Vol. 56 No. 2, pp. 77-95
76. Salter, A., Ter Wal, A.L.J., Criscuolo, P. and Alexy, O. (2015), “Open for ideation: individual-level openness and idea generation in R&D”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 488-504
77. Salvato, C. and Corbetta, G. (2013), “Transitional leadership of advisors as a facilitator of successors’ leadership construction”, Family Business Review, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 235-255
78. Savitskaya, I., Salmi, P. and Torkkeli, M. (2010), “Barriers to open innovation: case China”, Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 11-21
79. Sciascia, S., Nordqvist, M., Mazzola, P. and De Massis, A. (2015), “Family ownership and R&D intensity in small and medium-sized firms”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 349-360
80. Sirmon, D.G. and Hitt, M.A. (2003), “Managing Resources: linking unique resources, management and wealth creation in family firms”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 339-359
81. Teece, D.J. (2007), “Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 28 No. 13, pp. 1319-1350
82. Teece, D.J., Pisano, G. and Shuen, A. (1997), “Dynamic capabilities and strategic management”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 18 No. 7, pp. 509-533
83. Urbinati, A., Franzò, S., De Massis, A., Frattini, F. (2017), “Innovation in family firms: a review of prior studies and a framework for future research”, in Brem, A. and Viardot, E. (Eds), Revolution of Innovation Management – Internationalization and Business Models, Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire
84. Varvelli, M.L. and Varvelli, R. (2014), “2KM di Futuro”, L’impresa di Seminare Bellezza, Il Sole 24 Ore
85. Verbano, C., Crema, M. and Venturini, K. (2015), “Innovation profiles in italian small and medium-sized enterprises”, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 53 No. 4, pp. 1052-1075
86. Verganti, R. (2016), “The innovative power of criticism”, Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb, pp. 89-95
87. Verganti, R. (2017), Overcrowded. Designing Meaningful Products in A World Awash with Ideas, The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
88. Wallin, M.W. and Von Krogh, G. (2010), “Organizing for open innovation: focus on the integration of knowledge”, Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 145-154
89. West, J. and Bogers, M. (2013), “Leveraging external sources of innovation: a review of research on open innovation”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 814-831
90. Wright, M., Chrisman, C., Chua, J.H. and Steir, L.P. (2014), “Family enterprise and context”, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Vol. 38, pp. 1247-1260
91. Wu, A.Y.H., Little, V.J. and Low, B. (2016), “Inbound open innovation for pharmaceutical markets: a case study of an anti-diabetic drug in-licensing decision”, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 205-218
92. Yih-Tong, P. and Scott, S.J.L. (2005), “An investigation of barriers to knowledge transfer”, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 75-90
93. Yin, R.K. (2003), Case Study Research. Design and Methods, SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks
94. Yli-Renko, H., Autio, E. and Sapienza, H.J. (2001), “Social capital, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge exploitation in young technology-based firms”, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 22 Nos 6/7, pp. 587-613
95. Zahra, S.A. and George, G. (2002), “Absorptive capacity - a review, reconceptualisation and extension”, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 185-203
96. De Massis, A., Kotlar, J., Chua, J.H. and Chrisman, J.J. (2014), “Ability and willingness as sufficiency conditions for family-oriented particularistic behavior: implications for theory and empirical studies”, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 52 No. 2, pp. 344-364