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Blending In While Standing Out: Selective Conformity and New Product Introduction in Family Firms

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  • Ambra Mazzelli
  • Josip Kotlar
  • Alfredo De Massis

Abstract

Research on the conformity-distinctiveness trade-off in family firms is divided. Examining the product innovations of Spanish manufacturing firms between 1998 and 2012, we hypothesize that family and nonfamily firms conform selectively and are driven by different motivations. Family firms align with their closest peers to avoid social losses while nonfamily firms conform to firms with different attributes to pursue social gains. Moreover, propensity to conform leads to more substantive organizational responses in family firms. We contribute to understanding how family firms navigate the conformity-distinctiveness trade-off, unveil the cognitive dimension of conformity, and address the puzzling evidence on family firm innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ambra Mazzelli & Josip Kotlar & Alfredo De Massis, 2018. "Blending In While Standing Out: Selective Conformity and New Product Introduction in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(2), pages 206-230, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:42:y:2018:i:2:p:206-230
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258717748651
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    4. Chua, Jess H. & Chrisman, James J. & De Massis, Alfredo & Wang, Hao, 2018. "Reflections on family firm goals and the assessment of performance," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 107-113.
    5. Scholes, Louise & Hughes, Mathew & Wright, Mike & De Massis, Alfredo & Kotlar, Josip, 2021. "Family management and family guardianship: Governance effects on family firm innovation strategy," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).
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    8. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller & Lloyd P. Steier, 2018. "Governance Mechanisms and Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(2), pages 171-186, March.
    9. Montserrat Manzaneque & Alfonso A. Rojo-Ramírez & Julio Diéguez-Soto & Maria J. Martínez-Romero, 2020. "How negative aspiration performance gaps affect innovation efficiency," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 209-233, January.
    10. María J. Martínez-Romero & Julio Diéguez-Soto & Pieter Vandekerkhof, 2023. "Enlightening the influence of family TMT involvement on firm growth and degrowth rates," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(3), pages 581-610, September.
    11. Davila, Jessenia & Duran, Patricio & Gómez-Mejía, Luis & Sanchez-Bueno, Maria J., 2023. "Socioemotional wealth and family firm performance: A meta-analytic integration," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    12. Martínez-Alonso, Rubén & Martínez-Romero, María J. & Rojo-Ramírez, Alfonso A., 2024. "Unveiling new opportunities: A mixed gamble approach to external search breadth within family firms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Mariano Rojas & Karen Watkins-Fassler & Lázaro Rodríguez-Ariza, 2022. "The Life Satisfaction of Owner-Manager Entrepreneurs When the Business of Business is not only Business," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2251-2275, August.
    15. Liew, Chee Yoong & Devi, S.Susela, 2020. "Family Firms, Banks and Firm Value: Evidence from Malaysia," MPRA Paper 99704, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Cristina Lopez-Cozar-Navarro & Tiziana Priede-Bergamini & Sonia Benito-Hernandez, 2023. "How Family Character Affect the Financing of Environmental Protection Strategies and Energy-Saving Measures," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(63), pages 503-503, April.
    17. Vanessa Weimann & Maike Gerken & Marcel Hülsbeck, 2020. "Business model innovation in family firms: dynamic capabilities and the moderating role of socioemotional wealth," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(3), pages 369-399, April.
    18. Ambra Mazzelli & Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Alfredo De Massis & Josip Kotlar, 2023. "Outcome-Based Imitation in Family Firms’ International Market Entry Decisions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1059-1092, July.
    19. Saier Su & Fei Zhu & Haibo Zhou, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review on Ownership and Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-25, June.
    20. Chee Yoong Liew & YoungKyung Ko & Bee Lian Song & Saraniah Thechina Murthy, 2022. "Directors’ compensation, ownership concentration and the value of the firm: evidence from an emerging market," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(1), pages 155-188, March.
    21. Pramodita Sharma & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Lloyd P. Steier, 2020. "Family Firm Behavior From a Psychological Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(1), pages 3-19, January.
    22. Anna Maria Bornhausen & Torsten Wulf, 2024. "Digital innovation in family firms: The roles of non-family managers and transgenerational control intentions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1429-1448, April.
    23. Herdhayinta, Heyvon & Lau, James & Shen, Carl Hsin-han, 2023. "Cash holdings of minority family businesses in Indonesia," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    24. Tommaso Minola & Nadine Kammerlander & Franz W. Kellermanns & Frank Hoy, 2021. "Corporate Entrepreneurship and Family Business: Learning Across Domains," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(1), pages 1-26, January.

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