Is innovativeness always beneficial in family SMEs? The moderating role of generational stage

Abstract

Many studies suggest that innovativeness is positively related to performance in small- and medium-sized family enterprises (family SMEs); however, empirical and theoretical controversies surround this problematic. This study proposes and tests an integrative framework connecting two explanations for these inconsistencies: the innovativeness-performance relationship is curvilinear, and the performance implications of innovativeness are contingent upon the firm’s generational stage. Drawing on the socio-emotional wealth theory, the results from a dataset of 204 Belgian family SMEs show an inverted U-shaped relationship between innovativeness and performance. Furthermore, the generational stage of the firm negatively moderates this curvilinear relationship.