Innovation in Small Family Businesses

For academics, graduate students, policy makers, and practitioners, Laforet (marketing, Huddersfield U. Business School, UK) summarizes the research on innovation in small family-owned businesses and how it is developed and carried out, the factors underpinning it, and innovation drivers and barriers, as well as how it can be fostered and sustained and the government’s role. She discusses the characteristics, definition, complexities, and distinguishing features of family firms (as compared to non-family firms), as well as family business theories, and focuses on the innovation factors of organization type, age, and size. She also addresses innovation at different business life stages; internal aspects related to culture, structure, leadership, and strategic or business orientation; whether innovation is linked to survival; how it impacts business performance and growth; and to what extent knowledge acquisition, learning, and family involvement affect it. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)