Keywords
Sustainability
Environmental innovation
SEW
How to Cite
Accepted 2023-01-21
Published 2023-03-28
Abstract
Purpose. Through a SEW perspective, the paper aims to demonstrate how the characteristics of family firms (i.e. long-term orientation, stakeholder relevance, imagine and reputation), overcoming the Ability and Willingness Paradox, lead this type of firms to be more prone, compared to non-family firms, to develop sustainable environmental innovations. The moderating effect of slack resources is also analyzed, to verify whether they positively influence the propensity and ability of family businesses to develop sustainable environmental innovations.
Design/methodology/approach. Poisson regression models on a sample of 2475 Italian firms.
Findings. Family firms are more prone to develop sustainable environmental innovations, while among slack resources, only the potential slack resources are positive moderators.
Practical and Social implications. Public policy in support of the development of sustainable environmental innovations have assumed a crucial and strategic role in recent years. In this context, the evidence emerging from this research can be the first step for a reflection on the type of public policy to be used. The policy, generally based on the size of the company, should also consider the governance structures and their characteristics.
Originality of the study. The study contributes to research on family firms analyzing the theme of environmental sustainability and investigating the moderating effect of slack resources. In particular, following the SEW approach, it demonstrates the overcoming of the Ability and Willingness Paradox, at least as regards sustainable environmental innovations.
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