Sustainable Development in Family Firms

2022 ◽  
pp. 565-582
Author(s):  
Angela Dettori ◽  
Michela Floris ◽  
Cinzia Dessì

This chapter outlines the relevance of sustainable development as a key for family firm success and its ability to guarantee long-term survival and spread positive effects in social, economic, and natural environments. By particularly analyzing a single case study of a Sardinian family business, this work explores the intertwined relationships among sustainability, owner innovativeness, and firm success. Moreover, the importance of family businesses and the scarcity of the study conducted to date have suggested a focus on how these companies tackle sustainability challenges.

Author(s):  
Angela Dettori ◽  
Michela Floris ◽  
Cinzia Dessì

This chapter outlines the relevance of sustainable development as a key for family firm success and its ability to guarantee long-term survival and spread positive effects in social, economic, and natural environments. By particularly analyzing a single case study of a Sardinian family business, this work explores the intertwined relationships among sustainability, owner innovativeness, and firm success. Moreover, the importance of family businesses and the scarcity of the study conducted to date have suggested a focus on how these companies tackle sustainability challenges.


2021 ◽  
pp. 205-224
Author(s):  
Swee Kiong Wong ◽  
Regina Garai Abdullah

AbstractThis study highlights the vulnerabilities faced by a resource-deprived riverine community in Borneo (the Sadong Jaya community), particularly in dealing with different types of socio-ecological risks enhanced by the impacts of climate change. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) promote resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) as cornerstones of sustainable development. It is in this light that this chapter studies how a local community can sustain their livelihoods while coping with environmental and economic stresses and shocks. Comparisons and reflections are then made by referring to the findings of past studies carried out among other riverine communities to highlight the similarities and, more importantly, the uniqueness of adaptation mechanisms. Findings presented in the chapter are derived from content analysis based on the data collected from four Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews with the key informants. Despite the fact that Borneo is a resource-rich region where most areas are blessed with an abundance of resources, there are also regions that have limited natural and economic or capital assets, or limited access to them. This situation raises the question of how a community that is located in a disadvantaged region, resource-wise, can adapt and strive to become more resilient. These findings illustrate the need for a comprehensive community strategy to reduce risk, increase resilience and support long-term survival.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Floris ◽  
Michela Marongiu ◽  
Cinzia Dessi ◽  
Angela Dettori

PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM) and internationalization in small family firms, focusing on the role that the dimensions of TQM may have as strategic resources to implement successful internationalization strategies.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study is based on a single case study, and data were gathered through in-depth interviews with the family owner-manager.FindingsFindings show that small family businesses that aim to operate in international markets have to invest constant attention toward TQM by developing strategies able to achieve excellence. More in detail, for small and medium family firms, TQM represents a driver to internationalize. Therefore, family-owned managers sustain that internationalization success depends on the increasing attention exhibited toward the following dimensions of quality, specifically on three main pillars: relationships, professionalization and long-term vision, which appear to be strategic resources in international markets. An interpretive model is proposed with a set of propositions.Research limitations/implicationsScholarly implications are threefold. First, findings contribute to the RBV theory by introducing the long-term vision as a strategic resource able to activate a loop between TQM and internationalization success. Second, results contribute to TQM literature, highlighting that it represents a driver to internationalize, and following a long-term perspective, its enhancement is stimulated by internationalization. Third, findings contribute to family business studies, underlining the relevance done of owners on professionalization as a strategic resource to ensure excellence and obtain success in overseas markets. The main drawback refers to the fact that results stemmed from one single case study. Further studies could deepen the analysis on multiple cases.Practical implicationsThe proposed case study represents a best practice and can stimulate other entrepreneurs and consultants to invest in TQM to thrive internationalization strategies.Originality/valueThe current study, elucidating that TQM is the driver to stimulate family business internationalization, proposes an interpretive model to study TQM and internationalization in small and medium family firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-38
Author(s):  
Tatiane Martins Cruz Pirotti ◽  
Cláudia Cristina Bitencourt ◽  
Kadígia Faccin ◽  
Caroline Kretschmer

Social innovations are important tools for minimizing or solving social problems. However, significant challenges remain in managing social innovation development for long-term survival and expanding its social impacts to generate scalability. This process can be supported by dynamic capabilities and their microprocesses. By conducting a single case study, we aim to contribute to the stream of research on management of social innovation that analyzes the ways in which dynamic capabilities can influence the scalability process of social innovation. Our contribution arises from generating an understanding of how and why dynamic capabilities influence the social innovation scalability process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Nga Ian Tam

The phenomenological case study covers the limited research on Chinese students‟ experiences of nature in a tropical rainforest in Thailand. Macau is a very small place with only 20 % of natural resources remaining but Chinese students are born to be detached from these natural environments. Their comfortable lifestyle leads to a rise of unsustainable behavior such as an increased in consumption and household waste. With numerous researches that review the benefits of nature including an enhancement in environmental friendly behavior, a 7 d self-funded experiential learning program in a tropical rainforest in Thailand in 2015 was initiated in fostering 12 Chinese students‟ pro-environmental identity and behavior. Findings show the majority of students‟ pro-environmental identity and behavior is enhanced and they are trying to reconnect with the natural environment more often than before.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Griffin ◽  
Barbara Lewis ◽  
Mark I. Greenberg

Objective – In an environment of shrinking budgets and reduced staffing, this study seeks to identify a comprehensive, integrated assessment strategy to better focus diminished resources within special collections repositories. Methods – This article presents the results of a single case study conducted in the Special and Digital Collections department at a university library. The department created an holistic assessment model, taking into account both public and technical services, to explore inter-related questions affecting both day-to-day operations as well as long-term, strategic priorities. Results – Data from a variety of assessment activities positively impacted the department’s practices, informing decisions made about staff skill sets, training, and scheduling; outreach activities; and prioritizing technical services. The results provide a comprehensive view of both patron and department needs, allowing for a wide variety of improvements and changes in staffing practices, all driven by data rather than anecdotal evidence. Conclusion – Although the data generated for this study is institutionally specific, the methodology is applicable to special collections departments at other institutions. A systemic, holistic approach to assessment in special collections departments enables the implementation of operational efficiencies. It also provides data that allows the department to document its value to university-wide stakeholders.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Diaz-Moriana ◽  
Eric Clinton ◽  
Nadine Kammerlander ◽  
G. T. Lumpkin ◽  
Justin B. Craig

Drawing on the transgenerational entrepreneurship perspective, we employ a multiple case study approach to investigate why multigenerational family firms innovate. The data collection process drew upon five in-depth cases comprising 42 semistructured interviews, 25 participant observations, and several thousand pages of historical data dating from 1916 to 2017. We find patterns on how the firms’ long-term view—embracing both the past and the future—influences the innovation motives of these firms. Specifically, we identify three innovation patterns: conserving, persisting and legacy-building. We introduce a set of propositions and a framework linking long-term orientation dimensions to innovation motives and innovation outcomes. Our research thus contributes to a more fine-grained understanding of innovation behavior in family firms.


Author(s):  
Viviana Durão ◽  
António Carrizo Moreira

This chapter, based on a single case study, has as its main objective to analyze a real example of creating an inter-organizational network and to perceive what was done for the selection and creation of the strategic partnerships and inter-organizational network and what factors or conditions can inhibit these partnerships from having long-term success and throughout its life cycle. For this, a qualitative study based on action research and semi-structured interviews was conducted. Results show although many companies settle in inter-organizational networks to gain competitive advantage, cases of failure are still quite high. In this case, upstream partnerships have not been based on long-term trust and commitment, which has jeopardized the continuity of the network, although there is an express desire to re-establish contacts. The partnership established downstream did not show the same commitment to continue the partnership with a total termination of the relationship.


Author(s):  
Jessica Mendoza Moheno ◽  
Martín Aubert Hernández Calzada ◽  
Blanca Cecilia Salazar Hernández

This chapter explores the structural, psychological, and socioemotional factors in innovation in a funeral home in Mexico and analyzes the firm's stage in the innovation process. This qualitative study examines socioemotional wealth through the FIBER dimensions and the stage in the innovation process through the Readiness for Innovation in Family Firms (RIFF) framework. The findings suggest that socioemotional wealth has not allowed the implementation of governmental bodies. The existence of two generations in management has allowed the firm to take advantage of the knowledge and experience of the old generation and the skills of the young generation to continue innovating in products, processes, and services. The firm has the willingness and ability to adopt innovation, although SEW's accumulated endowment has limited long-term innovations as the expansion of the business to other states. This chapter addresses the Arriaga Group case study, a well-known family business firm in Hidalgo, Mexico.


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