Knowledge Integration and Dynamic Organizational Adaptation in Family Firms

Family Business Review, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 169-181, 2008

28 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2012 Last revised: 6 Feb 2020

See all articles by Francesco Chirico

Francesco Chirico

Jonkoping University - Jonkoping International Business School (JIBS); Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Carlo Salvato

Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

The speed of change in competitive environments has prompted firms to develop processes directed at enabling organizational adaptation.This is captured by the concept of dynamic capabilities.We focus on a particular form of business organization, that is, the family firm. Specifically, we argue that knowledge integration — a dynamic capability through which family members’ specialized knowledge is recombined — guides the evolution of capabilities. We present a general framework illustrating factors that affect knowledge integration in family firms.We conclude that only those family firms that are able to effectively integrate individual family members’ specialized knowledge will be successful in dynamic markets by changing their capabilities over time.

Keywords: family firm, knowledge, dynamic capabilities, product development

Suggested Citation

Chirico, Francesco and Chirico, Francesco and Salvato, Carlo, Knowledge Integration and Dynamic Organizational Adaptation in Family Firms (2008). Family Business Review, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 169-181, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2177299

Francesco Chirico (Contact Author)

Jonkoping University - Jonkoping International Business School (JIBS) ( email )

Jönköping, 55111
Sweden

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia

Carlo Salvato

Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, MI 20136
Italy

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