Innovation orientation and performance of Kuwaiti family businesses: evidence from the initial period of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

PurposeThis paper analyses the impact of innovation orientation on the family business performance in Kuwait. Further, the aim of this paper is to understand the innovation culture among Kuwaiti family businesses and the innovation orientation concept and its importance for these businesses.Design/methodology/approachThe study will use a quantitative research methodology in order to investigate the relationship between independent variables: creativity, risk-taking, future orientation, openness to change and proactiveness with Kuwaiti business performance as a dependent variable. A well-structured questionnaire is distributed to 150 family businesses that operate in Kuwait, where 114 of the respondents responded positively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used for evaluating the proposed model.FindingsThe results show that creativity, risk-taking and future orientation have significant relationship with business performance, while openness to change and proactiveness do not have any significant relationship with business performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is conducted during the period of initial months of COVID-19 pandemic, March–July 2020 respectively, and responses might be influenced by the current situation.Originality/valueThe correlation between family businesses and innovation orientation is not studied so far in Kuwait. There is a lack of studies about family business in general in Kuwait since there are only very few research studies. This is the first research about this topic that covers Kuwait as a country.

Assessing the Relationship between Market Orientation and Green Product Innovation: The Intervening Role of Green Self-Efficacy and Moderating Role of Resource Bricolage

“…Interestingly, organizations take investment initiatives towards the sustainability of green products for profit rather than saving money or pressure of becoming a green firm [33]. Hence, market-orientated firms tend to focus on GPI [34] to attain a competitive advantage in the industry [35].…”

Mobilisation of survivability capital – family firm response to the coronavirus crisis

“…Family business reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic A growing body of research explores the family effect on the businesses' responses to pandemic threats (e.g. Amore et al, 2020;Kraus et al, 2020;Zainal, 2020;Zajkowski and _ Zukowska, 2020;Marja nski and Sułkowski, 2021;Rivo-L opez et al, 2021;Soluk et al, 2021).…”

Innovations and Marketing Management of Family Businesses: Results of Empirical Study

“…Innovation is reflected in the quality of products and services offered, which ensures the competitive advantage on the market (Oláh et al, 2020). These statements are also supported by the results of a further author (Zainal, 2020), who examines the impact of innovation on the example of the Kuwaiti family businesses. Thus, innovation and marketing are the primary tools for business revitalization in different parts of the world, regardless to the form of the economy and the impact of pandemic on local level.…”