Title: Innovation and digitalisation: what challenges and opportunities for family business?

Authors: Graziana Galeone; Francesco Campobasso; Vittorio Dell'Atti

Addresses: Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica, 53, 70124 Bari, Italy ' Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica, 53, 70124 Bari, Italy ' Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica, 53, 70124 Bari, Italy

Abstract: Technological innovation and digital transformation are recognised as a priority because they enable faster, more flexible and efficient processes. This phenomenon is also leading family businesses undergoing radical transformation, despite the fact that they have always been considered backward and conservative. Through case study methodology, the paper aims to highlight the possibility of embarking on a path of opening up family businesses to new technologies and the introduction of digital solutions, while maintaining their traditional focus on long-term planning and without neglecting family history, culture and traditions. The implication of this work is to show the importance of current and future generations becoming aware of the need to identify new technological tools and innovative solutions to improve their competitiveness in an era of great turbulence, while continuing to leverage their entrepreneurial identity and, at the same time, preserving and protecting family cohesion over time.

Keywords: innovation; tradition; family business strategy; generational succession.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDCET.2023.129028

International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism, 2023 Vol.4 No.2, pp.155 - 170

Received: 10 May 2022
Accepted: 23 Nov 2022
Published online: 14 Feb 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article