Title: Gender diversity and innovation in family SMEs: an empirical study in Colombia

Authors: Juan David Peláez-León; Laura Salas-Arbeláez; Mónica García-Solarte

Addresses: Department of Management and Organizations, Universidad del Valle, Calle 4b No. 36 – 00, Sede, San Fernando, Cali, Colombia ' Management and Organizations Area, Universidad del Valle, Sede Regional Buga, Colombia ' Department of Management and Organizations, Universidad del Valle, Calle 4b No. 36 – 00, Sede San Fernando, Cali, Colombia

Abstract: The most innovative firms worldwide are family businesses. However, some studies suggest that these firms do not invest much in innovation. Motivated by this contradiction and the limited knowledge regarding this topic in the Latin American context, this article aims to provide a greater understanding of the determinants that influence the level of innovation in family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Focused on the effect of gender diversity on the level of innovation in family SMEs, this study shows through a multiple regression analysis from a sample of 274 family SMEs in Colombia that gender diversity positively affects the innovation levels of family SMEs, especially in process innovation.

Keywords: innovation; family firms; SMEs; gender diversity; Columbia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2024.141994

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2024 Vol.53 No.3, pp.344 - 363

Received: 10 Aug 2021
Received in revised form: 04 Aug 2022
Accepted: 07 Aug 2022
Published online: 07 Oct 2024 *

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