Entrepreneurial orientation of family firms: Family and environmental dimensions

This work analyzes the influence of three characteristics of family firms (generational level, non-family involvement in management and the next generation's involvement in the business) on their entrepreneurial orientation and the role of environmental dynamism and hostility as moderator variables in that relationship. The empirical investigation is based on a sample of 317 family firms in Andalucía (Spain). The results show that environmental dynamism has a significant moderating impact on the relationship between the next generation's involvement and entrepreneurial orientation. Environmental hostility also exerts a positive influence on risk-taking but a negative one on proactiveness.

► Environmental dynamism and hostility moderate the relationship between family firm characteristics and EO.
► In hostile environments family firms assume more risks when they are not governed by members of a single generation.
► In dynamic environments the presence of members of the next generation promotes proactiveness.
► In hostile environments management by non-family executives is seen to be less proactive.