Meta-analysis reveals that non-family managers positively influence innovation in family firms, suggesting key governance roles.
Non-family managers play a crucial role in fostering innovation within family firms, yet their impact remains debated due to inconsistent research findings and a lack of comprehensive synthesis. This study integrates this effect through a meta-analysis of 213 effect sizes from 101 studies. The results demonstrate a positive influence of non-family managers on firm innovation, with a stronger effect on inputs than on outputs. Furthermore, this study identifies key governance and managerial contingencies at the firm level. First-generation control weakens this relationship, while non-family TMTs strengthen it. The implications for theory and practice are discussed, with suggestions for future research.
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Lyu et al. (2025) studied this question.
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