This study aims to explore how family firms pursue strategies that promote strategic flexibility and knowledge-management (KM) practices to respond to strategic-renewal goals. Specifically, based on a knowledge-based view of the firm, the following research question is proposed: Are there heterogeneous groups of family firms in terms of knowledge management, strategic flexibility and strategic renewal goals? To answer this question, an exploratory study using a two-step cluster analysis is developed. It reveals natural groupings from a sample of 288 small and medium-sized Spanish family enterprises (SMEs). The results obtained identified three distinctive clusters of family firms, namely proactive family firms, transitional or adaptive family firms, and rigid family firms. After two-step cluster analysis, we also conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) to confirm that significant differences amongst the three clusters exist. After heterogeneity been confirmed, a further profile of the cluster solution was provided by using CEO and board characteristics, as well as the generational stage of the company. The findings offer some counterbalance for those studies that tend to study family businesses as a homogeneous entity, thus permitting researchers to access more information, providing rich explanations for renewal managerial decision-making purposes in family firm contexts.

La innovación está relacionada con el crecimiento de las economías y de las empresas, y en un entorno cambiante como el actual, se presenta como una herramienta fundamental para conseguir ventajas competitivas. Esta investigación tiene por objetivo analizar la relación existente entre la capacidad de innovación de las empresas y la obtención de información de las mismas a través de la cooperación con competidores, proveedores, Universidades y otras instituciones públicas (Triple Hélice). En primer lugar se desarrolla una revisión bibliográfica de los conceptos relacionados para posteriormente, a través del método de ecuaciones estructurales, dar respuesta y aceptar la hipótesis propuesta que pone de manifiesto la relación existente entre los resultados de innovación de las empresas y la información obtenida de la Triple Hélice. La investigación se realiza con una muestra de empresas españolas, encuestadas por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), durante los años 2008-2010.

Knowledge management is a fundamental tool in order to obtain competitive advantages in organizations. In this paper, we present an interesting study about how enterprises in a developing country like Chile manage their knowledge by using variables linked with three interesting concepts related to knowledge: innovation, learning, and knowledge sharing. From this information, six clusters of enterprises and two special cases with different behaviors in knowledge management and different results are identified. From this information, some conclusions are extracted: (1) clusters 4 and 5 are the best in knowledge management (best results) and, thus, other enterprises should replicate their behaviors; (2) the Government of Chile should promote more knowledge management in order to improve the country’s performance; (3) chemical industry is highlighted like one of the most important one related to knowledge; and finally, (4) enterprises with a high investment in knowledge are also enterprises with high results. These results are very interesting in order to understand the knowledge activity in a developing country like Chile.

Purpose: The aim is to offer a complete vision of knowledge management analyzing the past and present, and identifying new lines of research in the area. Design/methodology/approach: We have realized an exhaustive bibliographic review of more than 100 references. Around 72 per cent of them are indexed in the Social Science Citation Index. Findings and Originality/value: We expose the more relevant characteristics of knowledge management and moreover, we identify new lines of research related to regions and territories. This is an interesting novelty in the area and it can be a base of new knowledge in the future. Practical implications: This research is interesting for some people. On one hand, researchers interested in the topic find in the paper a new way for their researches. On the other hand, it could be interesting for Governments keen on improve their situation using knowledge management. Originality/value: We present an updated bibliographic review identifying new lines of research realted to the application of knowledge management in territorial management. At present time, this potential line had not been identified.