Mediated Organizational Identity Work: Shaping the Future of Family Firms

This study explores how long-established family firms can pursue innovation while navigating the constraints of their historical and current organizational identities. Through an in-depth case study of a family firm collaborating with a science and technology park on future-oriented innovation projects, the research uncovers how mediated identity work enables these firms to envision and construct narratives of the future. Family firm members and advisors from the science and technology park act as mediators, collectively reconciling the firm's past, present, and future identity to make sense of innovation. The study contributes to the growing literature on future-making by shedding light on the unique challenges faced by long-established family firms and highlighting the critical role of mediators in addressing temporal tensions between tradition and innovation. Practical implications are also offered for innovation practitioners engaging with family businesses.