{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,8]],"date-time":"2026-04-08T02:37:28Z","timestamp":1775615848607,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":72,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]],"date-time":"2020-04-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1586476800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JKM"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,29]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>Several studies show that identity is a critical success factor in design-intensive industries, leading managers and executives to identify solutions that enable firms to simultaneously innovate while preserving their link with the past. Accordingly, scholars have recently revealed the role of the so-called innovation through tradition strategy. Thus, the purpose of this study\/paper is to understand how design intensive firms may exploit knowledge pertaining to the past.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The research contributes to this line of inquiry by conducting a longitudinal analysis of two leading Italian design-intensive firms, B&amp;B Italia and Cassina S.p.A. Specifically, through almost 30 h of interviews with 11 key informants and the analysis of various secondary sources, a unique database of over 900 products covering the period of 1960-2016 was developed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The findings reveal that both firms leverage knowledge from the past mainly to preserve firm identity, as indicated by the two indicators used to capture the use of knowledge pertaining to the past (i.e., design tradition intensity and design tradition depth). In addition, the study shows that the values of these indicators significantly increase when ownership control shifts from family-based to fund-based.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper looks at design artifacts as a source of knowledge, exploring how they can support firms in reinforcing their identity. The original contribution to the design through traditional literature is in unveiling the product signs dimension of this particular innovation strategy.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/jkm-07-2019-0399","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]],"date-time":"2020-04-10T08:01:41Z","timestamp":1586505701000},"page":"823-839","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":42,"title":["Innovation through tradition in design-intensive family firms"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Stefano","family":"Magistretti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Claudio","family":"Dell\u2019Era","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Federico","family":"Frattini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Messeni Petruzzelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1162\/DESI_a_00439","article-title":"The scope of design knowledge: integrating the technically rational and human-centered dimensions","volume":"33","year":"2017","journal-title":"Design Issues"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2017.04.022","article-title":"Mapping innovation dynamics in the internet of things domain: evidence from patent analysis","volume":"136","year":"2018","journal-title":"Technological Forecasting and Social Change"},{"issue":"9","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1395","DOI":"10.1016\/S0048-7333(01)00158-5","article-title":"Completion of knowledge codification: an illustration through the ISO 9000 standards implementation process","volume":"30","year":"2001","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.2005.00530.x","article-title":"Crafting brand authenticity: the case of luxury wines","volume":"42","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Management Studies"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref005","volume-title":"Managing as Designing","year":"2004"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref006","volume-title":"Design Management: Using Design to Build Brand Value","year":"2004"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/radm.12035","article-title":"The contributions of interpreters to the development of radical innovations of meanings: the role of \u201cpioneering projects\u201d in the sustainable buildings industry","volume":"44","year":"2014","journal-title":"R&D Management"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref008","first-page":"84","article-title":"Design thinking","volume":"86","year":"2008","journal-title":"Harvard Business Review"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.621","article-title":"Network structure and innovation: the leveraging of a dual network as a distinctive relational capability","volume":"28","year":"2007","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1177\/0149206314535442","article-title":"Knowledge maturity and the scientific value of innovations: the roles of knowledge distance and adoption","volume":"43","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"issue":"9","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2006.02.009","article-title":"Convergent designs in fine fashion: an evolutionary model for stylistic innovation","volume":"35","year":"2006","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1108\/EUM0000000004610","article-title":"Managing knowledge-based value systems","volume":"1","year":"1997","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1459","DOI":"10.1108\/JKM-11-2016-0515","article-title":"How family firms execute open innovation strategies: the Loccioni case","volume":"21","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1111\/caim.12259","article-title":"New wine in old bottles or new bottles for new wine? Product language approaches in design\u2010intensive industries during technological turmoil","volume":"27","year":"2018","journal-title":"Creativity and Innovation Management"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1201","DOI":"10.1108\/JKM-01-2017-0047","article-title":"Absorptive capacity and small family firm performance: exploring the mediation processes","volume":"22","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12207","article-title":"The ability and willingness paradox in family firm innovation","volume":"32","year":"2015","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1108\/13673271211238760","article-title":"Trust me, I\u2019m an expert: identity construction and knowledge sharing","volume":"16","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1108\/S0742-3322(2010)0000027010","article-title":"Where strategy meets culture: the neglected role of cultural and symbolic resources in strategy research","volume-title":"The Globalization of Strategy Research","year":"2010"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1741-6248.2008.00118.x","article-title":"Factors preventing intra\u2010family succession","volume":"21","year":"2008","journal-title":"Family Business Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.5465\/amp.2015.0017","article-title":"Innovation through tradition: lessons from innovative family businesses and directions for future research","volume":"30","year":"2016","journal-title":"Academy of Management Perspectives"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1177\/0894486515622722","article-title":"Family governance at work: organizing for new product development in family SMEs","volume":"29","year":"2016","journal-title":"Family Business Review"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"580","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-5885.2007.00273.x","article-title":"Strategies of innovation and imitation of product languages","volume":"24","year":"2007","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2009.10.006","article-title":"Collaborative strategies in design-intensive industries: knowledge diversity and innovation","volume":"43","year":"2010","journal-title":"Long Range Planning"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"881","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-5885.2011.00849.x","article-title":"Diffusion processes of product meanings in design-intensive industries: determinants and dynamics","volume":"28","year":"2011","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref022","first-page":"307","article-title":"Exploring collaborative practices between SMEs and designers in the Italian furniture industry","year":"2018","journal-title":"Researching Open Innovation in SMEs"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1142\/S1363919608001893","article-title":"Linguistic network configurations: management of innovation in design-intensive firms","volume":"12","year":"2008","journal-title":"International Journal of Innovation Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref027","first-page":"36","article-title":"The bureaucracy busters","volume":"17","year":"1991","journal-title":"Fortune"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"401","DOI":"10.1111\/caim.12267","article-title":"Reconstructing meaning without redesigning products: the case of the Serie7 chair","volume":"27","year":"2018","journal-title":"Creativity and Innovation Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1108\/13673279810800744","article-title":"Knowledge, creativity and innovation","volume":"2","year":"1998","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1177\/1350507610382488","article-title":"The carriage of tradition: knowledge and its past in network contexts","volume":"42","year":"2011","journal-title":"Management Learning"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1177\/03058298050340011101","article-title":"Tradition as invention: TheTraditions tradition\u2019and the history of ideas in international relations","volume":"34","year":"2005","journal-title":"Millennium: Journal of International Studies"},{"issue":"44","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref032","first-page":"332","article-title":"The impact of shared stories on family firm innovation: a multicase study","volume":"28","year":"2015","journal-title":"Family Business Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-5885.2009.00696.x","article-title":"Designing visual recognition for the brand","volume":"27","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4018\/ijkm.2007100101","article-title":"Knowledge fusion: a framework for extending the rigor and relevance of knowledge management","volume":"3","year":"2007","journal-title":"International Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref035","volume-title":"The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America\u2019s Leading Design Firm","year":"2001"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"540","DOI":"10.1108\/13673271011059518","article-title":"Principles in knowledge management maturity: a South African perspective","volume":"14","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.2307\/41165946","article-title":"The role of tacit knowledge in group innovation","volume":"40","year":"1998","journal-title":"California Management Review"},{"issue":"S1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.4250131009","article-title":"Core capabilities and core rigidities: a paradox in managing new product development","volume":"13","year":"1992","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref039","first-page":"75","article-title":"The evolution of the design-inspired enterprise","volume":"45","year":"2004","journal-title":"MIT Sloan Management Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0142-694X(03)00023-1","article-title":"Speaking the Buick language: capturing, understanding, and exploring brand identity with shape grammars","volume":"25","year":"2004","journal-title":"Design Studies"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1108\/13673271111137402","article-title":"Developing organisational decision-making capability: a knowledge manager\u2019s guide","volume":"15","year":"2011","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref042","first-page":"606","article-title":"Unveiling opportunities afforded by emerging technologies: evidences from the drone industry","volume":"31","year":"2019","journal-title":"Technology Analysis & Strategic Management"},{"issue":"10","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref043","first-page":"1","article-title":"Exploring the relationship between types of family involvement and collaborative innovation in design-intensive firms: insights from two leading players in the furniture industry","volume":"26","year":"2019","journal-title":"Industry and Innovation"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref044","first-page":"1310","article-title":"Knowledge management, knowledge transfer and organizational performance in the arts and crafts industry: a literature review","volume":"22","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1108\/JKM-03-2018-0199","article-title":"The relationship between organizational commitment, knowledge transfer and knowledge management maturity","volume":"23","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1080\/09537325.2012.674668","article-title":"The impact of old technologies on innovation. The case of the US biotechnology industry","volume":"24","year":"2012","journal-title":"Technology Analysis & Strategic Management"},{"issue":"8","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1080\/13662716.2015.1122512","article-title":"Reinterpreting tradition to innovate: the case of the Italian haute cuisine","volume":"22","year":"2015","journal-title":"Industry and Innovation"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"613","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12308","article-title":"Signaling strategies for innovative design: a study on design tradition and expert attention","volume":"33","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.802","article-title":"Family ownership and acquisition behavior in publicly\u2010traded companies","volume":"31","year":"2010","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref050","article-title":"Knowledge management barriers, practices and maturity model","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref051","first-page":"771","article-title":"Design innovation and fashion cycles","year":"1995","journal-title":"The American Economic Review"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref052","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1948-7169.2001.tb00548.x","article-title":"Valuing design: enhancing corporate performance through design effectiveness","volume":"12","year":"2001","journal-title":"Design Management Journal (Former Series)"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref053","article-title":"The substance of style: how the rise of aesthetic value is remaking culture","volume-title":"Commerce, and Consciousness","year":"2003"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref054","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"192","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2018.11.020","article-title":"Innovation through tradition in hospitality. The Italian case of Albergo Diffuso","volume":"72","year":"2019","journal-title":"Tourism Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref055","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2004.11.010","article-title":"Managing design and designers for strategic renewal","volume":"38","year":"2005","journal-title":"Long Range Planning"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref056","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2370.2012.00330.x","article-title":"Product design: a review and research agenda for management studies","volume":"14","year":"2012","journal-title":"International Journal of Management Reviews"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref057","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.3065","article-title":"Dealing with revered past: historical identity statements and strategic change in Japanese family firms","volume":"41","year":"2019","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref058","article-title":"Marketing aesthetics: the strategic management of brands","volume-title":"Identity, and Image","year":"1997"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref059","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2007.24160882","article-title":"Persuasion with case studies","volume":"50","year":"2007","journal-title":"Academy of Management Journal"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref060","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1406","DOI":"10.1108\/JKM-10-2016-0432","article-title":"Knowledge translation mechanisms in open innovation: the role of design in R&D projects","volume":"21","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref061","volume-title":"The Sciences of the Artificial","year":"2019"},{"issue":"10","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref062","first-page":"1","article-title":"Designer portfolio archetypes in design-intensive industries","volume":"26","year":"2019","journal-title":"Industry and Innovation"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref063","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.2307\/2666980","article-title":"Aging, obsolescence, and organizational innovation","volume":"45","year":"2000","journal-title":"Administrative Science Quarterly"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref064","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1948-7169.2003.tb00336.x","article-title":"The forgotten bond: brand identity and product design","volume":"14","year":"2003","journal-title":"Design Management Journal (Former Series)"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref065","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1108\/13673279910304014","article-title":"Knowledge management and innovation: networks and networking","volume":"3","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref066","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1016\/S0167-9236(00)00134-2","article-title":"A design knowledge management system to support collaborative information product evolution","volume":"31","year":"2001","journal-title":"Decision Support Systems"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref067","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1111\/caim.12234","article-title":"Interplay between technology and meaning: how music majors reacted?","volume":"26","year":"2017","journal-title":"Creativity and Innovation Management"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref068","volume-title":"Design-Driven Innovation. Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating What Things Mean","year":"2009"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref069","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0737-6782.2005.00101.x","article-title":"The roles of marketing and industrial design in discontinuous new product development","volume":"22","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref070","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1016\/0048-7333(95)00847-0","article-title":"Design, innovation and the boundaries of the firm","volume":"25","year":"1996","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"key":"key2021070512453282800_ref071","volume-title":"Applications of Case Study Research","year":"2011"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2021070512453282800_ref072","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1016\/j.knosys.2006.04.004","article-title":"Platform-based product design and development: a knowledge-intensive support approach","volume":"19","year":"2006","journal-title":"Knowledge-Based Systems"}],"container-title":["Journal of Knowledge Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/JKM-07-2019-0399\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/JKM-07-2019-0399\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T22:26:58Z","timestamp":1753396018000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jkm\/article\/24\/4\/823-839\/272959"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]]},"references-count":72,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,29]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/JKM-07-2019-0399"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/jkm-07-2019-0399","relation":{},"ISSN":["1367-3270","1367-3270"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1367-3270","type":"print"},{"value":"1367-3270","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,10]]}}}