Purpose This study explores how familiness – comprising family involvement (power and intergenerational experience) and family essence – shapes knowledge accumulation in family firms. Using the dynamic capabilities framework, it distinguishes between internal and external knowledge to examine how structural and cultural dimensions of familiness interact with organizational learning. Special emphasis is placed on family essence as a potential moderator or necessary condition. The research addresses gaps in the literature by highlighting the interplay of relational and structural resources, particularly in emerging markets where family firms must navigate both tradition and innovation to remain competitive. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 142 unlisted family firms in Chile. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to assess the influence of family involvement and family essence on internal and external knowledge accumulation. To complement the SEM findings, necessary condition analysis (NCA) was conducted using the CR-FDH method, based on latent variable scores exported from SmartPLS and processed in RStudio. This dual-method approach enabled the identification of both sufficient and necessary conditions for knowledge accumulation, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the conditions under which familiness enables learning processes in family firms. Findings Intergenerational experience enhances internal knowledge accumulation by fostering tacit knowledge sharing across generations. Family essence significantly influences both internal and external learning, serving as a cultural mechanism that promotes trust, cohesion and absorptive capacity. Although family power does not directly affect external learning, its positive impact emerges when combined with strong family essence. NCA confirms that family essence is a necessary condition for both forms of knowledge accumulation. These findings show that familiness is not inherently effective; its impact depends on the relational context and internal alignment of resources, positioning it as a dynamic and contingent driver of learning. Research limitations/implications First, it is a cross-sectional study, which makes it difficult to observe dynamic phenomena such as familiness. This limitation restricts the ability to capture the temporal evolution of intergenerational learning mechanisms. Second, the study employed a questionnaire-based method, which – though commonly used – is subject to common method bias. Third, from a methodological perspective, we acknowledge that our model does not explicitly address potential endogeneity concerns. Although this risk may not substantially affect our findings, we recognize that cross-sectional designs like the present one are exposed to biases such as reverse causality or omitted variables. Practical implications This study provides family business managers with useful insights into how to manage their family-based resources – the interplay of resources – to foster more effective knowledge accumulation. In particular, managers need to understand that knowledge accumulation is closely related to the specific family resources engaged in the business. This understanding will help them cultivate a collaborative environment for knowledge exchange, especially tacit knowledge, derived from both family and non-family members. Managers should foster a climate of trust and commitment that facilitates interaction between family members and organizational staff, offering the necessary incentives to encourage knowledge creation, transfer and articulation within the family firm. Originality/value This study offers a novel relational view of familiness by integrating structural (power, experience) and cultural (essence) dimensions within a dynamic capabilities framework. It advances theory by identifying family essence as both a relational enabler and a necessary condition for knowledge accumulation. Methodologically, the combination of PLS-SEM and NCA provides new insights into the sufficiency and necessity of family firm resources – an underexplored area in family business research. Contextually, the focus on Chilean firms extends theoretical applications to Latin American markets, demonstrating how family cohesion can convert structural resources into dynamic capabilities in non-Western settings.
Purpose This study examines whether collaborative values and relational well-being constitute necessary conditions for Gen Z students' psychological well-being, with particular attention to the mediating role of relational well-being and to variation across national cultural contexts. Design/methodology/approach A dual-method design combines partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA). PLS-SEM is used to assess predictive relationships, whereas NCA identifies the minimum conditions required for high levels of psychological well-being. The sample comprises Gen Z business students from Colombia, France and Romania. Cross-country differences are treated as contextual and interpreted descriptively and exploratorily. Findings Relational well-being is a significant predictor of psychological well-being in all three countries and emerges as a necessary condition in Colombia and Romania. Collaborative values do not directly affect psychological well-being, but they exert an indirect effect through relational well-being. NCA further indicates that necessity patterns vary across the three national contexts, with collaborative values appearing as a necessary condition only in Colombia. These cross-country differences are interpreted as exploratory patterns rather than confirmatory evidence of fixed cultural effects. Originality/value This study is among the first to combine PLS-SEM and NCA to examine Gen Z well-being in a multi-country setting. By integrating sufficiency and necessity logics, it offers a richer account of how collaborative values and relational well-being relate to psychological well-being. It also advances a context-sensitive interpretation of cross-country variation while avoiding direct inference from national cultural profiles to individual-level characteristics.
PurposeIntegrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into marketing has driven significant transformations, reshaping consumer engagement, campaign management and business strategies. Although previous reviews have examined AI in marketing, most are limited to specific applications or relatively short time frames. There is a gap in recent bibliometric analyses that capture AI research's intellectual evolution and rapid diversification in this field. This study addresses this need by mapping the development of AI in marketing from 2000 to 2024, identifying emerging trends, key contributors and persistent knowledge gaps. Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 2,105 articles published between 2000 and 2024, using the PRISMA method and drawing on Scopus and Web of Science data. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer were employed to identify the most influential journals, authors and countries and to uncover thematic clusters through co-occurrence and co-citation network analyses. FindingsThe results reveal an exponential growth in AI-related marketing research since 2017, with 2024 marking the highest annual publication volume. Key research areas emerging from this trend include AI ethics, generative AI applications and the strategic importance of social presence in fostering brand-consumer engagement. This study not only provides a comprehensive overview of AI's evolution and current landscape in marketing but also identifies persistent gaps, such as algorithmic bias and content authenticity, that require further investigation, thereby highlighting critical priorities for future research and practical implementation. Originality/valueBy providing the most up-to-date, systematic and longitudinal bibliometric mapping of AI research in marketing, this study substantially extends and updates previous literature reviews. It delivers a foundation for both scholars and practitioners, clarifying how the field has evolved, particularly towards generative AI and ethical considerations, and establishing a clear research agenda for addressing unresolved challenges, with specific future research avenues aligned with the latest trends.
Purpose This study examines how the educational diversity of the firms’ innovation teams influences their openness to external knowledge sources and collaborative innovation. It also explores how these effects vary depending on the appropriability regime in which the firm operates. Design/methodology/approach We apply fractional probit regression models using data from two waves of the Colombian Innovation Survey (EDIT). Dependent variables were derived from the 9th wave (2017–2018), while independent and control variables were constructed from the 8th wave (2015–2016). This temporal separation allows the use of lagged explanatory variables, mitigating concerns about simultaneity. The final sample comprises 1,718 firms that reported innovation intentions, regardless of success. Two dimensions of openness were analyzed: external knowledge search and formal collaboration for innovation. Findings Results indicate a positive relationship between the educational diversity of innovation teams and firms’ openness to both external search and collaboration, especially in sectors characterized by high appropriability regimes. However, the expected inverted U-shaped relationship between diversity and openness is only partially supported and appears to depend on the type of external engagement pursued by the firm. While educational diversity fosters broader external search, excessive heterogeneity may hinder formal collaboration, likely due to coordination complexity or intra-team conflict. Originality/value This study advances open innovation research by offering a context-sensitive understanding of how team diversity and appropriability regimes jointly shape firms’ openness strategies. It highlights the pivotal role of educational diversity in promoting external engagement and provides practical insights for managing team composition and designing effective innovation strategies.
Purpose The objective of this study is to investigate how major companies develop innovation projects in partnership with startups through the lens of corporate–startup engagement (CSE). The research aims to analyze the motivations, engagement models and internal validation processes for these partnerships, with a particular focus on the structural frictions that arise. Design/methodology/approach The research employs an exploratory and descriptive qualitative method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and processed using content analysis to capture the micro-foundations of these collaborations. Findings The study reveals a significant gap between strategic intent and execution in CSE. Although corporations express a desire for disruptive, exploratory innovation, practical applications frequently devolve into projects focused on incremental operational efficiency. Major barriers are identified not merely as bureaucracy, but as fundamental structural frictions driven by corporate centralization, which constricts knowledge flows. Furthermore, the study identifies critical “pathbreakers” to collaboration, including severe speed mismatches and project dormancy driven by demands for uncompensated proof of concept (POCs). Research limitations/implications The research is limited by a non-probabilistic sample and a limited number of interviews, which preclude generalizable empirical conclusions. Practical implications For corporate managers, the study emphasizes that establishing CSE requires intentional internal architecture – such as creating structural “shortcuts” and dedicated innovation units – to bypass the friction of centralized processes. For startups, it underscores the need for strategic alignment to navigate corporate requirements and avoid the pitfalls of speed mismatches and delayed financing. Social implications The paper underscores the strategic importance of technological innovation for boosting national productivity and presents CSE as a vital alternative for economic development. Originality/value The research contributes to the theory of organizational ambidexterity by providing a multi-perspective empirical analysis (triangulating data from corporate managers, startup entrepreneurs and connecting agents). It explicitly maps the theoretical ““pathbreakers”“ and practical friction points that hinder the implementation of ambidextrous strategies.
Purpose GovTech ecosystems refer to environments where governments collaborate with companies and other actors, using innovative and digital technologies to deliver solutions to complex public problems. Given the need for methods to understand this phenomenon, the objective is to present a proposal for a tool for qualitative analysis of GovTech ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach We used a systematic literature review (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses -PRISMA protocol) together with the Content Validity Coefficient (CVC), proposed by Hernandéz-Nieto (2002), to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the content of the qualitative data collection instrument. Eight experts in public innovation participated in the validation, attesting to the clarity of language, practical relevance, theoretical relevance and semantic validation. Findings The final instrument, consisting of 41 items with satisfactory psychometric properties, has 3 main dimensions: (1) design centered on GovTech ecosystem actors' engagement (actors involved, competencies, preferences and modes of interaction); (2) design centered on the means for GovTech development (material transformation activities, information processing, intellectual knowledge processing and contractual or relational services) and (3) design centered on GovTech Outcomes (nature of innovation and public value generated by GovTech solutions). Originality/value It deepens the debate, still lacking in the literature, on GovTech ecosystems through the proposal and validation of an instrument developed specifically for its qualitative analysis. It enables integrated analysis of multiple actors, interactions and dynamics characteristic of GovTech ecosystems to support the formulation of public policies and strengthening strategies, as well as to promote a more effective alignment between technological innovations and social demands.
Purpose This study examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing digital marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities among e-retailers in Argentina and Mexico. It aims to explore how AI strengthens e-retailers’ capabilities in customer acquisition, development and retention within the Latin American e-commerce market. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a multiple case study design, analyzing 11 e-retailers in Argentina and 8 e-retailers in Mexico that operate on the Mercado Libre platform. Findings The findings reveal that AI significantly enhances digital marketing capabilities, specifically: data analytics and predictive capability, content creation and management, omni-channel integration and agility and adaptability. These capabilities, in turn, improve CRM performance across the distinct stages of customer acquisition, development and retention. Practical implications The findings offer actionable insights for practitioners seeking to optimize CRM capabilities through staged AI implementation and specific performance metrics. Originality/value The study highlights AI's dual role: first, as a capability enhancer that improves CRM outcomes through specific digital marketing capabilities, and second, as a contextual problem-solver that addresses structural challenges (e.g. payment fragmentation and trust deficits) in the Latin American e-commerce market.
Purpose This study aims to investigate how servant leadership (SL) fosters innovative work behavior (IWB) among public service employees, mediated by knowledge sharing (KS) and creative self-efficacy (CSE), and moderated by task autonomy (TA), in a model which integrates relational, cognitive, and structural mechanisms.Design/methodology/approach The study employs a partial least squares structural equation (PLS-SEM) to analyze data collected from 524 public service employees of the Brazilian Federal Police (PF).Findings Results confirm that SL positively influences IWB through dual mediation mechanisms: KS (beta = 0.038, p = 0.001) and CSE (beta = 0.092, p = 0.003). CSE exerts the strongest significant influence, indicating that employees' confidence in their creative abilities has a greater impact than KS. TA strengthens the link between SL and CSE (beta = 0.126, p = 001; f2 = 0.02), moderates the relationship and amplifies the indirect effects on IWB. The model explains 51.6% of IWB variance, indicating both high explanatory and predictive power.Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence that, in rigid public contexts, CSE is the primary mechanism that translates SL into IWB, surpassing the influence of KS. TA is a necessary condition for activating this creative potential. The results empirically contribute to the literature by testing the proposal integrated model and, methodologically, by confirming the predictive and explanatory strength of PLS-SEM in public administration research. The lack of studies on these integrated variables and the specific context - the Brazilian PF - highlights the importance of this research and amplifies empirical understanding of public service innovation.
Purpose This study examines the impact of AI on employee and organizational performance, focusing on four employee factors (AI awareness, evaluation, usage, ethics) and four organizational factors (business spanning, infrastructure, proactive stance, ethical considerations) that drive overall performance in today's business environment. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a two-wave study design, collecting data from businesses using purposive sampling technique. Study 1 focuses on AI at the employee level, with 222 matched data points to examine how AI literacy affects employee performance. Study 2 examines organizational AI competency, with 179 matched data points assessing impact on organizational performance. Data gathered was analyzed using PLS-SEM for explanatory and predictive purposes. Findings At the employee level, the results indicate that AI literacy enhances employee performance, with IPMA and NCA highlighting AI usage, awareness, and evaluation as key drivers. At the organizational level, proactive stance, infrastructure, and business spanning are essential for performance, while AI ethics matters primarily at peak performance. The two-wave study is supported by robust analyses, including endogeneity tests, IPMA, and NCA. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its purposive sampling technique, the absence of comparison groups and control variables. Originality/value This two-wave study develops a multi-level framework linking employee and organizational AI capabilities to improve organizational performance.
Purpose The study aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption on bank profitability in Malaysia, focusing on challenges traditional banks face in AI-driven competition. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theory (DCT), it examines AI as a strategic asset that links to financial performance and operational transformation.Design/methodology/approach Using data from 32 Malaysian banks (2019-2023), the study applies a 2-step system generalised method of moments (GMM) estimator and quantile regression (QR) to examine AI adoption measured via an AI index and its impact on return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and cost-to-income ratio.Findings AI adoption is significantly linked to higher ROA and ROE, but its impact on cost efficiency remains inconclusive due to integration costs and legacy constraints. QR shows cost efficiencies are more evident in high-CIR banks.Research limitations/implications The study focuses on 32 Malaysian banks, which may limit generalisability, and the 5-year period may not capture long-term AI effects.Practical implications Banks should invest in AI, modernise legacy systems and build an AI-driven culture. Staff training, risk management and agile governance are key to maximising AI financial benefits. Policymakers must balance innovation and compliance, as AI adoption boosts financial inclusion, stability and growth through digital banking.Originality/value The study extends extant literature by employing RBV and DCT to explain AI adoption and it also introduces a novel AI index for measuring adoption levels.
Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial passion (EP) and risk propensity (RP) and to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial alertness (EA). Design/methodology/approach Using theoretical a model that posits RP as the dependent variable, EP as the independent variable and EA as mediating variable, the authors tested four hypotheses, on data from 285 entrepreneurs from Brazil, and examined the influence of EP to RP, through a mediation involving EA. Findings The findings show not significantly positive effect to EP on RP, but EA mediate the relation between EP and RP. Complementarily, EP was positive related to EA and EA was positive related to RP. Thus, EA is relevant in explaining the relationship between EP and RP in the analyzed context. Originality/value This research proposes new insights into the dynamics between affective (such as EP) and cognitive components (such as EA) in influencing risk-taking behaviors.
Purpose This study examines how institutional mechanisms shape CSR disclosure in Latin America, by analysing the relationship between coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures outside the firm and CSR information disclosure by large quoted companies in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, the four countries of the Integrated Latin American Market (MILA). Design/methodology/approach Content analysis of annual and sustainability reports was conducted, and disclosure indices were constructed for each CSR dimension. Ordinary Least Squares regressions tested the relationship between institutional quality and industry sensitivity, capturing coercive, normative, and mimetic pillars, and their interaction in shaping CSR disclosure practices. Findings Results evidence that institutional quality significantly shapes CSR disclosures, with strong institutional environments (Chile) driving higher disclosures, incomplete contexts (Colombia) fostering compensatory strategies, and captured contexts (Mexico and Peru) showing differentiated behaviour, with Mexican firms strategically using CSR disclosures while Peruvian firms disclose the least. Industry sensitivity mainly enhances Environmental disclosures, and societal pressures moderate organisational-field-specific responses in the Community dimension. Originality/value This study contributes to the under-researched area of CSR disclosure in Latin America by demonstrating how coercive, normative, and mimetic mechanisms jointly influence corporate reporting. It demonstrates a non-linear, U-shaped effect of institutional quality on disclosure, revealing how CSR acts as a mirror in strong contexts, a substitute in weak ones, and a strategic tool in captured ones, while also clarifying the role of normative and mimetic pressures through industry sensitivity.
Purpose This study investigated the role of stakeholder pressure (SPRE) as a key driver of circular business model (CBM) adoption in Ecuador's manufacturing sectors. It further explored how Industry 4.0 technologies (I4.0T) and organizational agility (OA) act as mediators in this process, enabling organizations to navigate the transition toward a CBM more effectively. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical framework was developed, incorporating CBM, SPRE, OA and I4.0T. Empirical data were collected through a survey of 150 organizations in Ecuador. The study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) based on established measurement models to analyze the relationships among these variables. Findings The results showed a significant influence of SPRE on CBM adoption. Furthermore, I4.0T acted as a mediator in the relationship between SPRE and CBM adoption, while OA played a similar role in the link between SPRE and CBM. Furthermore, the findings highlight the impact of I4.0T in optimizing product design and traceability, which accelerates the transition to a circular economy (CE). In addition, OA strengthens the adaptive capacity of organizations, enabling them to proactively align with CBM. Originality/value This research addressed a critical gap in understanding the interplay of stakeholder dynamics, technological innovation and agility in CBM adoption. It provides empirical evidence on the mediating role of I4.0T and OA, offering valuable insights for organizations seeking to transition toward CBM.
Purpose To identify and describe the different profiles of Colombian export firms. Design/methodology/approach Hierarchical cluster analysis is used to identify these profiles on a sample of 5,181 firms. Differences between profiles are tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) extended by the Bonferroni test. Robustness is checked with two-stage clustering and a multinomial logit model, which validates the results. Findings There are four profiles of Colombian export firms that exhibit different behaviours depending on their structural characteristics, export intensity and export destinations: Globalised Industrial Leaders (Group 1), Agile Global Exporters (Group 2), Committed Regional Industrialists (Group 3) and Emerging Regional Service Firms (Group 4). Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on export behaviour and its explanatory factors in the context of Colombian firms and, more broadly, firms from emerging countries. Identifying the profiles of exporting firms is helpful for entrepreneurs and public managers.
Purpose The goal of this study is to determine how key factors like transformational leadership, corporate social responsibility (CSR), autonomy, work-life balance and supervisor support are associated with the motivation and intention to stay of Generation Z workers in the Chilean mining industry. Design/methodology/approach The data is collected through a survey administered to 256 Generation Z workers in mining companies and suppliers to the mining industry in Antofagasta, Chile. We analyze the data using PLS-SEM, conducting both direct and mediation analyses. Findings The results indicate that autonomy is significantly associated with both intrinsic motivation and intention to stay. CSR is significantly associated with intention to stay, but its association with intrinsic motivation is not statistically supported. In contrast to the reviewed literature, the hypotheses linking transformational leadership and work-life balance to intention to stay were unsupported. Originality/value This research is relevant because it studies Generation Z in a mining context, where working conditions are very different from a standard job. Additionally, it examines whether intrinsic motivation statistically mediates (indirect effects) the associations between organizational factors and intention to stay, consistent with SDT. These insights provide practical guidance for talent retention strategies tailored to younger workers in heavy industries.
PurposeThis study aims to determine relevant variables and the most accurate fundamentals for valuing firms based on their systematic risk exposure. It addresses gaps in the theoretical framework of peer selection and the incomplete discussion on the relevant fundamentals for implementing multiple-valuation methods based on risk concepts.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses cluster analysis to group firms from the S&P500, considering risk factors and evaluating which fundamentals provide the best description. Systematic risk exposure is defined using the Capital Asset Pricing model (CAPM), three-factor, and five-factor models. Linear combinations of fundamentals are applied based on the framework by Nel et al. (2014).FindingsThe findings reveal that combinations of Size and return on equity (ROE) and Size and return on invested capital (ROIC) are the most effective in replicating systematic risk-based clusters across firms. In line with previous literature, clusters based on the three-factor model are the most stable and homogeneous.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the sparse theoretical understanding of systematic risk-based peer grouping. It identifies specific combinations of fundamentals that enhance risk-based clustering methods' consistency and explanatory power. Selection de Comparables y Valoraci & oacute;n: Una aproximaci & oacute;n desde el Riesgo sistem & aacute;ticoProp & oacute;sitoEste estudio tiene como objetivo determinar las variables relevantes y los fundamentales m & aacute;s precisos para la valoraci & oacute;n de empresas en funci & oacute;n de su exposici & oacute;n al riesgo sistem & aacute;tico. Este manuscrito contribuye a la discusi & oacute;n sobre la selecci & oacute;n de comparables y fundamentales relevantes para la implementaci & oacute;n de m & eacute;todos de valoraci & oacute;n por m & uacute;ltiplos basados en conceptos de riesgo.Dise & ntilde;o/metodolog & iacute;a/enfoqueEl estudio utiliza an & aacute;lisis de cl & uacute;ster para agrupar empresas del S&P 500, considerando factores de riesgo y evaluando qu & eacute; fundamentales proporcionan la mejor explicaci & oacute;n. La exposici & oacute;n al riesgo sistem & aacute;tico se define mediante los modelos CAPM, Fama and French de tres factores y de cinco factores. Se aplican combinaciones lineales de fundamentales con base en el marco propuesto por Nel et al. (2014).HallazgosLos resultados revelan que las combinaciones de Size con ROE y de Size con ROIC son las m & aacute;s efectivas para replicar cl & uacute;steres de empresas basados en riesgo sistem & aacute;tico. De acuerdo con la literatura previa, los cl & uacute;steres formados mediante el modelo de Fama and French de tres factores son los m & aacute;s estables y homog & eacute;neos.OriginalidadEsta investigaci & oacute;n contribuye al entendimiento te & oacute;rico de la conformaci & oacute;n de grupos comparables basada en riesgo sistem & aacute;tico. Identifica combinaciones espec & iacute;ficas de fundamentales que incrementan la robustez y el poder explicativo de los m & eacute;todos de clustering basados en riesgo.
Purpose Women entrepreneurs contribute to the economic well-being of their communities through income and employment generation; however, a significant share of their businesses remains unregistered with the State. This study focuses on neighborhood stores (nano stores), a type of enterprise commonly led by women, with the aim of characterizing the socioeconomic profile of owners and their businesses in marginal urban contexts. Given the absence of official administrative records, a sampling methodology for statistically invisible units is employed. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in marginal urban areas of Piura, Peru, identified through random selection of city blocks. An adaptive cluster sampling strategy was applied to incorporate establishments identified during field sweeps. The final sample consisted of 154 women-led neighborhood stores with more than one year of operation, to which a structured survey was administered. Findings The stores operate mainly within households lacking adequate access to basic public services. Most owners are married or cohabiting, have an average of three children, and have not completed education beyond secondary school. Entrepreneurship arises primarily out of economic necessity. Eighty-one percent do not report income due to a lack of knowledge of the process or because they consider registration unnecessary. The main motivation for entrepreneurship is the economic well-being of their children. Originality/value The study provides original evidence by applying an innovative sampling strategy to analyze informal women-led neighborhood stores.
PurposeThis study aims to explore how cohousing initiatives in Spain and China respond to housing shortages, aging populations, and sustainability challenges. By comparing Morvedre Cohabitatge and the 21st Neighborhood Housing Cooperative, the research investigates how institutional, cultural, and policy contexts shape the development and sustainability of cohousing. It seeks to understand the enablers and barriers to these models and how residents experience collective living, contributing to broader discussions on social innovation, participatory governance, and urban resilience. Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative, comparative case study methodology. It analyzes two cohousing projects – one in Spain and one in China – through semi-structured interviews with residents and project leaders, complemented by documentary research and literature review. Thematic analysis, grounded in theory, was conducted in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The analysis focused on governance, resident profiles, institutional barriers, sustainability, and cultural dimensions. Atlas.ti software supported the coding process, ensuring systematic data management and interpretation. FindingsBoth cohousing projects promote participatory governance, sustainability, and social cohesion, but differ in structure and motivation. The Spanish case emphasizes ecological design and proactive aging, while the Chinese project addresses infrastructural needs with smart technologies. Legal ambiguity and lack of policy support are major barriers in both contexts. Despite these challenges, both models foster strong community bonds, mutual care, and resilience. The study highlights the importance of aligning governance models with cultural norms and institutional frameworks to ensure project sustainability and scalability. Originality/valueThis research offers a rare cross-cultural comparison of cohousing in Europe and Asia, highlighting how different socio-political environments influence collaborative housing. It contributes to the literature on social innovation, aging, and urban sustainability by showing how cohousing can be both a lifestyle choice and a necessity-driven solution. The study provides practical insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking to replicate or adapt cohousing models, emphasizing the need for legal frameworks, cultural sensitivity, and institutional support to foster inclusive and resilient communities.
