Ownership Structure and Innovative Behavior : Testing the Mediatory Role of Board Composition

The primary objective of the present study was to expand understanding of the determinants of adoption innovation in SME context by empirically examine the effect of corporate governance structure on manager’s innovative behavior. This was done through exploring whether ownership structure affects managers’ innovative behavior and if so, whether the effect is mediated by board composition. Using a sample of 197 managers within Tunisian SMEs, the study finds that ownership structure is significantly associated with manager’s innovative behavior. Further analysis arising from introducing outsiders’ representation on the board as a mediating variable reveals that the relationship is fully mediated by this variable. Research and practical implications are discussed