IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/fambus/v12y2021i4s187785852100022x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Aspirations of Chinese families-in-business: Development of a reliable measurement instrument

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Feifei
  • Zhu, Zhu
  • He, Xiaogang

Abstract

Although previous studies have recognized the contingent nature of family firms’ aspirations, they have largely neglected cross-cultural heterogeneity. Drawing on the behavioral theory and socio-emotional wealth perspective (SEW), we reexamine the construct of family aspirations in a Chinese context. We argue that Chinese family firms have culturally specific aspirations that can influence their strategic behaviors. Based on a three-phase study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, we develop and validate a measure of aspirations of Chinese families-in-business. Six dimensions of Chinese family aspirations are explored: family harmony, financial wealth, health and longevity, continuity of family line, family honor and guanxi, and great ambitions for the younger generation. Our findings also identify a set of topics that can be pursued in future research using our Chinese family aspirations scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Feifei & Zhu, Zhu & He, Xiaogang, 2021. "Aspirations of Chinese families-in-business: Development of a reliable measurement instrument," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:fambus:v:12:y:2021:i:4:s187785852100022x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2021.100441
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187785852100022X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jfbs.2021.100441?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David L. Deephouse & Peter Jaskiewicz, 2013. "Do Family Firms Have Better Reputations Than Non-Family Firms? An Integration of Socioemotional Wealth and Social Identity Theories," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 337-360, May.
    2. Sharon M. Danes & Jinhee Lee & Kathryn Stafford & Ramona Kay Zachary Heck, 2008. "The Effects Of Ethnicity, Families And Culture On Entrepreneurial Experience: An Extension Of Sustainable Family Business Theory," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(03), pages 229-268.
    3. Carmelo Cennamo & Pascual Berrone & Cristina Cruz & Luis R. Gomez–Mejia, 2012. "Socioemotional Wealth and Proactive Stakeholder Engagement: Why Family–Controlled Firms Care More about their Stakeholders," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(6), pages 1153-1173, November.
    4. Ehrhardt, Olaf & Nowak, Eric, 2001. "Private benefits and minority shareholder expropriation: Empirical evidence from IPOs of German family-owned firms," CFS Working Paper Series 2001/10, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    5. Lorna Collins, 2012. "The Family Business," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Modern Family Business, chapter 1, pages 3-44, Palgrave Macmillan.
    6. Tsui, Anne S., 2009. "Editor's Introduction – Autonomy of Inquiry: Shaping the Future of Emerging Scientific Communities," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(01), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Junsheng Dou & Shengxiao Li, 2013. "The succession process in Chinese family firms: A guanxi perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 893-917, September.
    8. Garry D. Bruton & David Ahlstrom & Johnny C. C. Wan, 2003. "Turnaround in East Asian firms: evidence from ethnic Overseas Chinese communities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(6), pages 519-540, June.
    9. Hussinger, Katrin & Issah, Abdul-Basit, 2019. "Firm acquisitions by family firms: A mixed gamble approach," ZEW Discussion Papers 19-044, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    10. Lianxi Zhou & Wei-ping Wu & Xueming Luo, 2007. "Internationalization and the performance of born-global SMEs: the mediating role of social networks," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 673-690, July.
    11. Vazquez, Pedro & Rocha, Héctor, 2018. "On the goals of family firms: A review and integration," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 94-106.
    12. Chua, Jess H. & Chrisman, James J. & De Massis, Alfredo & Wang, Hao, 2018. "Reflections on family firm goals and the assessment of performance," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 107-113.
    13. Andrea Calabrò & Alessandro Minichilli & Mario Daniele Amore & Marina Brogi, 2018. "The courage to choose! Primogeniture and leadership succession in family firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(7), pages 2014-2035, July.
    14. Pramodita Sharma & S. Manikutty, 2005. "Strategic Divestments in Family Firms: Role of Family Structure and Community Culture," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(3), pages 293-311, May.
    15. James M. Vardaman & Maria B. Gondo, 2014. "Socioemotional Wealth Conflict in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(6), pages 1317-1322, November.
    16. Aparicio, Gloria & Basco, Rodrigo & Iturralde, Txomin & Maseda, Amaia, 2017. "An exploratory study of firm goals in the context of family firms: An institutional logics perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 157-169.
    17. Barney, Jay B. & Zhang, Shujun, 2009. "The Future of Chinese Management Research: A Theory of Chinese Management versus A Chinese Theory of Management," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(1), pages 15-28, March.
    18. Pramodita Sharma & Jess Chua, 2013. "Asian family enterprises and family business research," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 641-656, September.
    19. Nekhili, Mehdi & Nagati, Haithem & Chtioui, Tawhid & Rebolledo, Claudia, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and market value: Family versus nonfamily firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 41-52.
    20. Josip Kotlar & Alfredo De Massis & Hanqing Fang & Federico Frattini, 2014. "Strategic reference points in family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 597-619, October.
    21. Mehrotra, Vikas & Morck, Randall & Shim, Jungwook & Wiwattanakantang, Yupana, 2013. "Adoptive expectations: Rising sons in Japanese family firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(3), pages 840-854.
    22. Junsheng Dou & Shengxiao Li, 2013. "Erratum to: The succession process in Chinese family firms: A guanxi perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 919-919, September.
    23. Michael Lubatkin & William S. Schulze & N Dino Richard, 2003. "Toward a theory of agency and altruism in family firms," Post-Print hal-02311679, HAL.
    24. Kim, Y. & Gao, F.Y., 2013. "Does family involvement increase business performance? Family-longevity goals’ moderating role in Chinese family firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 265-274.
    25. Bunkanwanicha, Pramuan & Fan, Joseph P. H. & Wiwattanakantang, Yupana, 2013. "The Value of Marriage to Family Firms," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(2), pages 611-636, April.
    26. G.T. Lumpkin & Keith H. Brigham & Todd W. Moss, 2010. "Long-term orientation: Implications for the entrepreneurial orientation and performance of family businesses," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3-4), pages 241-264, May.
    27. Athanassiou, Nicholas & Crittenden, William F. & Kelly, Louise M. & Marquez, Pedro, 2002. "Founder centrality effects on the Mexican family firm's top management group: firm culture, strategic vision and goals, and firm performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 139-150, July.
    28. Cabrera-Suárez, Mª Katiuska & Déniz-Déniz, Mª de La Cruz & Martín-Santana, Josefa D., 2014. "The setting of non-financial goals in the family firm: The influence of family climate and identification," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 289-299.
    29. Josip Kotlar & Alfredo De Massis, 2013. "Goal Setting in Family Firms: Goal Diversity, Social Interactions, and Collective Commitment to Family–Centered Goals," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(6), pages 1263-1288, November.
    30. Jess H. Chua & James J. Chrisman & Pramodita Sharma, 1999. "Defining the Family Business by Behavior," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 23(4), pages 19-39, July.
    31. Salas, Jesus M., 2010. "Entrenchment, governance, and the stock price reaction to sudden executive deaths," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 656-666, March.
    32. Schulze, William S. & Lubatkin, Michael H. & Dino, Richard N., 2003. "Toward a theory of agency and altruism in family firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 473-490, July.
    33. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Lloyd Steier, 2005. "Sources and Consequences of Distinctive Familiness: An Introduction," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(3), pages 237-247, May.
    34. Rivolta, Mia L., 2018. "Worth the wait? Delay in CEO succession after unplanned CEO departures," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 225-251.
    35. Dominique Otten, 2012. "Daughters in Charge: Issues and Pathways of Female Leadership Succession in German Family Businesses," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Modern Family Business, chapter 4, pages 107-157, Palgrave Macmillan.
    36. Anne S. Tsui & Claudia Bird Schoonhoven & Marshall W. Meyer & Chung-Ming Lau & George T. Milkovich, 2004. "Organization and Management in the Midst of Societal Transformation: The People's Republic of China," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 133-144, April.
    37. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Pramodita Sharma, 2005. "Trends and Directions in the Development of a Strategic Management Theory of the Family Firm," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(5), pages 555-575, September.
    38. Thomas M. Zellweger & Robert S. Nason & Mattias Nordqvist & Candida G. Brush, 2013. "Why Do Family Firms Strive for Nonfinancial Goals? An Organizational Identity Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(2), pages 229-248, March.
    39. Thomas M. Zellweger & Franz W. Kellermanns & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua, 2012. "Family Control and Family Firm Valuation by Family CEOs: The Importance of Intentions for Transgenerational Control," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 851-868, June.
    40. Nekhili, Mehdi & Nagati, Haithem & Chtioui, Tawhid & Rebolledo, Claudia, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and market value: Family versus nonfamily firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 41-52.
    41. Steven Globerman & Mike Peng & Daniel Shapiro, 2011. "Corporate governance and Asian companies," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 1-14, March.
    42. Stephen J. Mezias & Ya-Ru Chen & Patrice R. Murphy, 2002. "Aspiration-Level Adaptation in an American Financial Services Organization: A Field Study," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(10), pages 1285-1300, October.
    43. Linda Argote & Henrich R. Greve, 2007. "A Behavioral Theory of the Firm ---40 Years and Counting: Introduction and Impact," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(3), pages 337-349, June.
    44. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Allison W. Pearson & Tim Barnett, 2012. "Family Involvement, Family Influence, and Family–Centered Non–Economic Goals in Small Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(2), pages 267-293, March.
    45. Lorna Collins & Louise Grisoni & Claire Seaman & Stuart Graham & Dominique Otten & Rebecca Fakoussa & John Tucker, 2012. "The Modern Family Business," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-00133-7.
    46. Weilei (Stone) Shi & Sunny Li Sun & Daying Yan & Zhu Zhu, 2017. "Institutional fragility and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(4), pages 452-476, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Smith, Celina & Nordqvist, Mattias & De Massis, Alfredo & Miller, Danny, 2021. "When so much is at stake: Understanding organizational brinkmanship in family business," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).
    2. Kosmidou, Vasiliki & Holt, Daniel T., 2022. "The relationship between family management and performance: A configurational approach in exploring the role of socioemotional wealth and generational stage," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).
    3. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Alfredo Massis & Tommaso Minola & Silvio Vismara, 2016. "Management processes and strategy execution in family firms: from “what” to “how”," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 719-734, October.
    4. Debellis, Francesco & Rondi, Emanuela & Plakoyiannaki, Emmanuella & De Massis, Alfredo, 2021. "Riding the waves of family firm internationalization: A systematic literature review, integrative framework, and research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    5. Debellis, Francesco & De Massis, Alfredo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Frattini, Federico & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2021. "Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    6. Randolph, Robert V. & Alexander, Benjamin N. & Debicki, Bart J. & Zajkowski, Robert, 2019. "Untangling non-economic objectives in family & non-family SMEs: A goal systems approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 317-327.
    7. Nathan L. Hammond & Allison W. Pearson & Daniel T. Holt, 2016. "The Quagmire of Legacy in Family Firms: Definition and Implications of Family and Family Firm Legacy Orientations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(6), pages 1209-1231, November.
    8. Ginesti, Gianluca & Ossorio, Mario & Dawson, Alexandra, 2023. "Family businesses and debt maturity structure: Focusing on family involvement in governance to explain heterogeneity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    9. Rajan, Bharath & Salunkhe, Uday & Kumar, V., 2023. "Understanding customer engagement in family firms: A conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    10. Lee, Tingko, 2019. "Management ties and firm performance: Influence of family governance," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 105-118.
    11. Islam, Nazrul & Wang, Qidong & Marinakis, Yorgos & Walsh, Steven, 2022. "Family enterprise and technological innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 208-221.
    12. Andrea Stübner & Svenja Jarchow, 2023. "Family oblige: the link between CSR and succession intention in small and medium family firms," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 389-431, April.
    13. Heino, Noora & Tuominen, Pasi & Jussila, Iiro, 2020. "Listed Family Firm Stakeholder Orientations: The Critical Role of Value-creating Family Factors," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(4).
    14. Elsbach, Kimberly D. & Pieper, Torsten M., 2019. "How psychological needs motivate family firm identifications and identifiers: A framework and future research agenda," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 1-1.
    15. Dawson, Alexandra & Mussolino, Donata, 2014. "Exploring what makes family firms different: Discrete or overlapping constructs in the literature?," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 169-183.
    16. Cao, Feng & Li, Sifei & Dai, Ming & Li, Jing, 2023. "Your heart is where your treasure is: Family chairman and tax avoidance in family-controlled firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    17. Dou, Junsheng & Wu, Saisai & Fang, Hanqing, 2022. "Family involvement, family essence, and family-centered non-economic and economic goals in Chinese family firms: A replication study," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).
    18. Bornhausen, Anna Maria, 2022. "Conceptualizing cross-country analyses of family firms: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4).
    19. Ng, Poh Yen & Dayan, Mumin & Di Benedetto, Anthony, 2019. "Performance in family firm: Influences of socioemotional wealth and managerial capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 178-190.
    20. Hanqing “Chevy” Fang & Kulraj Singh & Taewoo Kim & Laura Marler & James J. Chrisman, 2022. "Family business research in Asia: review and future directions," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 1215-1256, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:fambus:v:12:y:2021:i:4:s187785852100022x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/719791/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.