IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/asiapa/v30y2013i3p893-917.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The succession process in Chinese family firms: A guanxi perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Junsheng Dou
  • Shengxiao Li

Abstract

Intergenerational succession is a principal cause of the high failure rate among first- and second-generation family businesses. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the succession process by examining the role of guanxi. This paper uses an exploratory case study of six Chinese family firms. The results of this research indicate that (1) the succession process of entrepreneurs’ guanxi networks can be divided into four representative phases, namely, preheating, triggering, readjusting, and reconstructing; and (2) each phase requires performing some characteristic tasks. Such tasks include the cross-generational teaching and learning of guanxi philosophy, the deconstruction of the profile of guanxi networks, the introduction of the next generation to existing guanxi parties, the cross-generational role readjustment in guanxi building and management, the renewal of guanxi parties, and the rebuilding of guanxi net structures. The results of this study also provide an extended theoretical model that helps to explain the relationship between the intergenerational transfer of entrepreneurs’ guanxi networks and the transfer of leadership. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:30:y:2013:i:3:p:893-917
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-012-9287-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s10490-012-9287-7
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10490-012-9287-7?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. Seung Ho Park & Yadong Luo, 2001. "Guanxi and organizational dynamics: organizational networking in Chinese firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(5), pages 455-477, May.
    2. Jean‐Luc Arregle & Michael A. Hitt & David G. Sirmon & Philippe Very, 2007. "The Development of Organizational Social Capital: Attributes of Family Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(1), pages 73-95, January.
    3. Xiao-Ping Chen & Siqing Peng, 2008. "Guanxi Dynamics: Shifts in the Closeness of Ties Between Chinese Coworkers," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(1), pages 63-80, March.
    4. Dyck, Bruno & Mauws, Michael & Starke, Frederick A. & Mischke, Gary A., 2002. "Passing the baton: The importance of sequence, timing, technique and communication in executive succession," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 143-162, March.
    5. Jean-Luc Arrègle & Michael Hitt & David Sirmon & Philippe Véry, 2007. "The Development of Organizational Social Capital : Attributes of Family Firms," Post-Print hal-02312687, HAL.
    6. Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller, 2009. "Agency vs. Stewardship in Public Family Firms: A Social Embeddedness Reconciliation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(6), pages 1169-1191, November.
    7. Luo, Jar-Der, 2005. "Particularistic Trust and General Trust: A Network Analysis in Chinese Organizations[1]," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(3), pages 437-458, November.
    8. Julie M. Hite & William S. Hesterly, 2001. "The evolution of firm networks: from emergence to early growth of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 275-286, March.
    9. Habbershon, Timothy G. & Williams, Mary & MacMillan, Ian C., 2003. "A unified systems perspective of family firm performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 451-465, July.
    10. Andrea Larson & Jennifer A. Starr, 1993. "A Network Model of Organization Formation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 17(2), pages 5-15, January.
    11. Alaka N Rao & Jone L Pearce & Katherine Xin, 2005. "Governments, reciprocal exchange and trust among business associates," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 36(1), pages 104-118, January.
    12. Jar-Der Luo, 2005. "Particularistic Trust and General Trust: A Network Analysis in Chinese Organizations," Management and Organization Review, International Association of Chinese Management Research, vol. 1(3), pages 437-458, November.
    13. Batjargal, Bat, 2007. "Internet entrepreneurship: Social capital, human capital, and performance of Internet ventures in China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 605-618, June.
    14. Morris, Michael H. & Williams, Roy O. & Allen, Jeffrey A. & Avila, Ramon A., 1997. "Correlates of success in family business transitions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 12(5), pages 385-401, September.
    15. Isabelle Huault & V. Perret & S. Charreire-Petit, 2007. "Management," Post-Print halshs-00337676, HAL.
    16. Chrisman, James J. & Chua, Jess H. & Litz, Reginald, 2003. "A unified systems perspective of family firm performance: an extension and integration," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 467-472, July.
    17. Roy Y J Chua & Michael W Morris & Paul Ingram, 2009. "Guanxi vs networking: Distinctive configurations of affect- and cognition-based trust in the networks of Chinese vs American managers," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(3), pages 490-508, April.
    18. Neil C. Churchill & Kenneth J. Hatten, 1987. "Non-Market-Based Transfers of Wealth and Power: A Research Framework for Family Businesses," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 12(2), pages 53-66, October.
    19. Chen, Xiao-Ping & Peng, Siqing, 2008. "Guanxi Dynamics: Shifts in the Closeness of Ties Between Chinese Coworkers," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(1), pages 63-80, March.
    20. Marianne Bertrand & Antoinette Schoar, 2006. "The Role of Family in Family Firms," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 20(2), pages 73-96, Spring.
    21. Neil C. Churchill & Kenneth J. Hatten, 1987. "Non-Market-Based Transfers of Wealth and Power: A Research Framework for Family Businesses," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 11(3), pages 51-64, January.
    22. Wendy C. Handler, 1990. "Succession in Family Firms: A Mutual Role Adjustment between Entrepreneur and Next-generation Family Members," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 15(1), pages 37-52, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. Jing Zhao & Michael Carney & Shubo Zhang & Limin Zhu, 2020. "How does an intra-family succession effect strategic change and performance in China’s family firms?," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 363-389, June.
    4. Majid Ghorbani & Michael Carney, 2016. "The changing face of China’s billionaire-entrepreneurs," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 881-902, December.
    5. Hongjuan Zhang & Rong Han & Liang Wang & Runhui Lin, 2021. "Social capital in China: a systematic literature review," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 32-77, February.
    6. Shihui Chen & Hanqing Chevy Fang & Niall G. MacKenzie & Sara Carter & Ling Chen & Bingde Wu, 2018. "Female leadership in contemporary Chinese family firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 181-211, March.
    7. Michael Carney, 2015. "Capacity building at the Asia Pacific Journal of Management," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 827-833, December.
    8. Shen, Na & Su, Jun, 2017. "Religion and succession intention - Evidence from Chinese family firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 150-161.
    9. Carney, Michael & Zhao, Jing & Zhu, Limin, 2019. "Lean innovation: Family firm succession and patenting strategy in a dynamic institutional landscape," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4).
    10. Hongjuan Zhang & Rong Han & Liang Wang & Runhui Lin, 0. "Social capital in China: a systematic literature review," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-46.
    11. Ting, Su-Hie, 2020. "Modes of Value Transfer in Chinese Family Business in Malaysia," Asian Business Review, Asian Business Consortium, vol. 10(1), pages 29-36.
    12. Liu, Fangyi, 2021. "Family business succession roadblock model based on fuzzy linguistic preference relations," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    13. 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.

    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. Rodrigo Basco & Andrea Calabrò, 2017. "“Whom do I want to be the next CEO?” Desirable successor attributes in family firms," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(4), pages 487-509, May.
    2. Zybura, Jan & Zybura, Nora & Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Woywode, Michael, 2021. "Innovation in the post-succession phase of family firms: Family CEO successors and leadership constellations as resources," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
    3. 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.
    4. Jar-Der Luo & Meng-Yu Cheng & Tian Zhang, 2016. "Guanxi circle and organizational citizenship behavior: Context of a Chinese workplace," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 649-671, September.
    5. Pascual Berrone & Patricio Duran & Luis Gómez-Mejía & Pursey P M A R Heugens & Tatiana Kostova & Marc Essen, 2022. "Impact of informal institutions on the prevalence, strategy, and performance of family firms: A meta-analysis," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 1153-1177, August.
    6. Jean–Luc Arregle & Bat Batjargal & Michael A. Hitt & Justin W. Webb & Toyah Miller & Anne S. Tsui, 2015. "Family Ties in Entrepreneurs’ Social Networks and New Venture Growth," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(2), pages 313-344, March.
    7. Hongjuan Zhang & Rong Han & Liang Wang & Runhui Lin, 2021. "Social capital in China: a systematic literature review," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 32-77, February.
    8. Hongjuan Zhang & Rong Han & Liang Wang & Runhui Lin, 0. "Social capital in China: a systematic literature review," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-46.
    9. Kandade, Kiran & Samara, Georges & Parada, Maria José & Dawson, Alexandra, 2021. "From family successors to successful business leaders: A qualitative study of how high-quality relationships develop in family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
    10. Rajan, Bharath & Salunkhe, Uday & Kumar, V., 2023. "Understanding customer engagement in family firms: A conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Mazzi, Chiara, 2011. "Family business and financial performance: Current state of knowledge and future research challenges," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 166-181.
    12. Hom, Peter W. & Xiao, Zhixing, 2011. "Embedding social networks: How guanxi ties reinforce Chinese employees’ retention," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 188-202.
    13. Isabelle Le Breton–Miller & Danny Miller & Lloyd P. Steier, 2004. "Toward an Integrative Model of Effective FOB Succession," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 28(4), pages 305-328, July.
    14. Andersson, Fredrik W. & Johansson, Dan & Karlsson, Johan & Lodefalk, Magnus & Poldahl, Andreas, 2017. "The Characteristics and Performance of Family Firms: Exploiting information on ownership, governance and kinship using total population data," Working Papers 2017:1, Örebro University, School of Business.
    15. Shujun Ding & Zhenyu Wu, 2014. "Family Ownership and Corporate Misconduct in U.S. Small Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(2), pages 183-195, August.
    16. 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.
    17. Barros, Ismael & Hernangómez, Juan & Martin-Cruz, Natalia, 2016. "A theoretical model of strategic management of family firms. A dynamic capabilities approach," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 149-159.
    18. Eric Gedajlovic & Michael Carney, 2010. "Markets, Hierarchies, and Families: Toward a Transaction Cost Theory of the Family Firm," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(6), pages 1145-1172, November.
    19. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2013. "Family Firm Governance, Strategic Conformity, and Performance: Institutional vs. Strategic Perspectives," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 189-209, February.
    20. G. T. Lumpkin & Keith H. Brigham, 2011. "Long–Term Orientation and Intertemporal Choice in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(6), pages 1149-1169, November.

    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:kap:asiapa:v:30:y:2013:i:3:p:893-917. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.