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Ideals-Based Accountability and Reputation in Select Family Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Isabelle Le Breton-Miller

    (HEC Montréal)

  • Danny Miller

    (HEC Montréal)

Abstract

We develop a model of ideals-based accountability (IBA) which we have witnessed at work in several long-thriving family businesses. The owners and managers of these firms eschew individualism and materiality in the pursuit of ethical ideals such as supporting democracy and bettering the human condition. Although accountability is to these ideals, not for outcomes such as profitability or even reputation, IBA has resulted in outstanding reputations for some firms. We characterize IBA according to its missions, leadership, culture, and stakeholder relationships. We also contrast it with traditional forms of accountability and differentiate IBA from related stakeholder, stewardship, and CSR perspectives. Finally, we examine its manifestations within five long-lived family enterprises, in the process generating propositions to advance the concept.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller, 2020. "Ideals-Based Accountability and Reputation in Select Family Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 183-196, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:163:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04225-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04225-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hayward, Mathew & Hunt, Richard & Miller, Danny, 2022. "How vulnerability enriches family firm relationships: A social exchange perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(1).
    2. Ambra Mazzelli & Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Alfredo De Massis & Josip Kotlar, 2023. "Outcome-Based Imitation in Family Firms’ International Market Entry Decisions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1059-1092, July.
    3. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller, 2021. "Family Firms: A Breed of Extremes?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 663-681, July.
    4. Le Breton-Miller, Isabelle & Miller, Danny, 2022. "Family businesses under COVID-19: Inspiring models – Sometimes," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    5. Moataz Elmassri & María Luisa Pajuelo & Abdulhadi Ali Alahbabi & Ahmed Mohamed Alali & Moufak Alzitawi & Hamdan Hussain & Khaled Alnabhani & Tariq Elrazaz, 2023. "Student Perceptions of Pedagogical Approaches to Integrating the SDG 8 into Business School Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.

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