IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jmgtgv/v24y2020i4d10.1007_s10997-019-09496-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The advisory role of non-family board members: a case-based study of a family firm

Author

Listed:
  • Hanna Maria Sievinen

    (LUT University)

  • Tuuli Ikäheimonen

    (LUT University)

  • Timo Pihkala

    (LUT University)

Abstract

The objective of this case-based study is to provide insights into the advisory role of non-family board members in a family firm attempting strategic renewal. By studying the non-family board members of a family firm in a Nordic country, we suggest that non-family board members’ advisory role evolves in a dynamic way. We show at the micro-level how the role, content, intensity, and locus of advice change and how it can be both inertia- and stress-inducing. This facilitates the renewal and hence a firm’s capacity to improve its alignment with changing external demands. We highlight the collaborative nature of the advisory role and the importance of the non-family member chair in ensuring effective board processes. Through our research we contribute to the understanding on the contextual nature of the board roles and tasks and on family firm renewals. We provide insights into how the family firm owners and the chair of the board can enhance the prospects that the non-family board members create value through their advisory role.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Maria Sievinen & Tuuli Ikäheimonen & Timo Pihkala, 2020. "The advisory role of non-family board members: a case-based study of a family firm," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(4), pages 871-903, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:24:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10997-019-09496-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-019-09496-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10997-019-09496-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10997-019-09496-8?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. Alchian, Armen A & Demsetz, Harold, 1972. "Production , Information Costs, and Economic Organization," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 62(5), pages 777-795, December.
    2. Morten Huse & Robert Hoskisson & Alessandro Zattoni & Riccardo Viganò, 2011. "New perspectives on board research: changing the research agenda," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 15(1), pages 5-28, February.
    3. Jonas Gabrielsson & Morten Huse, 2004. "Context, Behavior, and Evolution: Challenges in Research on Boards and Governance," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 11-36, January.
    4. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Separation of Ownership and Control," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 301-325, June.
    5. Renee B. Adams & Benjamin E. Hermalin & Michael S. Weisbach, 2010. "The Role of Boards of Directors in Corporate Governance: A Conceptual Framework and Survey," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 48(1), pages 58-107, March.
    6. Nordqvist, Mattias & Hall, Annika & Melin, Leif, 2009. "Qualitative research on family businesses: The relevance and usefulness of the interpretive approach," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(3), pages 294-308, July.
    7. Riccardo Viganò & Alessandro Zattoni & Robert Hoskisson & Morten Huse, 2011. "New perspectives on board research," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 15(1), pages 1-4, February.
    8. van Ees, Hans & van der Laan, Gerwin & Postma, Theo J.B.M., 2008. "Effective board behavior in The Netherlands," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 84-93, April.
    9. Roger H. Ford, 1988. "Outside Directors and the Privately-Owned Firm: Are They Necessary?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 13(1), pages 49-57, October.
    10. Alessandro Minichilli & Cathrine Hansen, 2007. "The board advisory tasks in small firms and the event of crises," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 11(1), pages 5-22, March.
    11. Amy J. Hillman & Albert A. Cannella & Ramona L. Paetzold, 2000. "The Resource Dependence Role of Corporate Directors: Strategic Adaptation of Board Composition in Response to Environmental Change," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 235-256, March.
    12. Lukasz Derdowski & Torvald Øgaard & Einar Marnburg & Gro Ellen Mathisen, 2018. "Creative and innovative behaviours of corporate directors: an elusive role of task-related conflicts," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(4), pages 1045-1069, December.
    13. John M. Stopford & Charles Baden‐Fuller, 1990. "Corporate Rejuvenation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 399-415, July.
    14. Carlo Salvato & Francesco Chirico & Pramodita Sharma, 2010. "A farewell to the business: Championing exit and continuity in entrepreneurial family firms," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3-4), pages 321-348, May.
    15. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    16. Yannick Bammens & Wim Voordeckers & Anita Gils, 2008. "Boards of directors in family firms: a generational perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 163-180, August.
    17. Åberg, Carl & Bankewitz, Max & Knockaert, Mirjam, 2019. "Service tasks of board of directors: A literature review and research agenda in an era of new governance practices," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 648-663.
    18. Filomena Canterino & Stefano Cirella & Marco Guerci & Abraham B. Shani & Massimo S. Brunelli, 2013. "Leading transformation in a family-owned business: insights from an Italian company," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 17(1/2/3), pages 54-83.
    19. Jeroen Van Den Heuvel & Anita Van Gils & Wim Voordeckers, 2006. "Board Roles in Small and Medium‐Sized Family Businesses: performance and importance," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 467-485, September.
    20. Morten Huse, 2000. "Boards of directors in SMEs: a review and research agenda," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 271-290, October.
    21. Thomas Ahrens & Rihab Khalifa, 2013. "Researching the lived experience of corporate governance," Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 4-30, April.
    22. Terry McNulty & Andrew Pettigrew & Greg Jobome & Clare Morris, 2011. "The role, power and influence of company chairs," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 15(1), pages 91-121, February.
    23. Pugliese, A. & Bezemer, P.J. & Zattoni, A. & Huse, M. & van den Bosch, F.A.J. & Volberda, H.W., 2009. "Boards of Directors’ Contribution to Strategy: A Literature Review and Research Agenda," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2009-013-STR, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    24. Jonas Gabrielsson & Henrik Winlund, 2000. "Boards of directors in small and medium-sized industrial firms: examining the effects of the board's working style on board task performance," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 311-330, October.
    25. Lars Schweizer & Andreas Nienhaus, 2017. "Corporate distress and turnaround: integrating the literature and directing future research," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 10(1), pages 3-47, June.
    26. Mark K. Fiegener & Bonnie M. Brown & Dirk R. Dreux & William J. Dennis, 2000. "The adoption of outside boards by small private US firms," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 291-309, October.
    27. Roger I. Hall, 1984. "The Natural Logic of Management Policy Making: Its Implications for the Survival of an Organization," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(8), pages 905-927, August.
    28. Olof Brunninge & Mattias Nordqvist & Johan Wiklund, 2007. "Corporate Governance and Strategic Change in SMEs: The Effects of Ownership, Board Composition and Top Management Teams," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 295-308, October.
    29. Rajshree Agarwal & Constance E. Helfat, 2009. "Strategic Renewal of Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 281-293, April.
    30. Catherine M. Daily & Dan R. Dalton, 1995. "CEO and director turnover in failing firms: An illusion of change?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(5), pages 393-400.
    31. Bengt Johannisson & Morten Huse, 2000. "Recruiting outside board members in the small family business: an ideological challenge," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 353-378, 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. Timo Tremml & Sabine Löbbe & Andreas Kuckertz, 2022. "Board behavior’s impact on entrepreneurial orientation in public enterprises," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(4), pages 1183-1211, December.

    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. Sievinen, Hanna Maria & Ikäheimonen, Tuuli & Pihkala, Timo, 2020. "Owners’ rule-based decision-making in family firm strategic renewal," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(3).
    2. Andrea Calabrò & Donata Mussolino, 2013. "How do boards of directors contribute to family SME export intensity? The role of formal and informal governance mechanisms," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 17(2), pages 363-403, May.
    3. Åberg, Carl & Bankewitz, Max & Knockaert, Mirjam, 2019. "Service tasks of board of directors: A literature review and research agenda in an era of new governance practices," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 648-663.
    4. Lohe, Fynn-Willem & Calabrò, Andrea, 2017. "Please do not disturb! Differentiating board tasks in family and non-family firms during financial distress," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 36-49.
    5. Yar Hamidi, Daniel & Machold, Silke, 2020. "Governance, boards and value co-creation: Changing perspectives towards a service dominant logic," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 956-966.
    6. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, November.
    7. Phillip C. James, 2020. "Understanding the Impact of Board Structure on Firm Performance: AComprehensive Literature Review," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Alessandro Minichilli & Cathrine Hansen, 2007. "The board advisory tasks in small firms and the event of crises," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 11(1), pages 5-22, March.
    9. Arosa, Blanca & Iturralde, Txomin & Maseda, Amaia, 2010. "Outsiders on the board of directors and firm performance: Evidence from Spanish non-listed family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(4), pages 236-245, December.
    10. Carl Åberg & Wei Shen, 2020. "Can board leadership contribute to board dynamic managerial capabilities? An empirical exploration among Norwegian firms," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(1), pages 169-197, March.
    11. Jonas Gabrielsson, 2007. "Correlates of Board Empowerment in Small Companies," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(5), pages 687-711, September.
    12. Stockmans, Annelies & Lybaert, Nadine & Voordeckers, Wim, 2013. "The conditional nature of board characteristics in constraining earnings management in private family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 84-92.
    13. Carl Åberg & Mariateresa Torchia, 2020. "Do boards of directors foster strategic change? A dynamic managerial capabilities perspective," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(3), pages 655-684, September.
    14. Franco Ernesto Rubino & Paolo Tenuta & Domenico Rocco Cambrea, 2017. "Board characteristics effects on performance in family and non-family business: a multi-theoretical approach," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(3), pages 623-658, September.
    15. Maarten Vandewaerde & Wim Voordeckers & Frank Lambrechts & Yannick Bammens, 2011. "Board Team Leadership Revisited: A Conceptual Model of Shared Leadership in the Boardroom," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 403-420, December.
    16. Szymon Kaczmarek, 2017. "Rethinking board diversity with the behavioural theory of corporate governance: opportunities and challenges for advances in theorising," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(4), pages 879-906, December.
    17. Rivo-López, Elena & Villanueva-Villar, Mónica & Lago-Peñas, Santiago, 2014. "Does the composition of the board matter? On the relationship between corporate governance and value creation," MPRA Paper 56597, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Mark K. Fiegener, 2005. "Determinants of Board Participation in the Strategic Decisions of Small Corporations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(5), pages 627-650, September.
    19. Arzubiaga, Unai & Kotlar, Josip & De Massis, Alfredo & Maseda, Amaia & Iturralde, Txomin, 2018. "Entrepreneurial orientation and innovation in family SMEs: Unveiling the (actual) impact of the Board of Directors," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 455-469.
    20. Maarten Corten & Tensie Steijvers & Nadine Lybaert & Céline Coeckelbergs, 2021. "The Influence of the CEO on Auditor Choice in Private Firms: An Interplay of Willingness and Ability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.

    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:jmgtgv:v:24:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10997-019-09496-8. 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.