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Becoming the Boss: Discretion and Postsuccession Success in Family Firms

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  • J. Robert Mitchell
  • Timothy A. Hart
  • Sorin Valcea
  • David M. Townsend

Abstract

Family firms can enjoy substantial longevity. Ironically, however, they are often imperiled by the very process that is essential to this longevity. Using the concept of managerial discretion as a starting point, we use a human agency lens to introduce the construct of successor discretion as a factor that affects the family business succession process. While important in general, successor discretion is positioned as a particularly relevant factor for productively managing organizational renewal in family businesses. This study represents a foundation for future empirical research investigating the role of agency in entrepreneurial action in the family business context, which consequently can contribute to the larger research literature on succession and change.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Robert Mitchell & Timothy A. Hart & Sorin Valcea & David M. Townsend, 2009. "Becoming the Boss: Discretion and Postsuccession Success in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(6), pages 1201-1218, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:33:y:2009:i:6:p:1201-1218
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00341.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Franz Kellermanns & Kimberly Eddleston & Ravi Sarathy & Fran Murphy, 2012. "Innovativeness in family firms: a family influence perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 85-101, January.
    2. J. Brock Smith & J. Robert Mitchell & Ronald K. Mitchell, 2009. "Entrepreneurial Scripts and the New Transaction Commitment Mindset: Extending the Expert Information Processing Theory Approach to Entrepreneurial Cognition Research," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(4), pages 815-844, July.
    3. Uchida, Hirofumi & Yamada, Kazuo & Zazzaro, Alberto, 2023. "Management innovations in family firms after CEO successions: Evidence from Japanese SMEs," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Welsh, Dianne H.B. & Memili, Esra & Rosplock, Kirby & Roure, Juan & Segurado, Juan Luis, 2013. "Perceptions of entrepreneurship across generations in family offices: A stewardship theory perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 213-226.
    5. Ricardo Jorge Fernandes Coutinho & Raquel Meneses Moutinho, 2012. "Generational Succession as a Trigger for Family Business Internationalization," Economics and Management Research Projects: An International Journal, Open Access International Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Andres Felipe Cortes & Andreea N. Kiss, 2023. "Is managerial discretion high in small firms? A theoretical framework," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 157-172, January.
    7. Josiane Fahed-Sreih & Abdul-Nasser El-Kassar, 2017. "Strategic Planning, Performance And Innovative Capabilities Of Non-Family Members In Family Businesses," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(07), pages 1-24, October.
    8. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Franz W. Kellermanns & Steven W. Floyd & Victoria L. Crittenden & William F. Crittenden, 2013. "Planning for Growth: Life Stage Differences in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(5), pages 1177-1202, September.
    9. 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).
    10. Eugene Kaciak & Izabela Koladkiewicz & Narongsak (Tek) Thongpapanl & Marta Wojtyra, 0. "The role of social networks in shaping entrepreneurial exit strategies," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-37.
    11. Shikha Bhardwaj & Sumedha Chauhan & Parul Gupta, 2023. "CEO Succession in Family Firm: An Integrated Framework and Future Research Insights," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 32(3), pages 667-699, November.
    12. Moritz Belling & Ulrich Pidun & Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß, 2021. "Unbundling Strategic Change in Family Firms: the Influence of Familiness on the Strategic Change Process," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 381-411, December.
    13. Eugene Kaciak & Izabela Koladkiewicz & Narongsak (Tek) Thongpapanl & Marta Wojtyra, 2021. "The role of social networks in shaping entrepreneurial exit strategies," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1619-1655, December.
    14. Hauck, Jana & Prügl, Reinhard, 2015. "Innovation activities during intra-family leadership succession in family firms: An empirical study from a socioemotional wealth perspective," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 104-118.
    15. Mussolino, Donata & Calabrò, Andrea, 2014. "Paternalistic leadership in family firms: Types and implications for intergenerational succession," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 197-210.
    16. Lloyd P. Steier & Jess H. Chua & James J. Chrisman, 2009. "Embeddedness Perspectives of Economic Action within Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(6), pages 1157-1167, November.
    17. Casillas, José C. & Moreno, Ana M. & Barbero, José L., 2011. "Entrepreneurial orientation of family firms: Family and environmental dimensions," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 90-100, June.
    18. Sinan Caykoylu, 2021. "Retired Yet Involved: How Even After the Succession Predecessors of Family Businesses Continue to Influence Their Firms," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, July.
    19. Timothy Mathews & Tim Blumentritt, 2015. "A sequential choice model of family business succession," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 15-37, June.

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