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Stewardship Theory: Realism, Relevance, and Family Firm Governance

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  • James J. Chrisman

Abstract

Stewardship theory is a popular alternative to agency theory for studying family firm governance. Despite its contributions to management and family business studies, stewardship theory’s assumptions limit its realism and relevance. Using agency theory as a standard of comparison, I discuss stewardship theory’s model of man and its assumptions concerning goal alignment and control systems. I also discuss stewardship theory’s lack of assumptions about bounded rationality and pre-employment situations since the neglect of those issues reduce its realism and relevance. Based on this discussion, I argue that to increase its realism and relevance, stewardship theory’s assumptions should be revised.

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  • James J. Chrisman, 2019. "Stewardship Theory: Realism, Relevance, and Family Firm Governance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(6), pages 1051-1066, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:43:y:2019:i:6:p:1051-1066
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258719838472
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    2. Block, Joern & Ulrich, Lennart, 2023. "Are family owners and managers good stewards in global crises? Evidence from stock market reactions to Covid-19," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    3. Miroshnychenko, Ivan & De Massis, Alfredo, 2022. "Sustainability practices of family and nonfamily firms: A worldwide study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
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    5. Lin, Hsing-Er & Yu, Andy & Stambaugh, Jeff & Tsao, Chiung-Wen & Wang, Rebecca Jen-Hui & Hsu, I-Chieh, 2023. "Family CEO duality and research and development intensity in public family enterprises: Temporality as a model boundary," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Victoria Antin Yates & James M. Vardaman & James J. Chrisman, 2023. "Social network research in the family business literature: a review and integration," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1323-1345, April.
    7. Amjad Ali & Wajid Alim & Jawad Ahmed & Sabahat Nisar, 2022. "Yoke of corporate governance and firm performance: A study of listed firms in Pakistan," Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies, Educational Research Multimedia & Publications,India, vol. 13(1), pages 08-17, January.
    8. James J. Chrisman & Hanqing C. Fang & Lloyd Steier, 2023. "Positioning, Articulating, and Crafting Conceptual Articles on Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(2), pages 211-231, March.
    9. Jordi Moreno-Gené & José Luis Gallizo, 2021. "Intergenerational Differences in Family Business Management and Their Influence on Business Profitability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    10. Dieudonnee Cobben & Petra C. M. Neessen & Diana Rus & Nadine Roijakkers, 2023. "How family firms use governance mechanisms to mitigate the risks of ecosystems: a case study from healthcare," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1369-1388, April.
    11. Cunha, Miguel Pina e & Rego, Arménio & Clegg, Stewart & Jarvis, Walter P., 2021. "Stewardship as process: A paradox perspective," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 247-259.
    12. Luciano Ciravegna & Liena Kano & Francesco Rattalino & Alain Verbeke, 2020. "Corporate Diplomacy and Family Firm Longevity," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(1), pages 109-133, January.
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    14. Saif Ur Rehman & Yacoub Haider Hamdan, 2023. "Founding-Family Firms and CSR Performance in the Emerging Economy of India: A Socio-Emotional Wealth Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-24, May.

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