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Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Salience in Family Firms1

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  • Mitchell, Ronald K.
  • Agle, Bradley R.
  • Chrisman, James J.
  • Spence, Laura J.

Abstract

The notion of stakeholder salience based on attributes (e.g., power, legitimacy, urgency) is applied in the family business setting. We argue that where principal institutions intersect (i.e., family and business); managerial perceptions of stakeholder salience will be different and more complex than where institutions are based on a single dominant logic. We propose that (1) whereas utilitarian power is more likely in the general business case, normative power is more typical in family business stakeholder salience; (2) whereas in a general business context legitimacy is socially constructed; for family stakeholders, legitimacy is based on heredity; and (3) whereas temporality and criticality are somewhat independent in general-business urgency, they are linked in the family business case because of family ties and family-centered non-economic goals. We apply this theoretical framework to position and integrate the contributions to this special section of Business Ethics Quarterly on “Stakeholder Theory, Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Family Enterprise.â€

Suggested Citation

  • Mitchell, Ronald K. & Agle, Bradley R. & Chrisman, James J. & Spence, Laura J., 2011. "Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Salience in Family Firms1," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 235-255, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:21:y:2011:i:02:p:235-255_01
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    Cited by:

    1. Van Gils, Anita & Huybrechts, Jolien & Minola, Tommaso & Cassia, Lucio, 2019. "Unraveling the impact of family antecedents on family firm image: A serial multiple-mediation model," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 17-27.
    2. Rodriguez Serna, Lil & Nakandala, Dilupa & Bowyer, Dorothea, 2022. "Stakeholder identification and prioritization: The attribute of dependency," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 444-455.
    3. Schembri, Joe & Tang, Yee Kwan & Fletcher, Margaret & Dimitratos, Pavlos, 2019. "How do European trade promotion organisations manage their stakeholders?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 1-1.
    4. Madden, Laura & McMillan, Amy & Harris, Oneil, 2020. "Drivers of selectivity in family firms: Understanding the impact of age and ownership on CSR," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(2).
    5. Gerrit de Wit & Lorraine Uhlaner & Marta Berent-Braun & Ronald Jeurissen, 2011. "Beyond Size: Predicting engagement in environmental management practices of Dutch SMEs," Scales Research Reports H201118, EIM Business and Policy Research.
    6. Mitchell, J. Robert & Israelsen, Trevor L. & Mitchell, Ronald K. & Lim, Dominic S.K., 2021. "Stakeholder identification as entrepreneurial action: The social process of stakeholder enrollment in new venture emergence," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(6).
    7. Querbach, Stephanie & Waldkirch, Matthias & Kammerlander, Nadine, 2022. "Benefitting from benefits—A comparison of employee satisfaction in family and non-family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    8. Nurten Dede & Evren Ayranci, 2014. "Exploring the connections among spiritual leadership, altruism, and trust in family businesses," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 3373-3400, November.
    9. Meier, Olivier & Schier, Guillaume, 2022. "Lone founders, family founders, and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 149-160.
    10. De Massis, Alfredo & Kotlar, Josip, 2014. "The case study method in family business research: Guidelines for qualitative scholarship," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 15-29.
    11. Pollack, Jeffrey M. & Barr, Steve & Hanson, Sheila, 2017. "New venture creation as establishing stakeholder relationships: A trust-based perspective," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 7(C), pages 15-20.
    12. Campopiano, Giovanna & De Massis, Alfredo & Rinaldi, Francesca Romana & Sciascia, Salvatore, 2017. "Women’s involvement in family firms: Progress and challenges for future research," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 200-212.
    13. Randerson, Kathleen, 2022. "Conceptualizing family business social responsibility," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    14. Cox, Kevin C. & Lortie, Jason & Marshall, David R. & Kidwell, Roland E., 2022. "Beyond the balance Sheet: The effects of family influence on social performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 318-330.

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