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“Who am I? Who are we?” Understanding the impact of family business identity on the development of individual and family identity in business families

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  • Wielsma, Albertha J.
  • Brunninge, Olof

Abstract

Family firms incorporate two identities, namely the identity of the firm and the identity of the family. Previous literature assumes that the owning family influences the identity of the firm by transferring the values and beliefs of the owners to the firm. However, identity theory suggests that identity formation is a dynamic process, based on iterations with the environment and interpretations of the past identity. In family firms this means that identity of the family can also be influenced by the firm. In this longitudinal study of a multi-generational family firm, we draw from identity literature to explore how the interplay between the business and the family identity can take place in a family firm. Our observations suggest that the identity of the firm can influence identity processes on various levels and that this is not necessarily beneficial for the family. Our study thus contributes to the understanding of identity issues in family firms.

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  • Wielsma, Albertha J. & Brunninge, Olof, 2019. "“Who am I? Who are we?” Understanding the impact of family business identity on the development of individual and family identity in business families," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 38-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:fambus:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:38-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2019.01.006
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    Cited by:

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    2. Beskida S. Dorda & Eriona M. Shtëmbari, 2021. "Family Firm Identity Approach: A Systematic Literature Review," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(1), pages 166-166, July.
    3. Bövers, Jana & Hoon, Christina, 2021. "Surviving disruptive change: The role of history in aligning strategy and identity in family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).
    4. Binz Astrachan, Claudia & Prügl, Reinhard & Hair, Joseph F. & Babin, Barry J., 2019. "Marketing and branding in family business: Assessing the landscape and charting a path forward," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 3-7.
    5. Aldrich, Howard E. & Brumana, Mara & Campopiano, Giovanna & Minola, Tommaso, 2021. "Embedded but not asleep: Entrepreneurship and family business research in the 21st century," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(1).
    6. Temprano-García, Víctor & Pérez-Fernández, Hector & Rodríguez-Pinto, Javier & Rodríguez-Escudero, Ana Isabel & Barros-Contreras, Ismael, 2023. "How to build a brand-oriented family firm: The impact of socioemotional wealth (SEW) dimensions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Brinkerink, Jasper & Rondi, Emanuela & Benedetti, Carlotta & Arzubiaga, Unai, 2020. "Family business or business family? Organizational identity elasticity and strategic responses to disruptive innovation," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(4).
    8. Silvana Signori & Yves Fassin, 2023. "Family Members’ Salience in Family Business: An Identity-Based Stakeholder Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(1), pages 191-211, February.
    9. Bauweraerts, Jonathan & Arzubiaga, Unai & Diaz-Moriana, Vanessa, 2022. "Going greener, performing better? The case of private family firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    10. Sami Basly & Yosra Abdelwahed, 2023. "Commitment to Learning and Open Innovation in Family Firms: Exploring the Moderating Effect of Family-to-firm Identity Fit," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 32(2), pages 420-448, July.

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