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Capturing the Familiness of Family Businesses: Development of the Family Influence Familiness Scale (FIFS)

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  • Hermann Frank
  • Alexander Kessler
  • Thomas Rusch
  • Julia Suess–Reyes
  • Daniela Weismeier–Sammer

Abstract

This article develops a familiness scale measuring the family influence on the business via decision premises that express familiness. In three studies, we examine familiness with qualitative and quantitative approaches based on new systems theory. Narrative interviews are employed to generate items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses led to a multidimensional scale (Family Influence Familiness Scale [FIFS]) comprising six dimensions: (1) ownership, management, and control; (2) proficiency level of active family members; (3) sharing of information between active family members; (4) transgenerational orientation; (5) family–employee bond; and (6) family business identity. Results indicate high reliability and validity levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Hermann Frank & Alexander Kessler & Thomas Rusch & Julia Suess–Reyes & Daniela Weismeier–Sammer, 2017. "Capturing the Familiness of Family Businesses: Development of the Family Influence Familiness Scale (FIFS)," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(5), pages 709-742, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:41:y:2017:i:5:p:709-742
    DOI: 10.1111/etap.12229
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    7. Daniel Magalhães Mucci & Ann Jorissen & Fabio Frezatti & Diógenes de Souza Bido, 2021. "Managerial Controls in Private Family Firms: The Influence of a Family’s Decision Premises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Rajan, Bharath & Salunkhe, Uday & Kumar, V., 2023. "Understanding customer engagement in family firms: A conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
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    10. Hafezali Iqbal Hussain & Azlan Ali & Hassanudin Mohd Thas Thaker & Mohsin Ali, 2019. "Firm Performance and Family Related Directors: Empirical Evidence from an Emerging Market," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 13(2), June.
    11. Calabrò, Andrea & Frank, Hermann & Minichilli, Alessandro & Suess-Reyes, Julia, 2021. "Business families in times of crises: The backbone of family firm resilience and continuity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(2).
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    13. Baili Yang & Abraham Nahm & Zengji Song, 2022. "Succession, political resources, and innovation investments of family businesses: Evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 321-338, March.
    14. Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Openness to knowledge: does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between familiness and absorptive capacity?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1449-1482, April.
    15. Jelle Schepers & Wim Voordeckers & Tensie Steijvers & Eddy Laveren, 2020. "Long-Term Orientation as a Resource for Entrepreneurial Orientation in Private Family Firms: The Need for Participative Decision Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-22, July.
    16. 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.
    17. Christoph Stock & Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms: Status and Future Directions of a Research Field," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(1), pages 199-259, February.
    18. Debellis, Francesco & De Massis, Alfredo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Frattini, Federico & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2021. "Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    19. Randerson, Kathleen, 2022. "Conceptualizing family business social responsibility," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    20. Katarzyna Hys & Katarzyna Szczepanska-Woszczyna & Pawel Czart, 2020. "Analysis of Family Engagement in the Evaluation of Organisational Effectiveness in Family Businesses," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 962-972.
    21. Myriam Cano‐Rubio & Rosa Lombardi & Guadalupe Fuentes‐Lombardo & Pedro Núñez‐Cacho, 2021. "Familiness, business strategy and stakeholder engagement: The internationalisation of Spanish olive oil mills," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 4258-4280, December.
    22. Mohnen, Alwine & Mückenhausen, Verena & Toporova, Nevena & Kern, Maximilian, 2021. "Personalmanagement in Familienunternehmen: Recruiting, Arbeitsbedingungen, Weiterbildung," Studien, Stiftung Familienunternehmen / Foundation for Family Businesses, number 250040, June.

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