IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jmgtco/v34y2023i3d10.1007_s00187-023-00359-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Complementing family firm and managerial views of doing business through management accounting tools

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Leotta

    (University of Catania (Italy))

  • Carmela Rizza

    (University of Catania (Italy))

  • Daniela Ruggeri

    (University of Catania (Italy))

Abstract

Contributions to the family firm literature have given attention to different challenges that family firms have to face in their life cycle when organisational complexity increases and managerial processes are required. This paper investigates how management accounting (MA) tools enable family and managerial views of doing business to complement each other during the professionalisation process. In particular, the paper discusses a longitudinal case study on a family firm’s professionalisation, when an external advisor introduced financial ratio analysis and contribution margin reports. The case evidence shows that MA tools, by facilitating communication amongst family firm members and the external advisor, favours the complementing between family firm and managerial views of doing business during the professionalisation process. When simultaneously trusting family firm and managerial views of doing business, family firm members had the chance to interpret business facts differently, discovering new business opportunities. The paper contributes to the family business literature examining the professionalisation process through the pragmatic constructivist (PC) perspective that analyses the main traits of family firm and managerial views of doing business, stressing the relevance of values in interpreting business facts and in identifying factual possibilities. On this issue, the PC perspective is useful in understanding the role of MA tools as a communication basis for enabling the complementing of different views of doing business during the professionalisation process.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Leotta & Carmela Rizza & Daniela Ruggeri, 2023. "Complementing family firm and managerial views of doing business through management accounting tools," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 347-376, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jmgtco:v:34:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s00187-023-00359-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00187-023-00359-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00187-023-00359-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00187-023-00359-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Niamh M. Brennan, 2022. "Methodological insights: interview quotations in accounting research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(9), pages 382-411, November.
    2. Kumudu Kapiyangoda & Tharusha Gooneratne, 2021. "Management accounting research in family businesses: a review of the status quo and future agenda," Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(3), pages 352-372, February.
    3. Andrea Dello Sbarba & Alessandro Marelli, 2018. "Family-controlled businesses and management control: the framing of “shareholder-oriented” practices," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 417-456, February.
    4. Robert E. Quinn & Kim Cameron, 1983. "Organizational Life Cycles and Shifting Criteria of Effectiveness: Some Preliminary Evidence," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(1), pages 33-51, January.
    5. Campanale, Cristina & Cinquini, Lino & Grossi, Giuseppe, 2021. "The role of multiple values in developing management accounting practices in hybrid organisations," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    6. Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2011. "Stewardship or Agency? A Social Embeddedness Reconciliation of Conduct and Performance in Public Family Businesses," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 704-721, June.
    7. Kari Lukka & Eija Vinnari, 2014. "Domain theory and method theory in management accounting research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(8), pages 1308-1338, October.
    8. 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.
    9. Basco, Rodrigo & Hernández-Perlines, Felipe & Rodríguez-García, María, 2020. "The effect of entrepreneurial orientation on firm performance: A multigroup analysis comparing China, Mexico, and Spain," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 409-421.
    10. Hall, Matthew, 2008. "The effect of comprehensive performance measurement systems on role clarity, psychological empowerment and managerial performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(2-3), pages 141-163.
    11. Martin R. W. Hiebl & Barbara Mayrleitner, 2019. "Professionalization of management accounting in family firms: the impact of family members," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 1037-1068, November.
    12. Luis Cisneros & Bérangère Deschamps, 2015. "The Role of Advisors and The Sequence of Their Actions in Sibling Team Succession," Post-Print hal-01983128, HAL.
    13. Thomas Zellweger & Philipp Sieger, 2012. "Entrepreneurial orientation in long-lived family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 67-84, January.
    14. Thomas M. Zellweger & Franz W. Kellermanns & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua, 2012. "Family Control and Family Firm Valuation by Family CEOs: The Importance of Intentions for Transgenerational Control," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 851-868, June.
    15. Ettore Croci & John A. Doukas & Halit Gonenc, 2011. "Family Control and Financing Decisions," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 17(5), pages 860-897, November.
    16. Leenders, Mark & Waarts, Eric, 2003. "Competitiveness and Evolution of Family Businesses:: The Role of Family and Business Orientation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 686-697, December.
    17. Falconer Mitchell & Hanne Nørreklit & Lennart Nørreklit & Lino Cinquini & Frederik Koeppe & Fabio Magnacca & Sara Giovanna Mauro & Morten Jakobsen & Tuomas Korhonen & Teemu Laine & Jakob Mathias Libor, 2021. "Evaluating performance management of COVID-19 reality in three European countries: a pragmatic constructivist study," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(6), pages 1345-1361, April.
    18. Craig, Justin & Moores, Ken, 2010. "Strategically aligning family and business systems using the Balanced Scorecard," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(2), pages 78-87, June.
    19. Sophia Su & Kevin Baird & Amy Tung, 2022. "Controls and performance: assessing the mediating role of creativity and collegiality," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 449-482, December.
    20. Tarek El Masri & Matthäus Tekathen & Michel Magnan & Emilio Boulianne, 2017. "Calibrating management control technologies and the dual identity of family firms," Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(2), pages 157-188, June.
    21. Jürgen Weber, 2011. "The development of controller tasks: explaining the nature of controllership and its changes," Metrika: International Journal for Theoretical and Applied Statistics, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 25-46, September.
    22. Alexandra Bertschi-Michel & Nadine Kammerlander & Vanessa M. Strike, 2020. "Unearthing and Alleviating Emotions in Family Business Successions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(1), pages 81-108, January.
    23. Songini, Lucrezia & Gnan, Luca & Malmi, Teemu, 2013. "The role and impact of accounting in family business," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 71-83.
    24. Habbershon, Timothy G. & Williams, Mary & MacMillan, Ian C., 2003. "A unified systems perspective of family firm performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 451-465, July.
    25. Suess, Julia, 2014. "Family governance – Literature review and the development of a conceptual model," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 138-155.
    26. Carole Howorth & Mike Wright & Paul Westhead & Deborah Allcock, 2016. "Company metamorphosis: professionalization waves, family firms and management buyouts," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 803-817, October.
    27. Rúben Silva Barros & Ana Maria Dias Simões da Costa Ferreira, 2023. "Management control systems and innovation: a case study grounded in institutional theory," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 109-133, March.
    28. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton‐Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2011. "Family and Lone Founder Ownership and Strategic Behaviour: Social Context, Identity, and Institutional Logics," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 1-25, January.
    29. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1989. "Strategic management of small firms in hostile and benign environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(1), pages 75-87, January.
    30. Mauro, Sara Giovanna & Cinquini, Lino & Pianezzi, Daniela, 2021. "New Public Management between reality and illusion: Analysing the validity of performance-based budgeting," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    31. Andreas Kallmuenzer & Andreas Strobl & Mike Peters, 2018. "Tweaking the entrepreneurial orientation–performance relationship in family firms: the effect of control mechanisms and family-related goals," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 855-883, October.
    32. Geoff Walsham, 2006. "Doing interpretive research," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 320-330, June.
    33. Bo Karlsson & Anders Hersinger & Monika Kurkkio, 2019. "Hybrid accountants in the age of the business partner: exploring institutional drivers in a mining company," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 185-211, July.
    34. Carmela Rizza & Daniela Ruggeri, 2018. "The institutionalization of management accounting tools in family firms: the relevance of multiple logics," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 503-528, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hernández-Perlines, Felipe & Covin, Jeffrey G. & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo E., 2021. "Entrepreneurial orientation, concern for socioemotional wealth preservation, and family firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 197-208.
    2. Mohamed M. M. Ahmed, 2024. "Balancing family and business goals: how management control systems shape strategic capabilities in family CEO-led firms," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 621-654, December.
    3. César Camisón-Zornoza & Beatriz Forés-Julián & Alba Puig-Denia & Sergio Camisón-Haba, 0. "Effects of ownership structure and corporate and family governance on dynamic capabilities in family firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-34.
    4. Schickinger, Antonia & Bierl, Philipp A. & Leitterstorf, Max P. & Kammerlander, Nadine, 2023. "Family-related goals, entrepreneurial investment behavior, and governance mechanisms of single family offices: An exploratory study," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    5. César Camisón & José Antonio Clemente & Sergio Camisón-Haba, 2022. "Asset tangibility, information asymmetries and intangibles as determinants of family firms leverage," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(7), pages 2047-2082, October.
    6. Mattias Sandgren & Timur Uman & Mattias Nordqvist, 2023. "Accountants in family firms—a systematic literature review," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 349-388, June.
    7. Chen, Shihui & Wu, Bingde & Liao, Zhongju & Chen, Ling, 2022. "Does familial decision control affect the entrepreneurial orientation of family firms? The moderating role of family relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 60-69.
    8. Dessì, Cinzia & Dettori, Angela & Floris, Michela, 2023. "Exploring different configurations of entrepreneurial orientation in small artisan family firms: A multi-case study," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(3).
    9. 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).
    10. Andrea Calabrò & Mariateresa Torchia & Andreas Kallmuenzer & Hedi Yezza & Cheng Feng, 2023. "Transgenerational entrepreneurship in family firms: a configurational approach," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2535-2554, October.
    11. César Camisón-Zornoza & Beatriz Forés-Julián & Alba Puig-Denia & Sergio Camisón-Haba, 2020. "Effects of ownership structure and corporate and family governance on dynamic capabilities in family firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1393-1426, December.
    12. Sherlock, Chelsea & Dibrell, Clay & Memili, Esra, 2023. "The impact of family commitment on firm innovativeness: The mediating role of resource stocks," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(3).
    13. Martin R. W. Hiebl & Martin Quinn & Justin B. Craig & Ken Moores, 2018. "Management control in family firms: a guest editorial," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 377-381, February.
    14. Lucrezia Songini & Stefano Armenia & Chiara Morelli & Alessandro Pompei, 2024. "Managerialization, professionalization and firm performance in family business: A Systems Thinking perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(1), pages 100-118, January.
    15. Fábio Frezatti & Diógenes Souza Bido & Daniel Magalhães Mucci & Franciele Beck & Ana Paula Capuano Cruz, 2023. "The Impact of the Management Control System on the Family Business’ Intention to Maintain the Organization for Future Generations," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 1145-1176, June.
    16. Maarten B.T. de Groot & Oli R. Mihalache & Tom Elfring, 2022. "Toward a Theory of Family Social Capital in Wealthy Transgenerational Enterprise Families," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(1), pages 159-192, January.
    17. Andreas Kallmuenzer & Andreas Strobl & Mike Peters, 2018. "Tweaking the entrepreneurial orientation–performance relationship in family firms: the effect of control mechanisms and family-related goals," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 855-883, October.
    18. Marcin Suder & Rafał Kusa & Joanna Duda & Jarosław Karpacz, 2025. "Exploring impact of entrepreneurial orientation on firm performance – moderators’ variability under changing market conditions," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 797-842, March.
    19. Alexandra Bertschi-Michel & Philipp Sieger & Thomas Wittig & Andreas Hack, 2023. "Sacrifice, Protect, and Hope for the Best: Family Ownership, Turnaround Moves, and Crisis Survival," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1132-1168, July.
    20. Martin Quinn & Martin R. W. Hiebl & Ken Moores & Justin B. Craig, 2018. "Future research on management accounting and control in family firms: suggestions linked to architecture, governance, entrepreneurship and stewardship," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 529-546, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Family firms; Professionalisation; Accounting; External advisor; Pragmatic constructivism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jmgtco:v:34:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s00187-023-00359-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.