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No Consensus in Sight: An Analysis of Ten Years of Family Business Definitions in Empirical Research Studies

Author

Listed:
  • Tanja Steiger

    (BRP Powertrain, Rotaxstraße 1, 4623 Gunskirchen, Austria)

  • Christine Duller

    (Institute of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria)

  • Martin R. W. Hiebl

    (Institute of Management Control and Consulting, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria;
    Chair of Management Accounting and Control, University of Siegen, Hölderlinstraße 3, 57076 Siegen, Germany)

Abstract

Family business (FB) scholars often criticize the fact that FB research has not yet developed a commonly accepted definition of what constitutes an FB. At the same time, the literature lacks empirical evidence for this claim. Hence, we collected all empirical FB research articles published between 2002 and 2011 in the five leading FB research journals to examine the types of FB definitions used in the literature and to determine how their usage relates to bibliographical and methodological contextual factors. The resulting 238 articles were analyzed in terms of their underlying approaches to defining FBs. Our paper provides empirical support for the notion that FB research has not yet found a commonly accepted definition of FB. Most definitions can be classified as being rooted in the components-of-involvement approach (44% of all evaluated articles), in the essence approach (21%), or in a combination of the two (33%). We also find that the type of FB definition used in empirical research in our sample is significantly associated with the publication outlet, the continent of data collection, the number of authors and the stock market listing status of analyzed firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanja Steiger & Christine Duller & Martin R. W. Hiebl, 2015. "No Consensus in Sight: An Analysis of Ten Years of Family Business Definitions in Empirical Research Studies," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(01), pages 25-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jecxxx:v:23:y:2015:i:01:n:s0218495815500028
    DOI: 10.1142/S0218495815500028
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    5. Bürgel, Tobias R. & Hiebl, Martin R.W. & Pielsticker, David I., 2023. "Digitalization and entrepreneurial firms' resilience to pandemic crises: Evidence from COVID-19 and the German Mittelstand," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    6. 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.
    7. Unai Arzubiaga & Amaia Maseda & Txomin Iturralde, 2019. "Exploratory and exploitative innovation in family businesses: the moderating role of the family firm image and family involvement in top management," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-31, February.
    8. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Eteokleous, Pantelitsa P. & Christodoulides, Paul & Strømfeldt Eduardsen, Jonas, 2023. "A dynamic capabilities perspective to socially responsible family business: Implications on social-based advantage and market performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    9. Veland Ramadani & Léo-Paul Dana & Nora Sadiku-Dushi & Vanessa Ratten & Dianne H. B. Welsh, 2017. "Decision-Making Challenges of Women Entrepreneurship in Family Business Succession Process," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(04), pages 411-439, December.
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