Description
Book SynopsisOur Elgar Concise Introductions are inspiring and considered introductions to the key principles in business, expertly written by some of the world’s leading scholars. The aims of the series are two-fold: to pinpoint the essential concepts of business and management, and to offer insights that stimulate critical thinking.
Building on the current structural focus of the family firm discipline, this Concise Introduction provides a function-based, processual approach to the area. It rethinks the nature of the family firm, advancing a deeper understanding of its internal dynamics. Ramona Kay Zachary, Sharon M. Danes and Elisa Balabram offer comprehensive theories of the family firm, the best methods of investigation, and the relationships among the owning family, its business as well as how these are interconnected.
Key Features:
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- Accommodates cultural nuances
- In-depth exploration of conceptualizations of the family firm
- Addresses planned and unplanned change in family businesses
- Focus on the interface between the owning family and its business
- Analysis of the operational and relational processes in both the family and the business
Concluding that both the owning family and its business have complexities such as operational, managerial, and relational processes that warrant further attention, this Concise Introduction will be essential reading for researchers and advanced students interested in entrepreneurship, family business and organisational behaviour. It will also be a key resource for family firm owners, practitioners and family business consultants.
Trade Review‘Concise Introduction to the Family Firm
is a must read for anyone interested in family business. It challenges the conventional wisdom of business analysis and explains why any rigorous business assessment is incomplete without an in-depth understanding of the family and business, and the complex interactions between them.’ -- George Haynes, Montana State University, US
‘According to Karl Lewin, “there is nothing so practical as a good theory.” Zachary, Danes and Balabram have shown that to be true. Through meticulous research both in the literature and in the field, the authors bring together theories of business and family to provide guidance to educators, students, business owners, and consultants on how to handle the problems family businesses encounter and lead them to greater success.’ -- Frank Hoy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, US
‘In the Concise Introduction to the Family Firm
, Zachary, Danes, and Balabram provide a most comprehensive and extensive examination of the complexities and nuances of the processes and dynamics associated with family firms and family entrepreneurship. Zachary and her colleagues delve into the unique interfaces between families and business systems that are unique to family firms. The authors not only provide a comprehensive review of extant literature of family firms but point out areas for future research in family entrepreneurship and family firms and identify potential avenues for business consultants to effectively address difficult issues often found in family businesses. The book is a must read for family business research scholars and consultants.’ -- Chandra S. Mishra, Florida Atlantic University, US
Table of ContentsContents: 1. Rethinking the family firm 2. Family firm conceptualizations 3. Family firm research methodologies 4. Family/business interface dynamics’ contribution to firm sustainability 5. The business system 6. Future frontier of the family firm References. Index
