Description
Book SynopsisThis is an excellent book that provides a much needed overview of theoretical frameworks that help us understand the behavior of family firms. This book will be invaluable as a resource to doctoral students and researchers who are trying to analyze decision making in family firms and the factors that shape management processes in these organizations. The book is very comprehensive in its coverage, addressing most major theoretical frameworks that have recently been applied to examine phenomena unique to family firms. These include, among others, organizational ecology, behavioral theory, agency theory, behavioral agency theory, and social identity theory. This book is a must read for family business scholars.'
- Luis Gomez-Mejia, University of Notre Dame, US
'A common criticism of family business as a field of study is the lack of well-developed, theoretically grounded research. This important book edited by Nordqvist, Melin, Waldkirch and Kumeto promises to change this widely held view. The book brings into focus important theoretical perspectives that have rich implications for research on family firms. Well established and emerging perspectives are covered in the book, highlighting different debates that are likely to shape future scholarship in the field. Chapters are easy to read and concepts as well as theories are clearly explained and their usefulness is made evident. I compliment the editors on a job well done in recognizing the challenges of theorizing about family business and mapping out the territory of tomorrow's research.'
- Shaker A. Zahra, University of Minnesota, US
Family business has become an increasingly studied field over the last decade and forms one of the fastest growing research areas today. The uniqueness of family business is the interaction between two systems: the family and the firm, leading to specific characteristics that we rarely see in other types of businesses. In order to understand the unique interaction between these two systems, researchers have adopted a diverse range of theories drawn from different fields.
The contributors to this volume provide a thorough discussion of 13 theoretical perspectives that have been used in family business research. Each chapter introduces a theory, demonstrates its previous application in family business research and offers compelling ideas for future research that could contribute to both the family business field and the original theory behind it.
This book aims to spark new insights for researchers and PhD students in the field of family business, and is also a good introduction for researchers who are new to the field. Policymakers and practitioners will find this an enlightening resource.
Contributors: R. Adiguna, N. Akhter, G. Criaco, P. Hansson, A. Kallmuenzer, A. Kuiken, G. Kumeto, A. Mazzelli, L. Melin, H. Nilson, M. Nordqvist, E. Rondi, K. Staffansson Pauli, M. Waldkirch, A. Wielsma
Trade Review‘This is an excellent book that provides a much needed overview of theoretical frameworks that help us understand the behavior of family firms. This book will be invaluable as a resource to doctoral students and researchers who are trying to analyze decision making in family firms and the factors that shape management processes in these organizations. The book is very comprehensive in its coverage, addressing most major theoretical frameworks that have recently been applied to examine phenomena unique to family firms. These include, among others, organizational ecology, behavioral theory, agency theory, behavioral agency theory, and social identity theory. This book is a must read for family business scholars.’ -- Luis Gomez-Mejia, University of Notre Dame, US
‘A common criticism of family business as a field of study is the lack of well-developed, theoretically grounded research. This important book edited by Nordqvist, Melin, Waldkirch and Kumeto promises to change this widely held view. The book brings into focus important theoretical perspectives that have rich implications for research on family firms. Well established and emerging perspectives are covered in the book, highlighting different debates that are likely to shape future scholarship in the field. Chapters are easy to read and concepts as well as theories are clearly explained and their usefulness is made evident. I compliment the editors on a job well done in recognizing the challenges of theorizing about family business and mapping out the territory of tomorrow's research.’ -- Shaker A. Zahra, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, US
‘Theoretical Perspectives on Family Business is a unique book in family business studies. Each of its 13 chapters are written by doctoral students at the world renowned Jönköping International Business School in Sweden. Each chapter highlights a different theoretical perspective that has been used to understand the unique dynamics of family enterprises and ends with exciting ideas for future research. An inspirational reading for all students of family business studies – young and old, new and seasoned!’ -- Pramodita Sharma, University of Vermont and Editor, Family Business Review
‘This collection fills a much-needed void in the family business field and should become the mainstay of any doctoral program with a family business focus. The review of highly relevant theories and their use in the field will serve scholars for years to come.’ -- Joseph H. Astrachan, Kennesaw State University, US and Co-Editor and Founder of the Journal of Family Business Strategy
‘I love the concept behind the creation of this book: senior scholars, through a series of meetings, recruited PhD students from all over Europe to work together to create a highly diverse set of critical reviews about the various ways in which family businesses might be studied in the 21st century. It is certainly eye-opening to see how a highly motivated set of junior scholars can offer fresh views of this rapidly changing field.’ -- Howard Aldrich, University of North Carolina, US
Table of ContentsContents: 1. Introducing Theoretical Perspectives on Family Business Mattias Nordqvist, Leif Melin, Matthias Waldkirch and Gershon Kumeto 2. Organisational Ecology and the Family Business Giuseppe Criaco 3. Behavioural Theory and the Family Business Ambra Mazzelli 4. Agency Theory and the Family Business Andreas Kallmuenzer 5. Behavioural Agency Theory and the Family Business Gershon Kumeto 6. Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Family Business Andrea Kuiken 7. Process Thinking and the Family Business Emanuela Rondi 8. Social Identity Theory and the Family Business Matthias Waldkirch 9. Organisational Culture and the Family Business Rocky Adiguna 10. Kinship and the Family Business Naveed Akhter 11. Gender Theory and the Family Business Karin Staffansson Pauli 12. Critical Pedagogy Theory and the Family Business Henrietta Nilson 13. Corporate Reputation and the Family Business Albertha Wielsma 14. Resource-based Theory and the Family Business Per Hansson Index
