IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/fambus/v13y2022i2s1877858520300814.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Employee downsizing and sales internationalization strategy in family firms

Author

Listed:
  • Cirillo, Alessandro
  • Muñoz-Bullón, Fernando
  • Sánchez-Bueno, María J.
  • Sciascia, Salvatore

Abstract

Employee downsizing is a crucial choice that transcends the firm’s boundaries and has profound social implications. While the topic has been on researchers’ agenda for a long time, literature is still looking for a finer understanding of downsizing in family firms, which are the majority of employers worldwide. Using the Socio-Emotional Wealth perspective, this study explores the contingency effect of sales internationalization strategy on the relationship between family firm status and employee downsizing. Based on a large sample of private Spanish firms, our results reveal that the negative effect of family firm status on downsizing is mitigated at higher levels of export intensity, global focus and when export is done directly.

Suggested Citation

  • Cirillo, Alessandro & Muñoz-Bullón, Fernando & Sánchez-Bueno, María J. & Sciascia, Salvatore, 2022. "Employee downsizing and sales internationalization strategy in family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:fambus:v:13:y:2022:i:2:s1877858520300814
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2020.100354
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877858520300814
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jfbs.2020.100354?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. Deepak K. Datta & Dynah A. Basuil, 2015. "Does Employee Downsizing Really Work?," Management for Professionals, in: Maike Andresen & Christian Nowak (ed.), Human Resource Management Practices, edition 127, pages 197-221, Springer.
    2. Carmelo Cennamo & Pascual Berrone & Cristina Cruz & Luis R. Gomez–Mejia, 2012. "Socioemotional Wealth and Proactive Stakeholder Engagement: Why Family–Controlled Firms Care More about their Stakeholders," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(6), pages 1153-1173, November.
    3. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "A Perspective on Regional and Global Strategies of Multinational Enterprises," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 8, pages 104-119, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Jolanda Hessels & Siri Terjesen, 2010. "Resource dependency and institutional theory perspectives on direct and indirect export choices," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 203-220, February.
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/7244 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Sanchez-Bueno, Maria J. & Usero, Belen, 2014. "How may the nature of family firms explain the decisions concerning international diversification?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(7), pages 1311-1320.
    7. Schulz, Ann-Christine & Johann, Sarah, 2018. "Downsizing and the fragility of corporate reputation: An analysis of the impact of contextual factors," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 40-50.
    8. Astrachan, Joseph H., 2010. "Strategy in family business: Toward a multidimensional research agenda," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 6-14, March.
    9. Astrachan, Claudia Binz & Botero, Isabel & Astrachan, Joseph H. & Prügl, Reinhard, 2018. "Branding the family firm: A review, integrative framework proposal, and research agenda," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 3-15.
    10. Li, Min & He, Xinming & Sousa, Carlos M.P., 2017. "A review of the empirical research on export channel selection between 1979 and 2015," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 303-323.
    11. Eleni Stavrou & George Kassinis & Alexis Filotheou, 2007. "Downsizing and Stakeholder Orientation Among the Fortune 500: Does Family Ownership Matter?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 149-162, May.
    12. Gandolfi, Franco & Hansson, Magnus, 2011. "Causes and consequences of downsizing: Towards an integrative framework," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 498-521, July.
    13. Daniele Cerrato & Mariacristina Piva, 2012. "The internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises: the effect of family management, human capital and foreign ownership," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(4), pages 617-644, November.
    14. Kristien Coucke & Enrico Pennings & Leo Sleuwaegen, 2007. "Employee layoff under different modes of restructuring: exit, downsizing or relocation," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 16(2), pages 161-182, April.
    15. Art Budros, 1999. "A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Why Organizations Downsize," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(1), pages 69-82, February.
    16. Pittino, Daniel & Visintin, Francesca & Lenger, Tamara & Sternad, Dietmar, 2016. "Are high performance work practices really necessary in family SMEs? An analysis of the impact on employee retention," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 75-89.
    17. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton–Miller, 2014. "Deconstructing Socioemotional Wealth," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(4), pages 713-720, July.
    18. Sarah J. Freeman & Kim S. Cameron, 1993. "Organizational Downsizing: A Convergence and Reorientation Framework," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 10-29, February.
    19. Jean-François Hennart & Antonio Majocchi & Emanuele Forlani, 2019. "The myth of the stay-at-home family firm: How family-managed SMEs can overcome their internationalization limitations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(5), pages 758-782, July.
    20. Luis R. Gomez‐Mejia & Marianna Makri & Martin Larraza Kintana, 2010. "Diversification Decisions in Family‐Controlled Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 223-252, March.
    21. Gandolfi, Franco & Littler, Craig R, 2012. "Downsizing is dead; long live the downsizing phenomenon: Conceptualizing the phases of cost-cutting," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 334-345, May.
    22. Gallucci, Carmen & Santulli, Rosalia & Calabrò, Andrea, 2015. "Does family involvement foster or hinder firm performance? The missing role of family-based branding strategies," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 155-165.
    23. Andrea Bassanini & Thomas Breda & Eve Caroli & Antoine Rebérioux, 2013. "Working in Family Firms: Paid Less but More Secure? Evidence from French Matched Employer-Employee Data," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(2), pages 433-466, April.
    24. Zorn, Michelle L. & Norman, Patricia M. & Butler, Frank C. & Bhussar, Manjot S., 2017. "Cure or curse: Does downsizing increase the likelihood of bankruptcy?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 24-33.
    25. James P. Guthrie & Deepak K. Datta, 2008. "Dumb and Dumber: The Impact of Downsizing on Firm Performance as Moderated by Industry Conditions," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 108-123, February.
    26. Silvia Bacci & Alessandro Cirillo & Donata Mussolino & Simone Terzani, 2018. "The influence of family ownership dispersion on debt level in privately held firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 557-576, October.
    27. Orth, Ulrich R. & Green, Mark T., 2009. "Consumer loyalty to family versus non-family business: The roles of store image, trust and satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 248-259.
    28. Shainaz Firfiray & Cristina Cruz & Ionela Neacsu & Luis Gomez-Mejia, 2018. "Is nepotism so bad for family firms? A socioemotional wealth approach," Post-Print hal-02001706, HAL.
    29. Shou-Min Tsao & Wei-Hao Lien, 2013. "Family Management and Internationalization: The Impact on Firm Performance and Innovation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 189-213, April.
    30. Cristina Cruz & Martin Larraza–Kintana & Lucía Garcés–Galdeano & Pascual Berrone, 2014. "Are Family Firms Really More Socially Responsible?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(6), pages 1295-1316, November.
    31. repec:hal:pseose:halshs-00832786 is not listed on IDEAS
    32. A Rebecca Reuber & Eileen Fischer, 1997. "The Influence of the Management Team’s International Experience on the Internationalization Behaviors of SMES," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 28(4), pages 807-825, December.
    33. Elitsa R Banalieva & Kimberly A Eddleston, 2011. "Home-region focus and performance of family firms: The role of family vs non-family leaders," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(8), pages 1060-1072, October.
    34. José David Vicente‐Lorente & José Ángel Zúñiga‐Vicente, 2012. "Effects of process and product‐oriented innovations on employee downsizing," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(4), pages 383-403, July.
    35. Jaepil Choi & Heli Wang, 2007. "The Promise of a Managerial Values Approach to Corporate Philanthropy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(4), pages 345-359, November.
    36. Matthias Brauer & Tomi Laamanen, 2014. "Workforce Downsizing and Firm Performance: An Organizational Routine Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(8), pages 1311-1333, December.
    37. Clint Chadwick & Larry W. Hunter & Stephen L. Walston, 2004. "Effects of downsizing practices on the performance of hospitals," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(5), pages 405-427, May.
    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. Campos-García, Irene & Muñoz-Bullón, Fernando & Sanchez-Bueno, Maria J. & Zúñiga-Vicente, José Angel, 2020. "Exploring the exporting-downsizing link: Does the type of export strategy and firm efficiency in foreign markets matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 324-336.
    2. Hafner, Cornelius & Pidun, Ulrich, 2022. "Getting family firm diversification right: A configurational perspective on product and international diversification strategies," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(1).
    3. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Majocchi, Antonio & Buck, Trevor, 2016. "External managers, family ownership and the scope of SME internationalization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 534-547.
    4. Jean-Luc Arregle & Francesco Chirico & Liena Kano & Sumit K. Kundu & Antonio Majocchi & William S. Schulze, 2021. "Family firm internationalization: Past research and an agenda for the future," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(6), pages 1159-1198, August.
    5. Metsola, Jaakko & Leppäaho, Tanja & Paavilainen-Mäntymäki, Eriikka & Plakoyiannaki, Emmanuella, 2020. "Process in family business internationalisation: The state of the art and ways forward," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    6. Bauweraerts, Jonathan & Sciascia, Salvatore & Naldi, Lucia & Mazzola, Pietro, 2019. "Family CEO and board service: Turning the tide for export scope in family SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 1-1.
    7. Cornelius Hafner, 2021. "Diversification in family firms: a systematic review of product and international diversification strategies," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 529-572, April.
    8. Lars Schweizer & Andreas Nienhaus, 2017. "Corporate distress and turnaround: integrating the literature and directing future research," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 10(1), pages 3-47, June.
    9. Liena Kano & Luciano Ciravegna & Francesco Rattalino, 2021. "The family as a platform for FSA development: Enriching new internalization theory with insights from family firm research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 148-160, February.
    10. Mikel Alayo & Txomin Iturralde & Amaia Maseda & Gloria Aparicio, 2021. "Mapping family firm internationalization research: bibliometric and literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1517-1560, August.
    11. Heino, Noora & Tuominen, Pasi & Jussila, Iiro, 2020. "Listed Family Firm Stakeholder Orientations: The Critical Role of Value-creating Family Factors," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(4).
    12. Kihun Kim & Zulfiquer Ali Haider & Zhenyu Wu & Junsheng Dou, 2020. "Corporate Social Performance of Family Firms: A Place-Based Perspective in the Context of Layoffs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(2), pages 235-252, November.
    13. Stefano Amato & Rodrigo Basco & Nicola Lattanzi, 2022. "Contextualizing employment outcomes in family business research: current findings and future research avenues," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 531-604, June.
    14. Dawson, Alexandra & Mussolino, Donata, 2014. "Exploring what makes family firms different: Discrete or overlapping constructs in the literature?," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 169-183.
    15. Peláez-León, Juan David & Sánchez-Marín, Gregorio, 2023. "High-performance work systems in family firms: A mixed gamble approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    16. Moreno-Menéndez, Ana M. & Casillas, José C., 2021. "How do family businesses grow? Differences in growth patterns between family and non-family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(3).
    17. Majocchi, Antonio & D’Angelo, Alfredo & Forlani, Emanuele & Buck, Trevor, 2018. "Bifurcation bias and exporting: Can foreign work experience be an answer? Insight from European family SMEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 237-247.
    18. Vivien Lefebvre, 2023. "Layoffs in SMEs: The Role of Social Proximity," Post-Print hal-04585953, HAL.
    19. Pongelli, Claudia & Calabrò, Andrea & Basco, Rodrigo, 2019. "Family firms' international make-or-buy decisions: Captive offshoring, offshore outsourcing, and the role of home region focus," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 596-606.
    20. Jessenia Davila & Luis Gomez-Mejia & Geoff Martin, 2024. "Family Firms and Employee Pension Underfunding: Good Corporate Citizens or Unethical Opportunists?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(2), pages 323-339, June.

    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:eee:fambus:v:13:y:2022:i:2:s1877858520300814. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/719791/description#description .

    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.