IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v143y2022icp318-330.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Beyond the balance Sheet: The effects of family influence on social performance

Author

Listed:
  • Cox, Kevin C.
  • Lortie, Jason
  • Marshall, David R.
  • Kidwell, Roland E.

Abstract

This study examines the unique family influence on social performance among family firms. Integrating a new systems theory of family influence with stewardship and stakeholder salience perspectives, we contend that some forms of family influence lead family firms to view society as a particularly salient stakeholder. Thus, when family influenced decisions are consistent with stewardship domains of family firms (continuity, community, and connection), society-related goals become increasingly important to leaders in family firms and subsequently increase the social performance of these firms. We test these relationships with a sample of 300 family firm owners and find evidence generally supporting our hypotheses. This study sheds new light on the relationship between family firms and social impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Cox, Kevin C. & Lortie, Jason & Marshall, David R. & Kidwell, Roland E., 2022. "Beyond the balance Sheet: The effects of family influence on social performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 318-330.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:143:y:2022:i:c:p:318-330
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296322000169
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.013?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. Randolph, Robert V. & Alexander, Benjamin N. & Debicki, Bart J. & Zajkowski, Robert, 2019. "Untangling non-economic objectives in family & non-family SMEs: A goal systems approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 317-327.
    2. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Franz Willi Kellermanns & Ravi Sarathy, 2008. "Resource Configuration in Family Firms: Linking Resources, Strategic Planning and Technological Opportunities to Performance," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 26-50, January.
    3. John Bingham & W. Gibb Dyer & Isaac Smith & Gregory Adams, 2011. "A Stakeholder Identity Orientation Approach to Corporate Social Performance in Family Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(4), pages 565-585, April.
    4. Patrick Raymund James M. Garcia & Pramodita Sharma & Alfredo De Massis & Mike Wright & Louise Scholes, 2019. "Perceived Parental Behaviors and Next-Generation Engagement in Family Firms: A Social Cognitive Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(2), pages 224-243, March.
    5. Frédéric Delmar & Johan Wiklund, 2008. "The Effect of Small Business Managers’ Growth Motivation on Firm Growth: A Longitudinal Study," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(3), pages 437-457, May.
    6. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton‐Miller & Barry Scholnick, 2008. "Stewardship vs. Stagnation: An Empirical Comparison of Small Family and Non‐Family Businesses," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 51-78, January.
    7. Massimo Baù & Francesco Chirico & Daniel Pittino & Mikaela Backman & Johan Klaesson, 2019. "Roots to Grow: Family Firms and Local Embeddedness in Rural and Urban Contexts," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(2), pages 360-385, March.
    8. Ng, Poh Yen & Dayan, Mumin & Di Benedetto, Anthony, 2019. "Performance in family firm: Influences of socioemotional wealth and managerial capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 178-190.
    9. Pramodita Sharma & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Lloyd P. Steier, 2020. "Family Firm Behavior From a Psychological Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(1), pages 3-19, January.
    10. Allison W. Pearson & Jon C. Carr & John C. Shaw, 2008. "Toward a Theory of Familiness: A Social Capital Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(6), pages 949-969, November.
    11. Richard Gentry & Clay Dibrell & Jaemin Kim, 2016. "Long–Term Orientation in Publicly Traded Family Businesses: Evidence of a Dominant Logic," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(4), pages 733-757, July.
    12. Zahra, Shaker A. & Neubaum, Donald O. & Larraneta, Barbara, 2007. "Knowledge sharing and technological capabilities: The moderating role of family involvement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(10), pages 1070-1079, October.
    13. Piotr Zientara, 2017. "Socioemotional Wealth and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Critical Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 185-199, August.
    14. Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller, 2009. "Agency vs. Stewardship in Public Family Firms: A Social Embeddedness Reconciliation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(6), pages 1169-1191, November.
    15. Matthew W. Rutherford & Donald F. Kuratko & Daniel T. Holt, 2008. "Examining the Link between “Familiness†and Performance: Can the F–PEC Untangle the Family Business Theory Jungle?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(6), pages 1089-1109, November.
    16. 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.
    17. Christian Hoffmann & Peter Jaskiewicz & Torsten Wulf & James G. Combs, 2019. "The Effect of Transgenerational Control Intention on Family-Firm Performance: It Depends Who Pursues It," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(3), pages 629-646, May.
    18. Madanoglu, Melih & Altinay, Levent & Wang, Xuan (Lorna), 2016. "Disentangling the effect of family involvement on innovativeness and risk taking: The role of decentralization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1796-1800.
    19. Pittino, Daniel & Barroso Martínez, Ascensión & Chirico, Francesco & Sanguino Galván, Ramón, 2018. "Psychological ownership, knowledge sharing and entrepreneurial orientation in family firms: The moderating role of governance heterogeneity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 312-326.
    20. González-Cruz, Tomás F. & Cruz-Ros, Sonia, 2016. "When does family involvement produce superior performance in SME family business?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1452-1457.
    21. Josip Kotlar & Alfredo De Massis, 2013. "Goal Setting in Family Firms: Goal Diversity, Social Interactions, and Collective Commitment to Family–Centered Goals," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(6), pages 1263-1288, November.
    22. Hermann Frank & Alexander Kessler & Thomas Rusch & Julia Suess–Reyes & Daniela Weismeier–Sammer, 2017. "Capturing the Familiness of Family Businesses: Development of the Family Influence Familiness Scale (FIFS)," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(5), pages 709-742, September.
    23. Chandler, Gaylen N. & Hanks, Steven H., 1993. "Measuring the performance of emerging businesses: A validation study," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(5), pages 391-408, September.
    24. Thomas M. Zellweger & Robert S. Nason & Mattias Nordqvist & Candida G. Brush, 2013. "Why Do Family Firms Strive for Nonfinancial Goals? An Organizational Identity Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(2), pages 229-248, March.
    25. Roland Kidwell & Franz Kellermanns & Kimberly Eddleston, 2012. "Harmony, Justice, Confusion, and Conflict in Family Firms: Implications for Ethical Climate and the “Fredo Effect”," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 106(4), pages 503-517, April.
    26. W. Gibb Dyer Jr. & David A. Whetten, 2006. "Family Firms and Social Responsibility: Preliminary Evidence from the S&P 500," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(6), pages 785-802, November.
    27. MacKenzie, Scott B. & Podsakoff, Philip M., 2012. "Common Method Bias in Marketing: Causes, Mechanisms, and Procedural Remedies," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 542-555.
    28. Mathias, Blake D. & Solomon, Shelby J. & Madison, Kristen, 2017. "After the harvest: A stewardship perspective on entrepreneurship and philanthropy," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 385-404.
    29. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Franz W. Kellermanns & Thomas M. Zellweger, 2012. "Exploring the Entrepreneurial Behavior of Family Firms: Does the Stewardship Perspective Explain Differences?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(2), pages 347-367, March.
    30. Zellweger, Thomas M. & Eddleston, Kimberly A. & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2010. "Exploring the concept of familiness: Introducing family firm identity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 54-63, March.
    31. Jess H. Chua & James J. Chrisman & Lloyd P. Steier & Sabine B. Rau, 2012. "Sources of Heterogeneity in Family Firms: An Introduction," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(6), pages 1103-1113, November.
    32. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    33. James H. Davis & Mathew R. Allen & H. David Hayes, 2010. "Is Blood Thicker Than Water? A Study of Stewardship Perceptions in Family Business," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(6), pages 1093-1116, November.
    34. Breton-Miller, Isabelle Le & Miller, Danny, 2016. "Family firms and practices of sustainability: A contingency view," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 26-33.
    35. Glyptis, Loukas & Hadjielias, Elias & Christofi, Michael & Kvasova, Olga & Vrontis, Demetris, 2021. "Dynamic familiness capabilities and family business growth: A longitudinal perspective framed within management accounting," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 346-363.
    36. Shaker A. Zahra & James C. Hayton & Donald O. Neubaum & Clay Dibrell & Justin Craig, 2008. "Culture of Family Commitment and Strategic Flexibility: The Moderating Effect of Stewardship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(6), pages 1035-1054, November.
    37. Eddleston, Kimberly A. & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2007. "Destructive and productive family relationships: A stewardship theory perspective," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 545-565, July.
    38. Mitchell, Ronald K. & Agle, Bradley R. & Chrisman, James J. & Spence, Laura J., 2011. "Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Salience in Family Firms1," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 235-255, April.
    39. Ping, Robert Jr., 2004. "On assuring valid measures for theoretical models using survey data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 125-141, February.
    40. Hernández-Perlines, Felipe & Moreno-García, Juan & Yañez-Araque, Benito, 2016. "The mediating role of competitive strategy in international entrepreneurial orientation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5383-5389.
    41. Thomas M. Zellweger & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Lloyd P. Steier, 2019. "Social Structures, Social Relationships, and Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(2), pages 207-223, March.
    42. James Austin & Howard Stevenson & Jane Wei–Skillern, 2006. "Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship: Same, Different, or Both?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(1), pages 1-22, January.
    43. 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.
    44. Jason Lortie & Gary J. Castrogiovanni & Kevin C. Cox, 2017. "Gender, social salience, and social performance: how women pursue and perform in social ventures," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1-2), pages 155-173, January.
    45. Chrisman, James J. & Chua, Jess H. & Litz, Reginald, 2003. "A unified systems perspective of family firm performance: an extension and integration," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 467-472, July.
    46. 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.
    47. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    48. James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua & Lloyd Steier, 2005. "Sources and Consequences of Distinctive Familiness: An Introduction," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(3), pages 237-247, May.
    49. Block, Joern & Wagner, Marcus, 2014. "Ownership versus management effects on corporate social responsibility concerns in large family and founder firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 339-346.
    50. Innan Sasaki & Josip Kotlar & Davide Ravasi & Eero Vaara, 2020. "Dealing with revered past: Historical identity statements and strategic change in Japanese family firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(3), pages 590-623, March.
    51. Allison W. Pearson & Laura E. Marler, 2010. "A Leadership Perspective of Reciprocal Stewardship in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(6), pages 1117-1124, November.
    52. Olson, Patricia D. & Zuiker, Virginia S. & Danes, Sharon M. & Stafford, Kathryn & Heck, Ramona K. Z. & Duncan, Karen A., 2003. "The impact of the family and the business on family business sustainability," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 639-666, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hoekx, Laura & Lambrechts, Frank & Vandekerkhof, Pieter & Voordeckers, Wim & Frank, Hermann, 2023. "The influence of familiness on decision-making quality in top management teams: The role of emotional dissonance and perceived team support," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    2. Kowalik, Elena, 2023. "Ethical Problems in Family Firms," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(2), pages 431-452.

    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. Basco, Rodrigo, 2013. "The family's effect on family firm performance: A model testing the demographic and essence approaches," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 42-66.
    2. Cabrera-Suárez, Mª Katiuska & Déniz-Déniz, Mª de La Cruz & Martín-Santana, Josefa D., 2014. "The setting of non-financial goals in the family firm: The influence of family climate and identification," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 289-299.
    3. Rajan, Bharath & Salunkhe, Uday & Kumar, V., 2023. "Understanding customer engagement in family firms: A conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Mazzi, Chiara, 2011. "Family business and financial performance: Current state of knowledge and future research challenges," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 166-181.
    5. Stefanie Einhorn & Xaver Heinicke & Thomas W. Guenther, 2021. "Management control packages in family businesses: a configurational approach," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(4), pages 433-478, May.
    6. 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).
    7. Kimberly A. Eddleston & James J. Chrisman & Lloyd P. Steier & Jess H. Chua, 2010. "Governance and Trust in Family Firms: An Introduction," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(6), pages 1043-1056, November.
    8. Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Openness to knowledge: does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between familiness and absorptive capacity?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1449-1482, April.
    9. 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).
    10. Azizi, Mohammad & Salmani Bidgoli, Masoud & Maley, Jane F. & Dabić, Marina, 2022. "A stewardship perspective in family firms: A new perspective for altruism and social capital," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 764-775.
    11. Barros, Ismael & Hernangómez, Juan & Martin-Cruz, Natalia, 2016. "A theoretical model of strategic management of family firms. A dynamic capabilities approach," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 149-159.
    12. Block, Joern & Ulrich, Lennart, 2023. "Are family owners and managers good stewards in global crises? Evidence from stock market reactions to Covid-19," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    13. Madden, Laura & McMillan, Amy & Harris, Oneil, 2020. "Drivers of selectivity in family firms: Understanding the impact of age and ownership on CSR," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(2).
    14. Felipe Hernández-Perlines & Juan Moreno-García & Benito Yáñez-Araque, 2019. "The influence of socioemotional wealth in the entrepreneurial orientation of family businesses," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 523-544, June.
    15. 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.
    16. Zellweger, Thomas M. & Eddleston, Kimberly A. & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2010. "Exploring the concept of familiness: Introducing family firm identity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 54-63, March.
    17. Wright, Mike & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2011. "Family firms: A research agenda and publication guide," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 187-198.
    18. Alain Verbeke & Liena Kano, 2012. "The Transaction Cost Economics Theory of the Family Firm: Family–Based Human Asset Specificity and the Bifurcation Bias," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(6), pages 1183-1205, November.
    19. Arz, Christopher, 2019. "Bridging the micro-macro gap: A multi-layer culture framework for understanding entrepreneurial orientation in family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 1-1.
    20. Daspit, Joshua J. & Long, Rebecca G. & Pearson, Allison W., 2019. "How familiness affects innovation outcomes via absorptive capacity: A dynamic capability perspective of the family firm," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 133-143.

    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:jbrese:v:143:y:2022:i:c:p:318-330. 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/locate/jbusres .

    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.