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Family firm human resource practices: Investigating the effects of professionalization and bifurcation bias on performance

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  • Madison, Kristen
  • Daspit, Joshua J.
  • Turner, Kyle
  • Kellermanns, Franz W.

Abstract

Although human resource (HR) professionalization can increase family firm performance through the reduction of moral hazard and adverse selection agency problems, it may introduce a unique agency problem into the family firm: the perception of organizational injustice. As such, our research suggests that the success of HR professionalization is contingent upon how family and nonfamily employees are treated within the firm. Specifically, when bifurcation bias—the asymmetric treatment of family and nonfamily employees—exists, the financial benefits of HR professionalization diminish due to a perceived inequity of treatment within the family firm. Primary survey data collected from CEOs of 123 family firms support the positive relationship between HR professionalization and financial performance. Results further demonstrate that bifurcated monitoring of family and nonfamily employees restricts the professionalization-performance relationship, while equal monitoring strengthens the relationship. The findings illuminate HR professionalization and bifurcation bias as unique sources of heterogeneity in family firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Madison, Kristen & Daspit, Joshua J. & Turner, Kyle & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2018. "Family firm human resource practices: Investigating the effects of professionalization and bifurcation bias on performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 327-336.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:84:y:2018:i:c:p:327-336
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.06.021
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    9. Jelle Schepers & Wim Voordeckers & Tensie Steijvers & Eddy Laveren, 2021. "Entrepreneurial intention-action gap in family firms: bifurcation bias and the board of directors as an economizing mechanism," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(3), pages 451-475, September.
    10. Azouz, Ali & Antheaume, Nicolas & Charles-Pauvers, Brigitte, 2021. "An Ethnography of Fairness Perceptions among Non-Family Employees: Does Religion Matter?," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(3).
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    13. Phillips, Duygu & Madison, Kristen & Wolf, Sandra & Hack, Andreas & Kellermanns, Franz W., 2024. "Signaling the family firm brand in recruitment materials: The role of category-based cognitive processing on applicant attraction," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    14. Fabel, Oliver & Mináriková, Dana & Hopp, Christian, 2022. "Differences and similarities in executive hiring decisions of family and non-family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    15. Migliori, Stefania & De Massis, Alfredo & Maturo, Fabrizio & Paolone, Francesco, 2020. "How does family management affect innovation investment propensity? The key role of innovation impulses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 243-256.
    16. Cao, Feng & Li, Sifei & Dai, Ming & Li, Jing, 2023. "Your heart is where your treasure is: Family chairman and tax avoidance in family-controlled firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    17. Rondi, Emanuela & Überbacher, Ruth & von Schlenk-Barnsdorf, Leopold & De Massis, Alfredo & Hülsbeck, Marcel, 2022. "One for all, all for one: A mutual gains perspective on HRM and innovation management practices in family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    18. James J. Chrisman, 2019. "Stewardship Theory: Realism, Relevance, and Family Firm Governance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(6), pages 1051-1066, November.
    19. Ginesti, Gianluca & Ossorio, Mario & Dawson, Alexandra, 2023. "Family businesses and debt maturity structure: Focusing on family involvement in governance to explain heterogeneity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    20. Nareuporn (Bell) Piyasinchai & Trin Thananusak & Mat Hughes, 2024. "Effects of Family Ownership and Professionalization on Firms’ Financial Performance and Sustainability Reputation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(3), pages 856-880, May.
    21. Du, Shanzhong & Ma, Lianfu & Li, Zhuo, 2022. "Non-family shareholder governance and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from Chinese family-controlled businesses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 156-170.
    22. 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.
    23. James J. Chrisman & Kristen Madison & Taewoo Kim, 2021. "A Dynamic Framework of Noneconomic Goals and Inter-Family Agency Complexities in Multi-Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 906-930, July.
    24. Barrédy, Céline, 2023. "The paradox between monitoring and entrenchment in a two-tier family business: The contribution of the external commitment theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    25. Anna Maria Bornhausen & Torsten Wulf, 2024. "Digital innovation in family firms: The roles of non-family managers and transgenerational control intentions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1429-1448, April.

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