IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/ecoind/v43y2022i4p1867-1890.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of socio-economic embeddedness in promoting cooperation in the workplace: Evidence from family-owned Italian firms

Author

Listed:
  • John Geary

    (University College Dublin, Ireland)

  • Andrea Signoretti

    (University of Trento, Italy)

Abstract

Workplace relations can be defined as cooperative when actors are satisfied that both their work organization and material concerns are met. However, cooperation is difficult to achieve and especially to maintain over time. A useful point of reference is the work of Bélanger and Edwards, who argue that technology, product markets and institutional regulations are necessary preconditions. Their model is derived mainly from studies of large, publicly-listed enterprises based in particular institutional (Anglo-American) contexts. In the present article the authors examine the case of family-owned, medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Northeast Italy. Bélanger and Edwards’ model provides some but limited theoretical purchase in explaining the high level of ongoing cooperation witnessed in the case firms. In addition, the firms’ concentrated, financially patient capital and family-ownership together with their local embeddedness increase their commitment to their community and facilitate collaboration and investments in it. The authors term these features firms’ socio-economic embeddedness.

Suggested Citation

  • John Geary & Andrea Signoretti, 2022. "The role of socio-economic embeddedness in promoting cooperation in the workplace: Evidence from family-owned Italian firms," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(4), pages 1867-1890, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:43:y:2022:i:4:p:1867-1890
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X211039012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0143831X211039012
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0143831X211039012?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guglielmo Meardi, 2018. "Economic Integration and State Responses: Change in European Industrial Relations since Maastricht," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(3), pages 631-655, September.
    2. Isabelle Le Breton-Miller & Danny Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2011. "Stewardship or Agency? A Social Embeddedness Reconciliation of Conduct and Performance in Public Family Businesses," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 704-721, June.
    3. Michael Brookes & Geoffrey Wood & Chris Brewster, 2019. "The Antecedents of Comparative Differences in Union Presence and Engagement: Evidence from Coordinated and Liberal Market Contexts," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(4), pages 389-401, October.
    4. David G. Sirmon & Michael A. Hitt, 2003. "Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management, and Wealth Creation in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 27(4), pages 339-358, October.
    5. Martin Behrens & Markus Helfen, 2016. "The Foundations of Social Partnership," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(2), pages 334-357, June.
    6. Julie Dekker & Tim Hasso, 2016. "Environmental Performance Focus in Private Family Firms: The Role of Social Embeddedness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 293-309, June.
    7. Marco Hauptmeier, 2012. "Institutions Are What Actors Make of Them — The Changing Construction of Firm-Level Employment Relations in Spain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 50(4), pages 737-759, December.
    8. Paul Edwards & Jacques Bélanger & Martyn Wright, 2006. "The Bases of Compromise in the Workplace: A Theoretical Framework," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 44(1), pages 125-145, March.
    9. Crouch, Colin & Le Gales, Patrick & Trigilia, Carlo & Voelzkow, Helmut, 2004. "Changing Governance of Local Economies: Responses of European Local Production Systems," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199259403.
    10. Andrea Signoretti, 2019. "Explaining variation in the social performance of lean production: a comparative case study of the role played by workplace unions' framing of the system and institutions," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 126-149, March.
    11. Angelo Pichierri, 2002. "Concertation and local development," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 689-706, December.
    12. Jacques Bélanger & Paul Edwards, 2007. "The Conditions Promoting Compromise in the Workplace," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(4), pages 713-734, December.
    13. Silvia Sacchetti & Roger Sugden, 2003. "The Governance of Networks and Economic Power: The Nature and Impact of Subcontracting Relationships," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(5), pages 669-692, December.
    14. David E. Guest & Riccardo Peccei, 2001. "Partnership at Work: Mutuality and the Balance of Advantage," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 39(2), pages 207-236, June.
    15. Paul S. Adler, 2012. "PERSPECTIVE—The Sociological Ambivalence of Bureaucracy: From Weber via Gouldner to Marx," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 244-266, February.
    16. John Geary & Aurora Trif, 2011. "Workplace Partnership and the Balance of Advantage: A Critical Case Analysis," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 49(Supplemen), pages 44-69, June.
    17. Michael A. Witt & Gregory Jackson, 2016. "Varieties of Capitalism and institutional comparative advantage: A test and reinterpretation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(7), pages 778-806, September.
    18. Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Joel & Brooks, Dan & Mulloy, Martin, 2015. "Inside the Ford-UAW Transformation: Pivotal Events in Valuing Work and Delivering Results," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262029162, December.
    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. Catherine Casey & Helen Delaney, 2022. "The effort of partnership: Capacity development and moral capital in partnership for mutual gains," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(1), pages 52-71, February.
    2. Ryan Lorraine & Wallace Joseph, 2019. "Mutual Gains Success and Failure: Two Case Studies of Annual Hours in Ireland," The Irish Journal of Management, Sciendo, vol. 38(1), pages 26-37, December.
    3. Lee, Soo-Hoon & Phan, Phillip H. & Ding, Hung-bin, 2016. "A theory of family employee involvement during resource paucity," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 160-166.
    4. Mariarosaria Agostino & Sabrina Ruberto, 2024. "Credit rationing and SMEs’ environmental performance in transition and developing countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16627-16656, July.
    5. Lorenzo Dal Maso & Rodrigo Basco & Thomas Bassetti & Nicola Lattanzi, 2020. "Family ownership and environmental performance: The mediation effect of human resource practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1548-1562, March.
    6. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Pfeiffer, Sabine & Evers, Maren & Gerber, Christine, 2022. "Measuring work and workers: Wearables and digital assistance systems in manufacturing and logistics," Discussion Papers, Research Group Globalization, Work, and Production SP III 2022-301, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    7. Forrest Jeffrey Yi-Lin & Kara Orhan & Augustin Lua A. & Uzuner Gizem & Liu Jun, 2024. "How Organizational Inefficiency Adversely Affects Number-of-Employee Based Production Outputs," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 34(4), pages 34-57.
    8. Anthony Dobbins & Patrick Gunnigle, 2009. "Can Voluntary Workplace Partnership Deliver Sustainable Mutual Gains?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(3), pages 546-570, September.
    9. Marco Cucculelli & Valentina Peruzzi & Alberto Zazzaro, 2019. "Relational capital in lending relationships: evidence from European family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 277-301, January.
    10. Dou, Junsheng & Jacoby, Gady & Li, Jialong & Su, Youyi & Wu, Zhenyu, 2019. "Family involvement and family firm internationalization: The moderating effects of board experience and geographical distance," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 250-261.
    11. Duréndez, Antonio & Madrid-Guijarro, Antonia, 2018. "The impact of family influence on financial reporting quality in small and medium family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 205-218.
    12. A. Ashwin & Rishikesha Krishnan & Rejie George, 2015. "Family firms in India: family involvement, innovation and agency and stewardship behaviors," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 869-900, December.
    13. Chen, Ming-Yuan, 2014. "Determinants of corporate board structure in Taiwan," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 62-78.
    14. Isabelle Le Breton–Miller & Danny Miller, 2015. "The Arts and Family Business: Linking Family Business Resources and Performance to Industry Characteristics," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(6), pages 1349-1370, November.
    15. Beatriz Forés & José María Fernández-Yáñez & Alba Puig-Denia & Montserrat Boronat-Navarro, 2022. "Unveiling the Direct Effects of Family Firm Heterogeneity on Environmental Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    16. Arrondo-García, Rubén & Fernández-Méndez, Carlos & Menéndez-Requejo, Susana, 2016. "The growth and performance of family businesses during the global financial crisis: The role of the generation in control," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 227-237.
    17. César Camisón-Zornoza & Beatriz Forés-Julián & Alba Puig-Denia & Sergio Camisón-Haba, 0. "Effects of ownership structure and corporate and family governance on dynamic capabilities in family firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-34.
    18. Tang, Junhua & Osmer, Eric & Zheng, Yao, 2022. "Do married couples make better family firm leaders: Evidence from China," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    19. Fourné, Sebastian P.L. & Zschoche, Miriam & Schwens, Christian & Kotha, Reddi, 2023. "Multinational family firms’ internationalization depth and breadth following the global financial crisis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    20. Senthil Kumar Muthusamy & Ramadevi Kannan, 2023. "Profits crisis: evolving patterns of firm size and performance in traditional U.S. industries," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 575-603, September.

    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:sae:ecoind:v:43:y:2022:i:4:p:1867-1890. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.ekhist.uu.se/english.htm .

    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.