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The Effect of Transgenerational Control Intention on Family-Firm Performance: It Depends Who Pursues It

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  • Christian Hoffmann
  • Peter Jaskiewicz
  • Torsten Wulf
  • James G. Combs

Abstract

Transgenerational control intention (TCI) is a pivotal characteristic of many family firms. Yet, it remains unclear whether TCI benefits family-firm performance by instilling a long-term view, or hurts performance by fueling harmful socioemotional wealth (SEW) goals. We posit that it depends who pursues it. When faced with TCI, family managers are known to suffer from cognitive biases that, we submit, do not similarly apply to nonfamily managers. Thus, only family managers harm performance when pursuing TCI. An empirical investigation of 107 private German family firms supports our theory; the effect of TCI on firm performance depends on who pursues it.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:43:y:2019:i:3:p:629-646
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258717730025
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    2. 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.
    3. Yannick Bammens & Paul Hünermund & Petra Andries, 2022. "Pursuing Gains or Avoiding Losses: The Contingent Effect of Transgenerational Intentions on Innovation Investments," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(6), pages 1493-1530, September.
    4. Chang, Erick P.C. & Zare, Sina & Ramadani, Veland, 2022. "How a larger family business is different from a non-family one?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 292-302.
    5. 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.
    6. 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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