Defining Family Business: A Closer Look at Definitional Heterogeneity

Vanessa Diaz-Moriana (), Teresa Hogan (), Eric Clinton () and Martina Brophy ()
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Vanessa Diaz-Moriana: University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)
Teresa Hogan: Dublin City University
Eric Clinton: Dublin City University
Martina Brophy: Dublin City University

Chapter 13 in The Palgrave Handbook of Heterogeneity among Family Firms, 2019, pp 333-374 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Researchers have used a myriad of different definitions in seeking to explain the heterogeneity of family firms and their unique behavior; however, no widely accepted definition exists today. Definitional clarity in any field is essential to provide (1) the basis for the analysis of performance both spatially and temporally and (2) the foundation upon which theories, frameworks, and models are developed. We provide a comprehensive analysis of prior research and identify and classify 82 definitions of family business. We then review and evaluate five key theoretical perspectives in family business to identify how these have shaped and informed the definitions employed in the field and duly explain family firm heterogeneity. Finally, we provide a conceptual diagram to inform the choice of definition in different research settings.

Keywords: Definition; Family firms; Heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-77676-7_13

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77676-7_13

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