Researching Entrepreneurship in Family Firms

Abstract

This paper is the first in a JSBM special issue on entrepreneurship in family firms, i.e., the firm‐level entrepreneurial activities and attitudes that occur when a family is considerably involved in an established organization. We provide a systematic literature review of 109 articles written on this growing issue, based on a framework that highlights the antecedents, outcomes, and processes of entrepreneurship in family firms. We also offer a brief overview of the contributions of each of the papers in this issue and conclude by outlining a research agenda for future activities in this area of inquiry.

The work of Salvatore Sciascia was supported by the Spanish Commission for Science and Technology (Project ECO2016‐75379‐R; MINECO).

The work of Salvatore Sciascia was supported by the Spanish Commission for Science and Technology (Project ECO2016‐75379‐R; MINECO).

Notes

The work of Salvatore Sciascia was supported by the Spanish Commission for Science and Technology (Project ECO2016‐75379‐R; MINECO).

6. Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, British Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, International Small Business Journal, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Enterprising Culture, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Small Business Management, Management Science, Organization, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Organization Science, Research Policy, R&D Management, Small Business Economics, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Technovation.

7. The list of selected papers is available upon request.

8. Three papers did not include information about the sector studied.

9. In some cases, the papers analyzed used more than one conceptualization, and in a few cases, the conceptualization of entrepreneurship was not explicit.

Additional information

Funding

Spanish Commission for Science and Technology

Notes on contributors

Cristina Bettinelli

Cristina Bettinelli is assistant professor at the University of Bergamo‐Italy.

Salvatore Sciascia

Salvatore Sciascia is associate professor at IULM University‐Italy.

Kathleen Randerson

Kathleen Randerson is associate professor at the Audencia Business School‐France.

Alain Fayolle

Alain Fayolle is professor and director of the Entrepreneurship Research Centre at Emlyon Business School, France.