Abstract
Even if the domain of business longevity has been enriched by the multidisciplinary nature of approaches used to investigate the phenomenon, the lack of a unifying perspective has impeded systematic research and caused definitional ambiguity. The main aim of this special issue is to extend existing knowledge on business longevity by integrating theoretical and empirical studies that adopt different approaches and perspectives. This is essential in order to identify the key factors of long-term success and the effects of longevity on firm performance. The multifaceted nature of business longevity research is mirrored in the five articles included in this special issue, that offer different and interesting perspectives for the investigation of the domain.
Notes
2. For example CitationChandler, Scale and Scope, 594; CitationCassis, Big Business, 103; CitationColli, Iverson, and de Jong, “Mapping Strategy,” 4; CitationFridenson, “Business Failure,” 565.
4. Hogarth et al., Longevity, 1–2.
7. Fridenson, “Business Failure,” 563.
12. Cassis, Big Business, 104.
17. Stadler, Enduring Success, 3–5.
18. Hannah, “Marshall's ‘Trees’,” 261, 274; Stadler, Enduring Success, 5.
19. Hannah, “Marshall's ‘Trees;,” 261.
20. Napolitano, Marion, Riviezzo, and Garofano “Moving Forward,” 16–18.
21. de Geus, The Living Company, 1.
23. Cassis, Big Business, 103.
25. Four books are especially fruitful from this respect, all also targeted at a general audience, namely: Stadler, Enduring Success; Collin and Porras, Built to Last; Miller and Breton-Miller, Managing, passim; and de Geus, The Living Company.
26. Wernerfelt, “A Resource-based View,” 171–180; CitationBarney, “Firm Resources,” 99–120; CitationConner, “A Historical Comparison,” 121–154; CitationPenrose, The Theory, passim; Locket and Wild, “Bringing History,” 372–390.
33. de Geus, The Living Company, 7, 176.
39. For example: CitationTenold, Iverson, and LongeGlobal Shipping, passim; CitationJärvinen, Lamberg, Murmann, and Ojala, “Alternative Paths,” 545–0574; CitationLamberg, Ojala, Peltoniemi, and SärkäThe Evolution passim; CitationLamberg, Näsi, Ojala, Sajasalo, Evolution of Competitive, passim.
42. CitationAgarwal and Gort, “The Evolution,” 489–498; CitationBaldwin and Gorecki, “Firm Entry,” 300–323; CitationKlepper and Miller, “Entry,” 567–591; CitationKlepper, “Industry Life Cycles,” 145–181; CitationBaptista and Karaöz, “Turbulence,” 249–270.
43. See however Ojala et al, “The Evolution,” 349–352.
46. Owens, “Inheritance,” 41; CitationStamm and Lubinski, “Crossroads,” 117–127; CitationCasson “The Economics,” 10–23; CitationRose, “Beyond Buddenbrooks,” 127–143 – Overview on recent business history research on family firms in Colli et al., “Long-Term,” 841–854.
49. Stamm and Lubinski, “Crossroads,” 117–127; Rose, “Beyond Buddenbrooks,” 128–129.
51. CitationCorbetta and Salvato, “Self-serving,” 355–362; Miller and Breton-Miller, Managing, passim; CitationNordqvist, “Familiness,” 285–292; CitationGómez-Mejía, Takács Haynes, Núnez-Nickel, Jacobson, and Moyano-Fuentes, “Socioemotional,” 106–137; CitationColli, The History, passim.
52. Colli et al. “Long-Term,” 844.
54. Chandler, Scale and Scope, passim; Owens, “Inheritance,” 21–22; Colli et al., “Long-term,” 842–843; CitationOjala, Lamberg, and Melander, “Competitive Behaviour,” 118–120; CitationNicholas, “Clogs to Clogs,” 688–713.
57. Business historical analysis in: Ojala et al., “Competitive Behaviour,” 118–137; see also Le Breton-Miller, Le, and Miller “Why Do Some,” 731–746; CitationEddleston, Chrisman, Steier, and Chua, “Governance and Trust,” 1043–1056; CitationLumpkin and Brigham, “Long-term,” 1149–1169.
59. March, “Exploration and Exploitation,” 71–87; O'Reilly and Tushman, “Ambidexterity,” 185–206.
62. Fridenson, “Business Failure,” 562–582.
63. CitationKieser, “Why Organisation Theory,” 608–620; CitationRowlinson, “Business History,” 1–23; CitationÜsdiken and Kieser, “Introduction,” 321–330; CitationClark and Rowlinson, “The Treatment,” 331–352; CitationKipping and Üsdiken, “Business History,” 96–119.
64. Teece et al., “Dynamic,” 509–533.
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Notes on contributors
Maria Rosaria Napolitano
Maria Rosaria Napolitano is Full Professor of Marketing and Strategy at the Department of Law, Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods of University of Sannio, Italy. Her research interests cover several areas of strategic management and marketing, including M&A, entrepreneurship and territorial marketing.
Vittoria Marino
Vittoria Marino is Associate Professor of International Marketing at the Department of Management and Information Technology of University of Salerno, Italy. Her research interests focus on international marketing strategies and country brand management, business longevity and women entrepreneurship.
Jari Ojala
Jari Ojala is Professor of Comparative Business History at the Department of History and Ethnology of University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. He is specialized in economic, maritime and business history.