Toward a Theory of Familiness: A Social Capital Perspective

• Published in: Entrepreneurship theory and practice Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 949 - 969
• Main Authors: Pearson, Allison W., Carr, Jon C., Shaw, John C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01-11-2008; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Analysis; Business; Business management; Business metrics; Business practices; Economic aspects; Entrepreneurship; Family corporations; Family firms; Family owned businesses; Family-owned business enterprises; Management; Organization theory; Organizational effectiveness; Organizational structure; Social capital; Social capital (Sociology); Studies; United States
• ISSN: 1042-2587; 1540-6520
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6520.2008.00265.x

In the search for ways in which the family firm context is unique to organizational science, the construct of “familiness” has been identified and defined as resources and capabilities that are unique to the family's involvement and interactions in the business. While identification and isolation of a construct unique to family firms is both groundbreaking and important for family firm research, it is also important that the development of the construct continues to be examined from complementing theoretical viewpoints. As such, we set out to review the development of the familiness construct and identify its dimensions. We also explore the nomological relationships of the construct based on a social capital theory perspective and offer a theory of familiness.