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Boers, B., Billström, A. & Brozovic, D. (2024). Entrepreneurial resilience (ER) and family business: a perspective article. Journal of Family Business Management
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Entrepreneurial resilience (ER) and family business: a perspective article
2024 (English)In: Journal of Family Business Management, ISSN 2043-6238, E-ISSN 2043-6246Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose: This paper highlights the need for future studies researching the subject of resilience in family firms on different levels. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviews the literature on resilience in family businesses. Findings: Resilience has become more important due to the recent multiple crises, starting with the coronavirus pandemic, followed by high inflation and energy prices, partly resulting from the war in Ukraine. These multiple crises affect the family and the business level. Future research must account for multiple levels when addressing it, i.e. the individual, the team, the family, and the business level. Resilience has to encompass all levels to sustain family business continuity. Originality/value: By giving an overview of the concept of resilience, taking the family's perspective, and suggesting future avenues of research, the paper contributes to the development of family business research. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2024
Keywords
Business level, Crisis, Entrepreneurial resilience (ER), Family business, Family business continuity, Family level
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship; Industrial Management and Sustainability; Knowledge and Innovation Management (KIM)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-23546 (URN)10.1108/JFBM-10-2023-0228 (DOI)001137906100001 ()2-s2.0-85181758498 (Scopus ID)
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20220044
Note

CC BY 4.0 

© 2023, Börje Boers, Anders Billström and Danilo Brozović.

Article publication date: 10 January 2024

Correspondence Address: B. Boers; School of Business, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden; email: borje.boers@his.se

The authors acknowledge funding from The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research and Charity no. 20220044.

Available from: 2024-01-18 Created: 2024-01-18 Last updated: 2024-01-24Bibliographically approved
Ljungkvist, T. & Boers, B. (2023). A theory of venture capital family business: a governance trajectory. Journal of Family Business Management, 13(2), 503-522
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A theory of venture capital family business: a governance trajectory
2023 (English)In: Journal of Family Business Management, ISSN 2043-6238, E-ISSN 2043-6246, Vol. 13, no 2, p. 503-522Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to understand venture capital family businesses (VCFBs) governance of portfolio companies through the deal process.

Design/methodology/approach – This study applies a theory-developing approach. A model of VCFB governance is developed whose key aspects are illuminated by four examples (cases) of VCFBs.

Findings – Recent research suggests that a venture capital firm’s corporate deal processes can be divided intothe pre-deal, deal and post-deal phases. Based on the age, size and succession dimensions, propositions for how a governance trajectory develops for VCFBs, affecting the deal process of target family firms (TFFs), are presented. These propositions highlight how the family owners’ actions and behavior are related to VCFB governance, which in turn, influences the three phases involved in making an investment.

Originality/value – The propositions suggest how personal and administrative VCFBs’ governance of the deal process of portfolio companies is significantly affected by centrifugal and centripetal forces that drive the respective types of governance where third-generation family owners appear as changers of governance approach.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2023
Keywords
venture capital, family business, family generation, governance, deal process, portfolio company
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-20794 (URN)10.1108/JFBM-08-2021-0096 (DOI)000730708600001 ()2-s2.0-85121312549 (Scopus ID)
Note

CC BY 4.0

Article publication date: 14 December 2021

Torbjörn Ljungkvist is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: torbjorn.ljungkvist@his.se

Available from: 2021-12-17 Created: 2021-12-17 Last updated: 2023-06-02Bibliographically approved
Boers, B., Ljungkvist, T. & Brunninge, O. (2023). Ceasing to communicate public family firm identity: the decoupling of internally experienced and externally communicated identities. Journal of Family Business Management
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Ceasing to communicate public family firm identity: the decoupling of internally experienced and externally communicated identities
2023 (English)In: Journal of Family Business Management, ISSN 2043-6238, E-ISSN 2043-6246Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how the family firm identity is affected when it is no longer publicly communicated. Design/methodology/approach: A case study approach was used to follow a third-generation family business, a large Swedish home electronics firm that acquired a competitor and, initially, continued using its family firm identity after the acquisition. This study longitudinally tracks the company and its owning family using archival data combined with interviews. Findings: The case company decided to stop communicating their identity as a family business. Such a move initially appears counterintuitive, since it potentially threatens the family firm identity and leads the firm to forgo other advantages, e.g. in branding. However, the decision was based on arguments that were rational from a business perspective, leading to a decoupling of family and firm identity. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by showing a decoupling of internally experienced and externally communicated identities. It further contributes to the understanding of the family firm identity concept.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Publishing, 2023
Keywords
Case study, Decoupling, Family business, Family firm identity, Rebranding, Sweden
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-22656 (URN)10.1108/JFBM-01-2023-0003 (DOI)000994457100001 ()2-s2.0-85160336097 (Scopus ID)
Note

CC BY 4.0

© 2023, Börje Boers, Torbjörn Ljungkvist and Olof Brunninge.

Article publication date: 26 May 2023

Corresponding author Börje Boers can be contacted at: borje.boers@his.se

Available from: 2023-06-08 Created: 2023-06-08 Last updated: 2023-07-14Bibliographically approved
Boers, B. & Henschel, T. (2023). Communities of Practice in der Wissensweitergabe: Die Rolle in familiengeführten KMUs –Eine empirische Analyse. Zeitschrift für Corporate Governance (6), 245-251, Article ID 3.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Communities of Practice in der Wissensweitergabe: Die Rolle in familiengeführten KMUs –Eine empirische Analyse
2023 (German)In: Zeitschrift für Corporate Governance, E-ISSN 1868-7792, no 6, p. 245-251, article id 3Article in journal (Other academic) Published
Abstract [de]

Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich der Analyse der entscheidenden Rolle von Communities of Practice (CoPs) als Instrumente desWissensaustauschs in familiengeführten Klein- und Mittelunternehmen (KMUs), insbesondere wenn sowohl Familienmitglieder als auch externe Fachkräfte gemeinsam an diesen Communities teilnehmen. Durch die Anwendung einer umfassenden Multi-Fall-studie über einen Zeitraum von acht Jahren wurden sechs kleine Unternehmen aus unterschiedlichen Branchen und verschiedenen Ländern einer Untersuchung unterzogen.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Erich Schmidt Verlag, 2023
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-23554 (URN)10.37307/j.1868-7792.2023.06.03 (DOI)
Available from: 2024-01-25 Created: 2024-01-25 Last updated: 2024-02-06Bibliographically approved
Ljungkvist, T., Evansluong, Q. & Boers, B. (2023). Family influences on entrepreneurial orientation in immigrant entrepreneurship. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 29(11), 241-267
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Family influences on entrepreneurial orientation in immigrant entrepreneurship
2023 (English)In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, ISSN 1355-2554, E-ISSN 1758-6534, Vol. 29, no 11, p. 241-267Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose: This study explores how the family influences the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) process in immigrant businesses. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on inductive multiple-case studies using 34 in-depth interviews. This paper relies on three cases of immigrant entrepreneurs originating from Mexico and Colombia that established firms in Sweden. Findings: The results suggest that EO development trajectories vary in the presence of family roles (i.e. inspirers, backers and partners), resulting in the immigrant family business configurations of family-role-influenced proactiveness, risk-taking and innovation. Originality/value: The immigrant family configurations drive three EO-enabling scenarios: (1) home-country framing, (2) family backing and (3) transnational translating. Immigrant family dynamics facilitate the development of EO over time through reciprocal interaction processes across contexts. This study indicates that, through family dynamics, EO develops as mutually interactive processes between the immigrant entrepreneur's family in the home and host countries. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Publishing, 2023
Keywords
Entrepreneurial orientation, Immigrants, Start-ups
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-23057 (URN)10.1108/IJEBR-07-2022-0602 (DOI)001031256600001 ()2-s2.0-85165190115 (Scopus ID)
Note

CC BY 4.0

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License

© 2023, Torbjörn Ljungkvist, Quang Evansluong and Börje Boers.

Available from: 2023-07-31 Created: 2023-07-31 Last updated: 2023-12-19Bibliographically approved
Boers, B. & Andersson, T. (2023). Family members as hybrid owner-managers in family-owned newspaper companies: handling multiple institutional logics. Journal of Family Business Management, 13(2), 523-543
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Family members as hybrid owner-managers in family-owned newspaper companies: handling multiple institutional logics
2023 (English)In: Journal of Family Business Management, ISSN 2043-6238, E-ISSN 2043-6246, Vol. 13, no 2, p. 523-543Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose

This article aims to increase the understanding of the role of individual actors and arenas in dealing with multiple institutional logics in family firms.Design/methodology/approachThis study follows a case-study approach of two family-owned newspaper companies. Based on interviews and secondary sources, the empirical material was analysed focussing on three institutional logics, that is, family logic, management logic and journalistic logic.

Findings

First, the authors show how and in which arenas competing logics are balanced in family-owned newspaper companies. Second, the authors highlight that family owners are central actors in the process of balancing different institutional logics. Further, they analyse how family members can become hybrid owner-managers, meaning that they have access to all institutional logics and become central actors in the balancing process.

Originality/value

The authors reveal how multiple institutional logics are balanced in family firms by including formal actors and arenas as additional lenses. Therefore, owning family members, especially hybrid owner-managers, are the best-suited individual actors to balance competing logics. Hybrid owner-managers are members of the owner families who are also skilled in one or several professions.  

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2023
Keywords
Institutional logics, Family firms, Hybrid owner manager, Formal arenas, Journalistic logic
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship; Followership and Organizational Resilience
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-20803 (URN)10.1108/JFBM-06-2021-0065 (DOI)000731612300001 ()2-s2.0-85121456767 (Scopus ID)
Note

CC BY 4.0

Börje Boers is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: borje.boers@his.se

Article publication date: 21 December 

Available from: 2021-12-20 Created: 2021-12-20 Last updated: 2023-06-02Bibliographically approved
Rossignoli, F., Lionzo, A., Henschel, T. & Boers, B. (2023). Knowledge sharing in family SMEs: the role of communities of practice. Journal of Family Business Management
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Knowledge sharing in family SMEs: the role of communities of practice
2023 (English)In: Journal of Family Business Management, ISSN 2043-6238, E-ISSN 2043-6246Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyse the role of communities of practice (CoP) as knowledge-sharing tools in family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this context, CoPs that jointly involve family and non-family members are expected to act as knowledge-sharing tools. Design/methodology/approach: This paper employs a multiple case study methodology, analysing the cases of six small companies in different sectors and countries over a period of 8 years. Both primary and secondary data are used. Findings: The results show the role CoPs play in involving family and non-family members in empowering knowledge-sharing initiatives. A CoP's role in knowledge sharing depends on the presence (or lack) of a family leader, the leadership approach, the degree of cohesion around shared approaches and values within the CoP, and the presence of multiple generations at work. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the literature on knowledge sharing in family businesses, by exploring for the first time the role of the CoP as a knowledge-sharing tool, depending on families' involvement in the CoP. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2023
Keywords
Community of practice, Family firms, Germany, Italy, Knowledge sharing, Scotland, SMEs, Sweden
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-23107 (URN)10.1108/JFBM-03-2023-0038 (DOI)001044604700001 ()2-s2.0-85167341852 (Scopus ID)
Note

CC BY 4.0

© 2023, Francesca Rossignoli, Andrea Lionzo, Thomas Henschel and Börje Boers.

Article publication date: 10 August 2023

Correspondence Address: B. Boers; School of Business, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden; email: borje.boers@his.se

Available from: 2023-08-17 Created: 2023-08-17 Last updated: 2023-12-19Bibliographically approved
Boers, B. (2023). (Social) innovation as a way out of a crisis?: How small family firms become innovative. In: Sascha Kraus; Thomas Clauss; Andreas Kallmuenzer (Ed.), Research Handbook on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Family Firms: (pp. 279-297). Edward Elgar Publishing
Open this publication in new window or tab >>(Social) innovation as a way out of a crisis?: How small family firms become innovative
2023 (English)In: Research Handbook on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Family Firms / [ed] Sascha Kraus; Thomas Clauss; Andreas Kallmuenzer, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023, p. 279-297Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this chapter is to understand social innovation in small family firms in Sweden. The study draws on three Swedish small family firms, exemplifying different types of innovation in these firms. Examples range from incremental innovations to social innovations, illustrating the diversity of innovation in small family firms. These innovations are conceptualized as a continuum of innovations, which is depending on the degree of involvement of owner-managers on the one hand and the degree of involvement of employees on the other hand.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023
Series
Research Handbooks in Business and Management series
Keywords
Co-workership, Social innovation, Crisis innovation, Innovation continuum, Small family firms, Sweden
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-22494 (URN)10.4337/9781800889248.00020 (DOI)2-s2.0-85161327183 (Scopus ID)978-1-80088-923-1 (ISBN)978-1-80088-924-8 (ISBN)
Available from: 2023-05-05 Created: 2023-05-05 Last updated: 2023-07-14Bibliographically approved
Brozovic, D., Jansson, C. & Boers, B. (2023). Strategic flexibility and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises: a study of enablers and barriers. Management Decision
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Strategic flexibility and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises: a study of enablers and barriers
2023 (English)In: Management Decision, ISSN 0025-1747, E-ISSN 1758-6070Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose: This article investigates how strategic flexibility (SF) is achieved in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), exploring whether SF contributes to firm growth and the associated enablers and barriers of SF.

Design/methodology/approach: To offer a more nuanced view of SF in SMEs, a qualitative approach is applied. Researchers conducted and analyzed 91 interviews with owners and chief executive officers (CEOs) of SMEs exhibiting high growth and explored whether SF contributes to firm growth and the associated enablers and barriers of SF.

Findings: The results show a connection between SF and firm growth and confirm the importance of strategic orientation for SF in SMEs. Contrary to the existing literature, this study found a neutral impact of external networks and a positive impact of slack resources on SF. The lack of competent employees emerged as a considerable barrier to SF in SMEs.

Research limitations/implications: More research focusing on the relationship between SF and firm growth is suggested, as well as further research about the relevance of slack resources and external networks as enablers of SF in SMEs.

Practical implications: Motivating and developing valuable employee competence are the key managerial implications. Additionally, business consultants and business developers in the public sector must find ways to increase business consultants and business developers' relevance to SMEs.

Originality/value: This article explores SF in SMEs, a context of disagreement in previous literature, and finds that SF contributes to SME growth. A qualitative approach is used, enrichening a field dominated by quantitative methodological choices. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2023
Keywords
Firm growth, Small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, Strategic flexibility
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Knowledge and Innovation Management (KIM); Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-22327 (URN)10.1108/MD-05-2022-0577 (DOI)000940400300001 ()2-s2.0-85149283223 (Scopus ID)
Funder
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth
Note

CC BY 4.0

© 2023, Danilo Brozović, Christian Jansson and Börje Boers.

Article publication date: 28 February 2023

Danilo Brozovic is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: danilo.brozovic@his.se

This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Skaraborg Association of Local Authorities (Skaraborgs Kommunalförbund), Savings Bank Foundation Skaraborg (Sparbankstiftelsen Skaraborg) and Savings Bank Foundation Lidköping (Sparbankstiftelsen Lidköping). The authors wish to thank the funders for the generous donations which made this study possible.

Available from: 2023-03-16 Created: 2023-03-16 Last updated: 2023-05-03Bibliographically approved
Boers, B. & Henschel, T. (2022). Crisis Management: A Necessary Evil or Useful Tool?: The Role of Socioemotional Wealth in the Crisis Management of Family Firms. Management Revue, 33(4), 397-428
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Crisis Management: A Necessary Evil or Useful Tool?: The Role of Socioemotional Wealth in the Crisis Management of Family Firms
2022 (English)In: Management Revue, ISSN 0935-9915, E-ISSN 1861-9908, Vol. 33, no 4, p. 397-428Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this paper is to explore and understand how family firms manage a crisis by applying a processual perspective addressing the different phases of a crisis, including its origin, context and consequences. Drawing on a study of six family firms, we find that the leadership of the owning family signifies crisis management in family firms. Also, family firms rely on multiple crisis management practices and make use of their relationships and networks, which support crisis management at different stages. Socioemotional wealth can be both a trigger and a consequence of crisis management procedures. This study contributes to the literature by providing a more nuanced and developed crisis management model that accounts for the peculiarities of family firms. We argue that it is of the greatest importance to consider the consequences of a crisis whose origin stems from the owning family. In particular, such crises will trigger the owning family, as their socioemotional endowment would be at risk, which can free family resources for crisis management practices.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Nomos, 2022
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-22125 (URN)10.5771/0935-9915-2022-4-397 (DOI)000898120500001 ()
Available from: 2022-12-12 Created: 2022-12-12 Last updated: 2023-01-16Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-4776-0085

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