Succession and gender dynamics in family firms
A systematic literature review and future research agenda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14267/VEZTUD.2024.07-08.06Keywords:
family firm, family business, gender roles, succession, gender dynamics, succession planning, genderAbstract
The influences of gender relations and gender dynamics within family firm succession have been widely studied in recent decades. However, there have been few attempts to synthesise existing results in the field. Thus, this article aims to provide a systematic literature review focusing exclusively on the gendered issues related to family firm succession processes. A comprehensive analysis of 57 journal articles extracted from the Scopus database was conducted. As a result, (1) the topics of gendered influences on daughter’s succession in family firms, (2) gender and succession processes in family firms, and (3) gender and intra-family relationships in family firm succession are identified as the central areas. Based on these findings, a future research agenda is outlined. The paper contributes to the field of family firm research by highlighting the research trends in the gendered analysis of family firm succession, and by pointing out under-researched areas that merit further exploration.
Downloads
References
Adams, R.J., Smart, P., & Huff, A.S. (2017). Shades of Grey: Guidelines for Working with the Grey Literature in Systematic Reviews for Management and Organizational Studies. International Journal of Management Reviews, 19(4), 432–454. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12102
Ahrens, J.P., Landmann, A., & Woywode, M. (2015). Gender preferences in the CEO successions of family firms: Family characteristics and human capital of the successor. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 6(2), 86–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2015.02.002
Akhmedova, A., & Cavallotti, R. (2021). Position of daughters in family businesses: The role of motivation. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 43(2), 287–310. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2021.115362
Akhmedova, A., Cavallotti, R., Marimon, F., & Campopiano, G. (2020). Daughters’ careers in family business: Motivation types and family-specific barriers. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 11(3), 100307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2019.100307
Aldamiz-Echevarría, C., Idígoras, I., & Vicente-Molina, M.A. (2017). Gender issues related to choosing the successor in the family business. European Journal of Family Business, 7(1–2), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejfb.2017.10.002
Almlöf, H., & Sjögren, H. (2021). Owner-manager when death do us part – roles of a widow in sudden succession in family firms. Journal of Family Business Management, 13(2), 432-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-01-2021-0006
Anand, A., Muskat, B., Creed, A., Zutshi, A., & Csepregi, A. (2021). Knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer and SMEs: Evolution, antecedents, outcomes and directions. Personnel Review, 50(9), 1873-1893. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2020-0372
Aronoff, C.E. (1998). Megatrends in family business. Family Business Review, 11(3), 181–186. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1998.00181.x
Bağış, M., Kryeziu, L., Kurutkan, M.N., & Ramadani, V. (2022). Women entrepreneurship in family business: Dominant topics and future research trends. Journal of Family Business Management, 13(3), 687-713. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-03-2022-0040
Bosman, J., Mourik, I., Rasch, M., Sieverts, E., & Verhoeff, H. (2006). Scopus Reviewed and Compared: The coverage and Functionality of the Citation Database Scopus, Including Comparisons with Web of Science and Google Scholar. Utrecht University Library. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/18247
Byrne, J., Fattoum, S., & Thébaud, S. (2019). A suitable boy? Gendered roles and hierarchies in family business succession. European Management Review, 16(3), 579–596. https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12298
Byrne, J., Radu-Lefebvre, M., Fattoum, S., & Balachandra, L. (2021). Gender Gymnastics in CEO succession: Masculinities, Femininities and Legitimacy. Organization Studies, 42(1), 129–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840619879184
Cadieux, L., Lorrain, J., & Hugron, P. (2002). Succession in Women-Owned Family Businesses: A Case Study. Family Business Review, 15(1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.2002.00017.x
Campopiano, G., De Massis, A., Rinaldi, F.R., & Sciascia, S. (2017). Women’s involvement in family firms: Progress and challenges for future research. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 8(4), 200–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2017.09.001
Cater, J.J., & Young, M. (2022). Successfully preparing daughters as successors in family firms. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 27(3), 2250017. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1084946722500170
Centobelli, P., & Ndou, V. (2019). Managing customer knowledge through the use of big data analytics in tourism research. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(15), 1862-1882. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1564739
Cesaroni, F.M., Erro-Garcés, A., & Sentuti, A. (2021). Interplays between mother and entrepreneurial identities in the succession process: When mom is the founder and passes ‘the baton’. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 42(4), 451–471. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2021.114239
Chang, A.A., Mubarik, M.S., & Naghavi, N. (2020). Passing on the legacy: Exploring the dynamics of succession in family businesses in Pakistan. Journal of Family Business Management, 11(2), 161–184. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-10-2019-0065
Chen, S., Ying, S.X., Wu, H., & You, J. (2021). Carrying on the family’s legacy: Male heirs and firm innovation. Journal of Corporate Finance, 69, 101976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2021.101976
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Sharma, P. (1998). Important attributes of successors in family businesses: An exploratory study. Family Business Review, 11(1), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1998.00035.x
Cicellin, M., Mussolino, D., & Viganò, R. (2015). Gender diversity and father-daughter relationships: Understanding the role of paternalistic leadership in family firm succession. International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 10(1), 97–118. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBGE.2015.068693
Cosson, B., & Gilding, M. (2021). “Over My Dead Body”: Wives’ Influence in Family Business Succession. Family Business Review, 34(4), 385–403. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944865211051148
Curimbaba, F. (2002). The Dynamics of Women’s Roles as Family Business Managers. Family Business Review, 15(3), 239–252. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.2002.00239.x
Deng, X. (2015). Father-daughter succession in China: Facilitators and challenges. Journal of Family Business Management, 5(1), 38–54. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-05-2014-0011
Dumas, C. (1989). Understanding of Father-Daughter and Father-Son Dyads in Family-Owned Businesses. Family Business Review, 2(1), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1989.00031.x
Dumas, C.A. (1990). Preparing the New CEO: Managing the Father-Daughter Succession Process in Family Businesses. Family Business Review, 3(2), 169–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1990.00169.x
Feldmann, M., Lukes, M., & Uhlaner, L. (2022). Disentangling succession and entrepreneurship gender gaps: Gender norms, culture, and family. Small Business Economics, 58(2), 997–1013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-020-00430-z
Fernandes, E., & Mota-Ribeiro, S. (2017). “Respect” and “self-determination” women entrepreneurs’ identities and entrepreneurial discourses. Gender in Management, 32(1), 66–80. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-04-2016-0093
Ferrari, F. (2019). In the mother’s shadow: Exploring power dynamics in family business succession. Gender in Management, 34(2), 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-07-2017-0091
Galiano, A.M., & Vinturella, J.B. (1995). Implications of Gender Bias in the Family Business. Family Business Review, 8(3), 177–188. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1995.00177.x
Gherardi, S., & Perrotta, M. (2016). Daughters taking over the family business: Their justification work within a dual regime of engagement. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 8(1), 28–47. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-11-2014-0044
Gimenez-Jimenez, D., Edelman, L.F., Minola, T., Calabrò, A., & Cassia, L. (2021). An Intergeneration Solidarity Perspective on Succession Intentions in Family Firms. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 45(4), 740–766. https://doi.org/10.1177/1042258720956384
Halkias, D., Thurman, P.W., Harkiolakis, N., Katsioloudes, M., Stavrou, E.T., Swiercz, P.M., & Fragoudakis, M. (2010). Father-daughter succession issues in family business among regional economies of Asia. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2(3–4), 320–346. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEV.2010.037116
Harveston, P.D., Davis, P.S., & Lyden, J.A. (1997). Succession planning in family business: The impact of owner gender. Family Business Review, 10(4), 373–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1997.00373.x
Hiebl, M.R.W. (2023). Sample Selection in Systematic Literature Reviews of Management Research. Organizational Research Methods, 26(2), 229–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428120986851
Hollander, B.S., & Bukowitz, W.R. (1990). Women, Family Culture, and Family Business. Family Business Review, 3(2), 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1990.00139.x
Hossain, S., Islam, A., & Haque, A.K.M.A. (2022). Empirical analysis to the factors impact on succession process of the family-owned businesses in Bangladesh, moderating role of education. International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 28(2), 162–179. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBIR.2022.123263
Humphreys, M.M.C. (2013). Daughter succession: a predominance of human issues. Journal of Family Business Management, 3(1), 24–44. https://doi.org/10.1108/20436231311326472
Hytti, U., Alsos, G. A., Heinonen, J., & Ljunggren, E. (2017). Navigating the family business: A gendered analysis of identity construction of daughters. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 35(6), 665–686. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616675924
Karataş-Özkan, M., Erdogan, A., & Nicolopoulou, K. (2011). Women in Turkish family businesses: Drivers, contributions and challenges. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 11(2), 203–219. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470595811399189
Kaslow, F.W. (1998). Handling transitions from mother to son in the family business: The knotty issues. Family Business Review, 11(3), 229–238. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1998.00229.x
Koffi, V., Guihur, I., Morris, T., & Fillion, G. (2014). Family business succession: How men and women predecessors can bring credibility to their successors? Entrepreneurial Executive, 19, 67–85.
Li, J., Sun, J.Y., Wang, L., & Ke, J. (2020). Second-Generation Women Entrepreneurs in Chinese Family-Owned Businesses: Motivations, Challenges, and Opportunities. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 22(2), 124–136. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422320907043
Maciel, A.S., Reyna, J.M.S.M., de la Garza Ramos, M.I., & Aguilar, J.L.E. (2021). Women successor selection [Selección de mujeres sucesoras]. Contaduria y Administracion, 66(3). https://doi.org/10.22201/fca.24488410e.2021.2482
Maggin, D.M., & Odom, S.L. (2014). Evaluating single- case research data for systematic review: A commentary for the special issue. Journal of School Psychology, 52(2), 237–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2014.01.002
Martinez Jimenez, R. (2009). Research on Women in Family Firms: Current Status and Future Directions. Family Business Review, 22(1), 53–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894486508328813
Maseda, A., Iturralde, T., Cooper, S., & Aparicio, G. (2022). Mapping women’s involvement in family firms: A review based on bibliographic coupling analysis. International Journal of Management Reviews, 24(2), 279–305. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12278
McAdam, M., Brophy, M., & Harrison, R.T. (2021). Anointed or appointed? Father–daughter succession within the family business. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 39(6), 576–600. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242620948349
Mongeon, P., & Paul-Hus, A. (2016). The journal coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: A comparative analysis. Scientometrics, 106(1), 213–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1765-5
Mussolino, D., Cicellin, M., Pezzillo Iacono, M., Consiglio, S., & Martinez, M. (2019). Daughters’ self-positioning in family business succession: A narrative inquiry. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 10(2), 72–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2019.01.003
Mustafa, M., Elliott, C., & Zhou, L. (2019). Succession in Chinese family-SMEs: A gendered analysis of successor learning and development. Human Resource Development International, 22(5), 504–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2019.1608123
Nelson, T., & Constantinidis, C. (2017). Sex and Gender in Family Business Succession Research: A Review and Forward Agenda From a Social Construction Perspective. Family Business Review, 30(3), 219–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894486517715390
Otten-Pappas, D. (2013). The female perspective on family business successor commitment. Journal of Family Business Management, 3(1), 8–23. https://doi.org/10.1108/20436231311326463
Overbeke, K.K., Bilimoria, D., & Perelli, S. (2013). The dearth of daughter successors in family businesses: Gendered norms, blindness to possibility, and invisibility. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 4(3), 201– 212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2013.07.002
Ramadani, V., & Gërguri-Rashiti, S. (2017). Global Marketing, Gender and Family Business in Asia: A Literature Review. Journal of Global Marketing, 30(3), 138–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/08911762.2017.1306898
Ramadani, V., Hisrich, R.D., Anggadwita, G., & Alamanda, D.T. (2017). Gender and succession planning: Opportunities for females to lead Indonesian family businesses. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 9(3), 229–251. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-02-2017-0012
Remery, C., Matser, I., & Hans Flören, R. (2014). Successors in Dutch family businesses: Gender differences. Journal of Family Business Management, 4(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-09-2013-0021
Sardo, F., Vieira, E. S., & Serrasqueiro, Z. (2022). The role of gender and succession on the debt adjustments of family firm capital structure. Eurasian Business Review, 12(2), 349–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40821-021-00186-w
Schick-Makaroff, K., MacDonald, M., Plummer, M., Burgess, J., & Neander, W. (2016). What Synthesis Methodology Should I Use? A Review and Analysis of Approaches to Research Synthesis. AIMS Public Health, 3(1), 172–215. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2016.1.172
Schröder, E., Schmitt-Rodermund, E., & Arnaud, N. (2011). Career choice intentions of adolescents with a family business background. Family Business Review, 24(4), 305–321. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894486511416977
Smythe, J., & Sardeshmukh, S.R. (2013). Fathers and daughters in family business. Small Enterprise Research, 20(2), 98–109. https://doi.org/10.5172/ser.2013.20.2.98
Snilstveit, B., Oliver, S., & Vojtkova, M. (2012). Narrative approaches to systematic review and synthesis of evidence for international development policy and practice. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 4(3), 409–429. https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2012.710641
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104(C), 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Soost, C., & Moog, P. (2021). Gender and organizational performance in business succession. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 33(1), 93–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2019.1692765
Swagger, G. (1991). Assessing the Successor Generation in Family Businesses. Family Business Review, 4(4), 397–411. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1991.00397.x
Tengeh, R.K., & Phikiso, Z. (2021). Intra-family succession in South African townships: Women’s account of the desirable attributes. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 43(3), 332–344. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2021.115878
Thürer, M., Tomašević, I., Stevenson, M., Blome, C., Melnyk, S., Chan, H., & Huang, G.Q. (2019). A systematic review of China’s belt and road initiative: Implications for global supply chain management. International Journal of Production Research, 58(8), 2436-2453. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1605225
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Umans, I., Lybaert, N., Steijvers, T., & Voordeckers, W. (2021). The family CEO’s effect on succession planning: Founder status, difficulties with letting go and gender differences. Gender in Management, 36(5), 659–673. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-01-2020-0007
Urban, B., & Nonkwelo, R.P. (2022). Intra-family dynamics and succession planning in family businesses in South Africa: The daughter as a potential successor. Journal of Family Business Management, 12(2), 266– 279. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-08-2020-0084
Vera, C.F., & Dean, M.A. (2005). An examination of the challenges daughters face in family business succession. Family Business Review, 18(4), 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.2005.00051.x
Wieszt A., Martos T., Sallay V., Varga S., & Vékás P. (2021). Családi vállalatok utódlása Magyarországon. Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem. https://unipub.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/7092/
Xian, H., Jiang, N., & McAdam, M. (2021). Negotiating the female successor–leader role within family business succession in China. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 39(2), 157–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242620960711
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Corvinus University of Budapest, publisher of Vezetéstudomány / Budapest Management Review
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors assign copyright to Vezetéstudomány / Budapest Management Review. Authors are responsible for permission to reproduce copyright material from other sources.
