The “open family firm”: openness as boundary work in family enterprises

• DOI: 10.1007/s11187-022-00664-z
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15T12:02:35Z
• Authors: Frank Lambrechts; Jolien Huybrechts; Alfredo De Massis; Erik E. Lehmann
• Keywords: INNOVATION; L21; Openness; Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility; Organizational boundaries; SOCIOEMOTIONAL WEALTH; COLLABORATION; Social networks; Ecosystems; m14 - "Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility"; and Uncertainty: General; Social capital; Boundary work; Entrepreneurial family; Information; 0502 economics and business; l21 - Business Objectives of the Firm; FIELD; AGENDA; d80 - Information; L14; Open innovation; M14; ddc:330; l14 - "Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks"; 05 social sciences; Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks; GOVERNANCE; Business Objectives of the Firm; PERFORMANCE; Collaboration; Family business; Knowledge; DIRECTORS; D8; BEHAVIOR

Abstract “Openness” has become an established norm in the contemporary business environment. However, despite the crucial importance of boundaries and boundary work in organization and management theory, openness—as opening up boundaries of family firms and entrepreneurial families in collaborating with external actors—has received only nascent attention in the family business domain. We introduce the notion of openness in the family business field. Drawing on the organizational boundary and family business literatures, we develop a conceptual framework of family firm openness as boundary work and examine and discuss the drivers, mechanisms, and consequences of openness in family enterprises. Then, drawing on this framework, we set out an agenda for future research that will contribute to a better understanding of openness, boundaries, and boundary work in family firms and entrepreneurial families. We conclude by discussing some contemporary examples of research on the “open family firm.”