Impact of family succession on financial performance: empirical evidence from Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamrul Hassan Sunon ◽  
Muzhtaba Tawkeer Islam ◽  
M. Adnan Kabir

PurposeAcademic research on the transgenerational performance differences among family firms in Bangladesh is still in its infancy. This paper delves into this issue to answer whether the financial performance of family firms run by second-generation family members is different from their predecessors and nonfamily firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs panel data analysis that attempts to conceptualize the performance difference, quantified in terms of profitability and return, between founder- and second-generation-run public companies in Bangladesh. Moreover, cross-sectional regressions extend the research paradigm to investigate and validate whether heir-controlled family firms perform differently than nonfamily firms or firms that are yet to experience ownership succession within a family.FindingsThe study indicates that family firms perform better when founding family members are in control compared to second-generation-run family firms. Moreover, further analysis suggests that heir-controlled family firms do not show a significant difference in performance compared to firms that never had a family succession in its managerial positions. The implications are that there could be nonfinancial family-centric motivations for family business ownership transition.Practical implicationsFamily succession of firm ownership is venerated without necessarily a validation of its financial merit. In Bangladesh, this is too often a de facto transfer of leadership within family firms. This study can act as a reference point to understand that family succession of firm ownership in Bangladesh may not necessarily be in the best financial interest of a firm.Originality/valueThe literature on family firms propounds a plethora of vacillating conclusions and opinions. This paper adds this body of empirical literature into an exercise of formal logic. Such an empirical investigation into the financial performance of Bangladeshi family firms, visualized through the lens of leadership transfer to a second-generation family member, has not been extensively studied in contemporary literature.

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Salman Saleh ◽  
Enver Halili ◽  
Rami Zeitun ◽  
Ruhul Salim

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the financial performance of listed firms on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) over two sample periods (1998-2007 and 2008-2010) before and during the global financial crisis periods. Design/methodology/approach The generalized method of moments (GMM) has been used to examine the relationship between family ownership and a firm’s performance during the financial crisis period, reflecting on the higher risk exposure associated with capital markets. Findings Applying firm-based measures of financial performance (ROA and ROE), the empirical results show that family firms with ownership concentration performed better than nonfamily firms with dispersed ownership structures. The results also show that ownership concentration has a positive and significant impact on family- and nonfamily-owned firms during the crisis period. In addition, financial leverage had a positive and significant effect on the performance of Australian family-owned firms during both periods. However, if the impact of the crisis by sector is taking into account, the financial leverage only becomes significant for the nonmining family firms during the pre-crisis period. The results also reveal that family businesses are risk-averse business organizations. These findings are consistent with the underlying economic theories. Originality/value This paper contributes to the debate whether the ownership structure affects firms’ financial performance such as ROE and ROA during the global financial crisis by investigating family and nonfamily firms listed on the Australian capital market. It also identifies several influential drivers of financial performance in both normal and crisis periods. Given the paucity of studies in the area of family business, the empirical results of this research provide useful information for researchers, practitioners and investors, who are operating in capital markets for family and nonfamily businesses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 809-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Chepurenko

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deal with informal entrepreneurial activity of micro and small family businesses in the specific transitional environment. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses two cases – an informal micro business (“marginal” family business), and a formal retail small firm (“simpleton” family firm), respectively, of a panel conducted in 2013–2015 in Moscow. Findings First, the real distribution of responsibilities between family members is informal; it relies more on interpersonal trust and “common law.” Second, exactly the ease of governing such trust-based businesses for the founders’ generation sets limits of succession of small-scale family businesses. Third, as trust in the state is very low, the policy of Russian authorities to quickly force informal entrepreneurs to become legalized is substantially wrong; the results would be either a transformation of “simpleton” into “marginal” businesses or quitting business. Research limitations/implications Research limitations of the study are the number of observations and the localization of the panel only in the capital of Russia. Practical implications The fundamental failure of Russian State policy toward small-scale family businesses is its attempt to convince “marginal” to formalize and to oppress “simpleton” family businesses pushing them into informality. In fact, it should be designed vice versa: tolerate “marginal” businesses and let them to “live and die” while shaping a friendly environment for “simpleton” family firms. Originality/value The paper argues that the most important facet of informality in small family entrepreneurship is the informal property rights and governance duties’ distribution among the family members.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan David Peláez-León ◽  
Gregorio Sánchez-Marín

PurposeThis study analyses whether human resource management (HRM), through the use of four sets of high-performance work policies (HPWPs) (i.e. selection, training, motivation and opportunity policies), mediates the relationship between socioemotional wealth (SEW)—defined as a unique set of nonfinancial family goals—and firm financial performance when family firms face a high-risk context.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses were statistically tested using a structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology with a cross-sectional sample of 196 medium-sized and private family firms in a high-risk context in Spain.FindingsThe results indicate that the relationship between SEW and financial performance in family firms is fully mediated by the use of HPWPs, especially by training and motivation HR policies. The importance given to preserving SEW influences the use of four sets of HPWPs when family firms show clear evidence of being confronted by a financial decline (i.e. a high-risk context). However, to improve their financial results to avoid the firm's failure and thus the loss of their SEW, only those HR policies that focus on training and motivation made a significant and positive contribution to the firm financial performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on family firms and HRM by adopting an alternative theoretical framework to understand how the importance of nonfinancial family goals may affect employee structures and management policies, thereby improving financial performance in family firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Watiri Muigai ◽  
Edward Mungai ◽  
S. Ramakrishna Velamuri

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the effects of perceived parental entrepreneurial rewards, or PPERs (i.e. the offspring's perception of the degree of parental success in entrepreneurship), on the corporate venturing (CV) mode of entrepreneurial entry and the interaction effects of family business involvement (FBI) and formal employment on the association between PPER and CV by the next-generation family members.Design/methodology/approachA survey was administered to a sample of 738 small business owners in Kenya; of which, 440 small business owners were selected because they grew up in a family business context. A probit model was used to examine the main and interaction effects.FindingsPPERs significantly influenced CV. FBI improves the positive relationship whereas formal employment reduces the effects of PPER on CV.Practical implicationsFamilies in business need to improve conversations with their children to include discussions concerning the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards of running a family business, which may shape not only the entrepreneurial entry path of their offspring but also the willingness to establish businesses that may grow and lead to continuity of the family business of origin.Originality/valueThe study investigates the effect of being embedded in a business family in shaping the CV mode of entrepreneurial entry by the next-generation family members who may not, on the one hand, find independent own founding an attractive option and for whom, on the other hand, the succession mode of entry may not be an option.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma AbdulRahim Chang ◽  
Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik ◽  
Navaz Naghavi

PurposeBy taking the theory of entrepreneurial legacy as the baseline, this study explores the various aspects of succession planning in indigenous family businesses especially the role of female family members in succession and conflicts in family businesses.Design/methodology/approachThe study is qualitative in nature and adopts narrative inquiry to explore the aspects of succession planning. In doing so, the study utilizes an in-depth interviewing technique with nine participants who run their family-owned firms which are mostly in their second or third generation for analysis.FindingsThe findings are concurrent with the literature that indicates a lack of strategic succession planning although ordinary or natural succession does occur in some firms. The study also reports a lack of consideration for female members in succession, daughters in particular, for traditional family firms (FFs) in contrast to entrepreneurial FFs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has many implications for family-owned firms in Pakistan as they need to align their family business with the theory of entrepreneurial legacy and its three strategic activities in order to ensure the longevity of their business.Originality/valueExploring how succession planning takes place in family indigenous family businesses and what is the role of female family members in succession and conflicts in family businesses are original contributions of this study.


2020 ◽  
pp. 147612702097697
Author(s):  
Vittoria Magrelli ◽  
Emanuela Rondi ◽  
Alfredo De Massis ◽  
Josip Kotlar

Interactions between family members of different generations often unleash powerful tensions in family firms. Intergenerational tensions can be particularly prominent during intra-family succession as a result of the different temporal orientations of senior and junior generation family members. However, scant systematic attention has thus far been paid to understanding the temporality of intergenerational tensions in family firms. Through an embedded case study, we explore the mediation process that helps family firms manage intergenerational tensions by way of temporal work. Our investigation of an advisory firm and its clients led us to identify generational brokerage as the intersubjective process through which temporal work enables generations toward the joint understanding of temporal orientations. Our theoretical insights have significant implications for developing a temporal view of succession and add novel important knowledge to research on mediation and time. Indeed, we show that generational brokerage is a dialectic construct with organizing properties able to blend disparate research streams by going beyond a unidirectional forward-flowing logic of time in examining organizational processes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orhan Akisik ◽  
Graham Gal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between integrated reports, external assurance and financial performance for North American firms between 2011 and 2016. Design/methodology/approach Corporate websites were examined for disclosures which included both financial and non-financial information. Compustat North America and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) websites provided additional data for the analysis. Findings Using a panel data analysis, the results provide evidence that there is a significant positive association between integrated reports and multiple measures of financial performance. Moreover, this positive effect is enhanced when integrated reports are assured by accounting firms. Research limitations/implications There are relatively a small number of firms that do this kind of reporting. A major limitation of the study is the small sample size. Practical implications As stakeholders find information in integrated reports relevant, there needs to be standardization on their content and level of assurance. Standard setters and regulators should be involved in setting these standards and assurance guidelines. Social implications Although it is clear that there is a cost to firms which produce integrated reports, the benefits to society may outweigh these costs. This may go beyond the benefits to shareholders as they make investment decisions. Originality/value According to the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study that examines the impact of integrated reports and external assurance on financial performance for North American firms.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Nelly Trevinyo‐Rodríguez ◽  
Nick Bontis

PurposeThe paper aims to develop a model of knowledge transfer that considers kinship ties and emotions in family‐based firms.Design/methodology/approachThere exist several models, which show how information flows among individuals and within organizations. One school of thought is known as Cultural‐Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), which was initially formulated by Lev Vygotsky, the Founder of the school. However, when analyzing CHAT within the family business context, the model no longer holds true. This paper examines knowledge‐transfer mechanisms through the lens of family firms.FindingsFamily traditions, ties, and emotions, which are not considered in the original learning framework, affect knowledge transfer, commitment, and the motivation of family members.Research limitations/implicationsBased on CHAT and subsequently on other social networks theories, a more appropriate next generation learning model is developed which explains how intergenerational knowledge transfer takes place within family firms.Practical implicationsThis paper improves the understanding of how family members' shared knowledge (i.e. traditions) may become sources of competitive advantages for the family firm (i.e. long‐term survival).Originality/valueThis paper is among the first known to examine knowledge‐transfer mechanisms specifically for family‐based businesses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1065-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Laurindo de Almeida ◽  
Helder Ferreira de Mendonça

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the empirical literature that analyzes the effect of the core infrastructure (telecommunication, electricity and transportation) and indirect taxation on economic growth. Design/methodology/approach The authors present empirical evidence through panel data analysis based on a comprehensive sample of countries (96) over a long period of time (1976 to 2014). Findings The findings confirm the assumption that the core of infrastructure is essential to promote economic growth. Furthermore, indirect taxation is not a tool capable of stimulating growth. In particular, new sectors of the core of infrastructure, such as the internet and mobile telephony, are capable of expanding the effect of infrastructure on growth. Originality/value Based on a sample of 74 countries, we include new infrastructure sectors into the analysis (transportation, fixed telephony, mobile telephony and internet), and verify changes from the 1990s.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1921-1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esra Memili ◽  
Hanqing Chevy Fang ◽  
Dianne H.B. Welsh

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the generational differences among publicly traded family firms in regards to value creation and value appropriation in the innovation process by drawing upon the knowledge-based view (KBV) and family business literature with a focus on socioemotional wealth perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The authors tests the hypotheses via longitudinal regression analyses based on 285 yearly cross-firm S & P 500 firm observations. Findings – First, the authors found that family ownership with second or later generation’s majority exhibits lower levels of value creation capabilities compared to non-family firms, whereas there is no difference between those of the firms with family ownership with a first generation’s majority and non-family firms. Second, the authors also found that family owned firms with a first generation’s majority have higher value appropriation abilities compared to nonfamily firms, while there is no significant difference in value appropriation between the later generation family firms and non-family firms. Research limitations/implications – The study help scholars, family business members, and investors better understand family involvement, and how it impacts firm performance through value creation and value appropriation. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the family business, innovation, and KBV literature in several ways. While previous family business studies drawing upon resource-based view and KBV often focus on the value creation in family governance, the authors investigate both value creation and value appropriation phases of innovation process.


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