Social capital drives SME growth: A study of family firms in Poland

Author(s):  
Andrzej Marjański ◽  
Łukasz Sułkowski ◽  
Justyna Marjańska-Potakowska ◽  
Katarzyna Staniszewska

Poland’s successful political, economic, and social transformation since the 1990s has seen the dynamic development of family enterprises. Most of them are in the small- and medium-sized enterprises sector and have become an important part of the Polish economy. What drives these family firms is not necessarily physical or even financial capital, but continuous human or social capital. We analyze how family businesses are based on the interdependence of family ownership and business with the social capital of the family. This article reflects on how the government, in encouraging small- and medium-sized enterprise development in an economy with traditionally low social capital, can benefit from the example of high social capital found in family firms. The article contains the interpretation of the results of research conducted in 2009–2010 and 2014–2016.

2001 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd Steier

Relationships and connectivity play an enhanced role in most models of the new economy. For many firms, strategic advantage resides in the social capital (or relational wealth) they are able to nourish and maintain. This important asset is accumulated over time and not easily traded or transferred. For family firms with long-term continuity goals, the transfer and management of this largely intangible asset are a most significant activity. This research is based on interviews of next-generation entrepreneurs in 18 different firms. It contributes to the family business and more general management literature by identifying different ways in which relational wealth is transferred, created, and managed. Four different modes of transferring social capital emerged from the data: unplanned, sudden succession; rushed succession; natural immersion; and planned succession and deliberate transfer of social capital. Additionally, seven means of managing social capital emerged: deciphering existing network structures, deciphering the transactional content of network relationships, determining criticalities, attaining legitimacy, clarifying optimal role, managing ties through delegation and division of labor, and striving for optimal network configuration and reconstituting network structure and content. This paper concludes with a series of propositions for further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akif Cicek ◽  
Rüveyda Kelleci ◽  
Pieter Vandekerkhof

PurposeFamily governance mechanisms serve to govern and strengthen relations between the family and the business, as well as the relationships between the members of the business family itself. However, despite agreement on the importance of adopting family governance structures, explicit research on the determinants of family governance mechanisms is currently missing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to uncover the determinants of family meetings. In order to do so, the social systems theory is used to unravel several determining factors of this crucial form of family governance mechanisms in private family firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors perform a qualitative study by conducting semi-structured interviews in eight Belgian private family firms in order to discover the antecedents of the implementation of family meetings. The authors use a pattern-matching technique as an analytical strategy.FindingsThe findings of the study highlight the importance of “soft,” relational, qualitative issues as antecedents of family meetings as opposed to previous research on family governance, which predominantly focused on “hard,” quantitative measures (e.g. family ownership). The findings of the study also provide novel insights into the origins of the family component (i.e. family meetings) of family business governance.Originality/valueWhile the current literature has only focused on describing the different types of family governance and their positive consequences for the family firm, the authors take a step back to explain why family meetings, as a form of family governance, are adopted in the first place. Second, the authors demonstrate the instrumentality of the social systems theory in understanding the family's needs that necessitate the implementation of family governance mechanisms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Chunxiao Li ◽  
Jiahui Yao

This paper studies the management model of typical Chinese family from the perspective of Chinese thought history, and defines the ideological and industrial advantages of its special management mode. From the perspective view of human resources, capital investment and product development, how to transform and upgrade the family management mode are discussed so as to adapt to the enterprise development during the Internet era.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 404
Author(s):  
Tubagus Arya Abdurachman

The discussion of this research is the development of creative cities in a country is the result of the efforts of the government and creative actors in the city in the country. Creative city can not be separated from the potential of social capital that is owned by the people in the city. Social capital is a social organization concept that includes network of norms and social trusts that facilitate mutual coordination and cooperation including in developing the regional economy. This research aims to (1) know the contribution of social capital in making a creative city, (2) express the social capital and creativity of individuals and communities to realize creative city, and (3) know aspects of social capital that dominant influence on a creativity of the city. The method of this research is qualitative primary data with technic observation and indepth interview, also secondary data in the form of document and archive analysis from Bandung city as one of creative city in Indonesia. Research is done during 2015-2016. Conclusions this research are (1)Social capital that form trust, tolerance, cooperation, openness, and independence of the community greatly contributes in the creation of creative city because through the braided integration of social capital that forms a norm of behavior binding for its citizens to be creative and does not require material capital,(2)Individual urban creativity formed through the process of socialization of elements of social capital in the life of society to trigger creativity of individuals and society as a whole, and (3) The form of openness, tolerance, and cooperation are the dominant elements of social capital in growing the creativity of individuals and societyKeywords: Creatif city, Social capital


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
Allan Discua

Introduction: Around the world, entrepreneurial activity is influenced by family. The influence of family in the creation, management, development and continuity of small, medium and large size enterprises is unequivocal. In this revision article, I argue for the relevance of further research in Honduras around entrepreneurship and the family enterprise. Methods and Discussion: As families in business are vital to the social and economic fabric of communities around the world there is value in understanding the special nature of enterprises that operate as family businesses. Honduras is a relevant context of study as research on family enterprises has been underrepresented and several challenges and fortuitous events affect the emergence and continuity of family enterprises. Conclusion: To advance understanding, this revision article brings together a collection of themes that provide a nuanced overview of key discussions and opportunities for further research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
Herrukmi Septa Rinawati

This study aimed to know the obstacles and the government policy in developing the social capital of small industry in facing competition in ASEAN Economy Community (AEC) period. Using quantitative and qualitative as the methodology, this study obtained the data through interview and focus group discussion. The result showed that the development of social capital that not maximum enough was becoming the obstacle for small industry. The connection between the businessman association with other party, such as big industry, civil society organization, banking and other stake holders should be expanded. Meanwhile the government had done some policy in developing the social capital of small industry by holding a training and competition, increasing the access and relation of small industry with foreign and national company, also helping on the social capital. Therefore, small industry still can survive in facing the AEC era.


2014 ◽  
Vol 686 ◽  
pp. 639-642
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Ming Yuan Ma

With pm2.5 and environmental pollution problem of urban smog, energy conservation and environmental protection has become an important subject in the current car development, so the new energy vehicles get more and more favor from the government and enterprises. But the new energy vehicles’ market share in our country is still small and the technology is not mature. This paper summarizes the experience and lessons in the development of new energy vehicles at home and abroad, and then based on which analyses the reasons that restrict the development of the new energy vehicles, finally puts forward the countermeasures of new energy vehicles development from the government's macro policy, battery technology, management mechanism, public participation and so on. In addition, it also puts forward a new opinion that encourages and guides the social capital to participate in the operation of the new energy vehicle infrastructure construction and operation, then provides a model for our country’s new energy vehicles future development.


Author(s):  
Carolyn Richardson

Although it barely registered in social media and current news in North America, the Shanghai 2010 World Expo was the most expensive urban reconstruction project in Chinese history and also caused the largest human relocation project in Shanghai history. To make way for the Expo, over18 000 families- an estimated 55 000 people- were relocated to the outskirts of Shanghai, away from their homes, communities, social connections and basic services. Of these residents, 25 000 were relocated to Pujiang new town: a brand new town constructed for this occasion by the Shanghai government. Although the government and contracted urban planners built the town, it is the relocated residents who are building the community. Using personal interviews that I and my Shanghainese partner conducted with the residents of Pujiang new town, we aimed to find out how residents are regaining the “social capital” that was lost during their forced relocation, and how their “individual and collective agency” prevents them from being seen as victims of a strong centralized government. In order to understand how this unique case of urban development was created, I will also be explaining the historical causes of the project, and it’s social and political consequences. However, it is the overarching question of “how does China see urban development, and why?” that I wish to answer


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludo Van der Heyden ◽  
Christine Blondel ◽  
Randel S. Carlock

The social science and business literatures on procedural justice or fair process attest that improvements in procedural fairness can be expected to improve both a firm's performance and the commitment and trust of the individuals involved with it. This article examines the relevance of procedural justice for family business. When a family is an influential component of a particular business system, the application of justice is typically rendered more complex than might be the case for nonfamily firms. Different criteria (need, merit, and equality) guide the application of distributive justice among families, firms, and shareholders. This divergence in criterion also lies at the heart of many conflicts inside the family business. In this article, we argue that the application of procedural justice reduces occurrences of conflict and, in some cases, may eliminate conflict altogether. We propose a definition of fair process that extends and enriches the one existing in the literature. We offer five fundamental criteria essential to the effectiveness of fair process in family firms. We conclude with a series of case studies that illustrate typical questions faced inside family businesses. We show that a lack of fairness in the decision and managerial processes governing these businesses and their associated families is a source of conflict. We describe how increasing fair process practices improves the performance of these businesses while also increasing the satisfaction of those associated with them.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-49
Author(s):  
Anna Weissbrot-Koziarska

Families are responsible for the functioning of the future generations. However, in their lives there may occur difficult situations which they are not able to overcome. Then the government provides the necessary assistance through actions carried out by aid institutions and various support programs. Currently in Poland there are many programs to help the poorest and the families in need. One of them is the program “Rodzina 500 plus” which is very well-reviewed by the public . It is, however, necessary to control the effects of the support given by the government to improve aid projects and indeed direct the stream of money to those who need it the most. The article includes analyses of the studies carried out in the Opolskie Voivodeship which aim was to show effects of the current implementation of the program “Rodzina 500 plus” from the perspective of the social workers.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document