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Business goals in family businesses are often subsumed by family goals. As a result, reference performance for each family business is different. This makes the popular financial performance measure of publicly traded companies, profit maximization, insufficient for family businesses. We believe that for evaluating family businesses, the family members' satisfaction with firm performance is a better measure of performance. In the study, we identify three predictors of family members' satisfaction with firm performance and test the proposed linkages on two samples of family businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that businesses that act with an entrepreneurial orientation enjoy superior performance. Our research investigates whether nonprofit, religious congregations can benefit from similar initiatives. We based our hypotheses on the Rational Choice Theory of Religion, which was developed by social scientists to bring economic analysis to the understanding of the effects of competition among nonprofit organizations. Using a sample of 250 religious congregations in five different geographical markets, an entrepreneurial orientation is found to be positively associated with organizational performance. A hypothesized interaction effect between environmental munificence and entrepreneurial orientation is assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, large, multinational corporations were thought to dominate international business. It was recently recognized that a number of entrepreneurial and family firms are active in the international arena (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). Using data from a U.S. survey of entrepreneur-led family businesses, this paper examines the extent to which certain entrepreneurial characteristics, Internet usage, and investments in information technology influence internationalization and organizational growth among such firms. The results of regression analyses identify variables leading to success in the emerging global economy and their differential impact on these performance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the extent to which conflict across generations of family firms is due to the effects of two independent variables—generation and generational shadow. The presence of a generational shadow was indicated by whether either or both of the parents continued to influence the company once the next generation assumed control. Hypotheses predicted nonlinear trends in conflict and interactions between generation and generational shadow. Using data from a national telephone survey of over 1,000 family business owners, the results of an ANOVA test confirmed that the presence of generational shadow, in particular, that of the founder, increases organizational conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study develops a process model of succession involving steps undertaken to prepare the family business for succession. The model examined multiple spheres of influence, including individual, group (family), organizational, and critical resource providers, as well as investigating the moderating effects of generational differences. Tests of this model used responses from a nationwide survey of family business owner/managers. The results support research expectations that various factors, especially family influence, positively affect the extent of succession planning. Further evidence is provided indicating that generation moderates revealed relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on succession planning in family businesses has largely neglected issues linked to owner gender. The present study examines the extent to which differences are evident between male- and female-led family businesses in succession planning processes. Using data from a national survey of family-business owners, we explore the predictors of the comprehensiveness of succession planning. The results confirm that there are similarities and differences between males and females in the determinants of succession planning. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]