This article identifies 25 articles that have been particularly influential in shaping the state of the art of research on family businesses. These works were identified based on a citation analysis of family business articles published over the past 6 years in the four journals that publish most of the research. The authors summarize those influential studies and discuss their most important contributions to scholars’ current understanding of family business. By identifying common themes among those studies, the authors are able to provide directions for future research in the field.
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18.
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19.
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Chang, E.P.C., Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Kellermanns, F.W. (2008). Regional economy as a determinant of the prevalence of family firms in the United States: A preliminary report . Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32, 559-573.
25.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., Chang, E.P., & Kellermanns, F.W. (2007). Are family managers agents or stewards? An exploratory study in privately-held family firms. Journal of Business Research, 60, 1030-1038.
26.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Kellermanns, F.W. (2009). Priorities, resource stocks, and performance in family and non-family firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33, 739-760.
27.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., Kellermanns, F.W., Matherne, C.F., & Debicki, B.J. ( 2008). Management journals as venues for publication of family business research. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32, 927-934.
28.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Litz, R. ( 2003). A unified systems perspective of family firm performance: An extension and integration. Journal of Business Venturing , 18, 467-472.
29.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Litz, R. ( 2004). Comparing the agency costs of family and non-family firms: Conceptual issues and exploratory evidence. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 28, 335-354.
30.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Sharma, P. ( 2005). Trends and directions in the development of a strategic management theory of the family firm. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29, 555-576.
31.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., & Zahra, S.A. ( 2003). Creating wealth in family firms through managing resources: Comments and extensions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice , 27, 359-365.
32.
Chrisman, J.J., Hofer, C.W., & Boulton, W.R. ( 1988). Toward a system for classifying business strategies. Academy of Management Review, 13, 413-428.
33.
Chua, J.H., Chrisman, J.J., & Bergiel, E.B. ( 2009). An agency theoretic analysis of the professionalized family firm. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33, 355-372.
34.
Chua, J.H., Chrisman, J.J., & Sharma, P. ( 1999). Defining the family business by behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 23, 19-39.
35.
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36.
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37.
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38.
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39.
Daily, C.M., & Dollinger, M.J. (1992). An empirical examination of ownership structure in family and professionally managed firms. Family Business Review, 5, 117-136.
40.
Davis, J.H., Schoorman, F.D., & Donaldson, L. ( 1997). Toward a stewardship theory of management. Academy of Management Review, 22, 20-47.
41.
Debicki, B.J., Matherne, C.F., Kellermanns, F.W., & Chrisman, J.J. (2009). Family business research in the new millennium: An overview of the who, the where, the what, and the why. Family Business Review, 22, 151-166.
42.
Demsetz, H. ( 1983). The structure of ownership and the theory of the firm . Journal of Law and Economics, 26, 375-390.
43.
Dyer, G., & Whetten, D.A. ( 2006). Family firms and social responsibility: Preliminary evidence from the S&P 500. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice , 30, 785-802.
44.
Eddleston, K., & Kellermanns, F.W. (2007). Destructive and productive family relationships: A stewardship theory perspective. Journal of Business Venturing, 22, 545-565.
45.
Eddleston, K., Kellermanns, F.W., & Sarathy, R. ( 2008). Resource configuration in family firms: Linking resources, strategic planning and environmental dynamism to performance. Journal of Management Studies, 45, 26-50.
46.
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47.
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48.
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49.
Ford, R.H. ( 1988). Outside directors and the privately-owned firm: Are they necessary? Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 13, 49-57.
50.
Gersick, K.E., Davis, J.A., Hampton, M.M., & Lansberg, I. ( 1997). Generation to generation: Life cycles of the family business . Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
51.
Gómez-Mejía, L.R. , Hynes, K.T., Núñez-Nickel , M., & Moyano-Fuentes, H. (2007). Socioemotional wealth and business risk in family-controlled firms: Evidence from Spanish olive oil mills. Administrative Science Quarterly , 52, 106-137.
52.
Gómez-Mejía, L.R. , Núñez-Nickel , M., & Gutierrez, I. (2001). The role of family ties in agency contracts. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 81-95.
53.
Gordon, G., & Nicholson, N. ( 2008). Family wars: Classic conflicts in family business and how to deal with them. London: Kogan Page.
54.
Habbershon, T.G., & Williams, M. ( 1999). A resource-based framework for assessing the strategic advantage of family firms. Family Business Review, 12, 1-25.
55.
Habbershon, T.G., Williams, M., & MacMillan, I.C. (2003). A unified systems perspective of family firm performance. Journal of Business Venturing , 18, 451-465.
56.
Handler, W.C. ( 1989). Methodological issues and considerations in studying family businesses. Family Business Review, 2, 257-276.
57.
Hardin, W.G., III, Liano, K., & Chan, K.C. ( 2006). Influential journals, institutions and researchers in real estate. Real Estate Economics, 34, 457-478.
58.
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59.
Holt, D.T., Rutherford, M.W., & Kuratko, D.F. ( 2010). Advancing the field of family business research: Further testing the measurement properties of the F-PEC. Family Business Review, 23, 75-88.
60.
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61.
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62.
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63.
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64.
Kellermanns, F.W., & Eddleston, K. ( 2004). Feuding families: When conflict does a family firm good . Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 28, 209-228.
65.
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66.
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67.
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68.
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95.
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96.
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97.
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99.
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102.
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103.
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104.
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105.
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106.
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