Uncovering Implicit Assumptions: Reviewing the Work–Family Interface in Family Business and Offering Opportunities for Future Research

Abstract

The work–family interface (WFI) in family businesses (FBs) is an underrecognized area of research. The permeable nature of the boundaries in FBs between work and family is often treated as self-evident and as preventing (rather than inviting) research. We review the WFI in FBs based on 72 published articles and highlight implicit assumptions that have given rise to gaps in this literature. We show how boundary theory, the work–home resources model and the resource-based view can be used to highlight issues related to ownership, work–family enrichment, and contextual factors at the individual, family, and firm domains.

The Adulthood of Family Business Research Through Inbound and Outbound Theorizing

“…This Review Issue provides some important new insights in this regard. It points to the origins of such heterogeneity in terms of (1) the meaning that consumers prescribe to families and their brands (Andreini et al, 2020); (2) the dynamics of families shaping their firms' unique goals, processes, and behaviors (Combs et al, 2020); (3) the particular overlap between family, work, and ownership as a driver of family firm uniqueness (Michael-Tsabari et al, 2020); and (4) the approaches to manage common conflicts in family firms as drivers of family firm variation (Qiu & Freel, 2020). Understanding the extent to which durable differences exist across all firms, family business or not, may revolve around the extent to which there are systematic differences in family-related issues.…”

“…Outbound and inbound theorizing is similarly highlighted by Michael-Tsabari et al (2020), who draw on the larger WFI literature to highlight the shortcomings of the separate family business WFI literature before developing a list of research questions that not only leverage mainstream theories to fill apparent gaps in our understanding of the WFI in family business but also provide opportunities for family business WFI research to give back to mainstream theories. Of special relevance is that Michael-Tsabari et al (2020) detail how the particularly strong integration of the WFI in family businesses, due to the overlap of family, work, and ownership, enables developing and testing more refined WFI theory. In some ways, the family business context is the prototypical, yet largely ignored, context to study the WFI; Michael-Tsabari et al (2020) lay out opportunities to enrich WFI theories and their boundary conditions.…”

“…Of special relevance is that Michael-Tsabari et al (2020) detail how the particularly strong integration of the WFI in family businesses, due to the overlap of family, work, and ownership, enables developing and testing more refined WFI theory. In some ways, the family business context is the prototypical, yet largely ignored, context to study the WFI; Michael-Tsabari et al (2020) lay out opportunities to enrich WFI theories and their boundary conditions.…”

“…Research on the WFI, therefore, deals with work-to-family and family-to-work enrichment and depletion. While the family business context appears to be an ideal context to study the WFI, Michael-Tsabari et al (2020) explain that WFI research in family firms has been largely decoupled from the larger WFI literature.…”

“…The four articles included in the 2020 Review Issue shed light on (1) how the meanings of family firms in the mind of consumers form as a result from negotiations and exchanges with the firm in the marketplace (Andreini et al, 2020); (2) how elements of familial relationships, roles, and events help explain subsequent differences in family business outcomes (Combs et al, 2020); (3) how the work-family interface (WFI) in family businesses offers rich research opportunities (Michael-Tsabari et al, 2020); and (4) how different conflict management approaches can shape family businesses (Qiu & Freel, 2020). We will discuss each article in turn.…”