Title: Familiness and internationalisation of family firms: a resource-based view

Authors: Nina Gorovaia; Franziska Pfahnl

Addresses: Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus ' University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Abstract: Previous research produced diverging findings regarding family firms' internationalisation. We use resource-based theory to explain family firms' internationalisation highlighting their heterogeneity, various forms of family involvement, and unique resource bundles. The qualitative methodology allows us to identify unique resource bundles and showcase paradoxes of resource dimensions. The empirical context of the study is three family firms operating in the food industry in Austria that have successfully implemented internationalisation strategies. We contribute to the international business literature by arguing that familiness as a bundle of unique intangible resources influences the internationalisation propensity of family firms. Considering that family firms dominate the business landscape worldwide and remain an essential source of value creation, our study addresses an important topic. The qualitative methodology provides a real-life picture that escapes from quantitative studies. Future studies should investigate more specific types of companies, of a certain size, in a particular industry in order to gain more novel and practical insight.

Keywords: familiness; resource-based theory; internationalisation; family firms.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.141664

European Journal of International Management, 2024 Vol.24 No.3/4, pp.538 - 558

Received: 01 Jul 2022
Accepted: 09 Jan 2023

Published online: 30 Sep 2024 *

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