Title: Do agency concerns inhibit internationalisation of family owned firms?: a comparative study of the USA and Poland

Authors: Harinder Singh; Joanna Wyrobek

Addresses: Department of Economics, Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University, 426C DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, USA ' Department of Corporate Finance, Faculty of Finance, Cracow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, Poland

Abstract: Although family firms are a dominant part of the industrial landscape in the USA and Poland, they normally do not capitalise on international opportunities. We hypothesise that the lack of internationalisation is primarily due to agency concerns such as losing control of executive power, difficulty in external coordination, and diluting the firm's mission. We investigate the structural and cultural differences of family firms in the USA and Poland based on sample surveys. A more comprehensive definition of family firms is employed based on the F-PEC scale of power, experience, and culture. Preliminary survey results indicate that agency concerns are substantial in both countries and could be a major impediment to internationalisation. Moreover, family firms generally prefer a low control mode of entry such as a sales agreement/representative, supporting the incremental approach to internationalisation. The main driver for internationalisation seems to be the lure of expanding markets rather than lower costs of production.

Keywords: agency control; family firms; agency conflicts; export decisions; USA; Poland; United States; internationalisation; family business; international opportunities; cultural differences; structural differences; organisational structure; culture; incremental approach.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2013.053632

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2013 Vol.7 No.3, pp.279 - 297

Published online: 27 Dec 2013 *

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