Validation of a Measuring Instrument for the Relationship between Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurial Orientation in Family Firms

Authors

  • Ascension Barroso Martinez Universidad de Extremadura
  • Tomas M. Banegil Palacios Universidad de Extremadura
  • Ramon Sanguino Galvan Universidad de Extremadura

Abstract

Family businesses are created due to the entrepreneurial behavior of one or more founders, who find and exploit one opportunity. It is necessary that this Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is transmitted to the next generation. We argue that knowledge management within the family business is positively related to entrepreneurial orientation and, therefore, related to firm performance. A scale for measuring the knowledge transfer has been defined in order to determine the degree of relationship between the above elements. The measuring instrument is original because previous measuring scales do not exist in the literature which measure, on the one hand, the subconstructs that might lead knowledge transfer and, on the other hand, the relationship between this and the other variables. As a result of causal relationship analysis, it concludes with a scale, with a sample of Spanish family firms, and it is the first empirical validation of these dimensions we know so far.

References

Ardichvili, A. (2008): "Learning and knowledge sharing in virtual communities of practice: motivators, barriers, and enablers". Advances in Developing Human Resources, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 541- 554.

Audretsch, D, Bönte, W., & Keilbach, M. (2008): "Entrepreneurship capital and its impact on knowledge diffusion and economic performance". Journal and Business Venturing, vol. 23, p. 687-698.

Bañegil, T. M. & Sanguino, R. (2007): "Intangible Measurement Guidelines: a Comparative Study in Europe". Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 8, no 2, pp. 192-204.

Barney, J. B. (1991): "Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage". Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 99-120.

Brachos, D., Kostopoulos, K., Soderquist, K. E., & Prastacos, G. (2007): "Knowledge effectiveness, social context and innovation" Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 31-44.

Bueno, E. (1999): "Dirección del conocimiento y aprendizaje: creación, distribución y medición de intangibles". Instituto Universitario Euroforum Escorial. Madrid.

Cabrera-Suárez, K., Saá-Pérez, P., & García-Almeida, D. (2001): "The succession process from a resource-and knowledge-based view of the family firm". Family Business Review, vol. 14, p 37-48.

Casillas, J., Moreno, A., & Barbero, J. (2010): "A configurational approach of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and growth of family firms". Family Business Review, vol. 23, no 1, p. 27-44.

Cepeda-Carrion, Cegarra-Navarro & Jimenez-Jimenez, (2012): "The effect of absorptive capacity on innovativeness: context and information systems capability as catalysts". British Journal of Management, vol. 23, pp. 110-129.

Chin, W. W. (1998): 'The partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling'. In G. A. Marcoulides (ed.), Modern Methods for Business Research, pp. 295-336. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Chirico, F. (2008): "Knowledge accumulation in family firms: evidence from four cases studies". International Small Business Journal, vol. 26, p. 433-462.

Chirico, F.& Nordqvist, M. (2010): "Dynamic capabilities and transenerational value creation in family firms: the role of organizational culture". International Small Business Journal, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 487-504.

Chirico, F., Sirmon, D. G., Sciascia, S., & Mazzola, P. (2011): "Resource orchestration in family firms: investigating how entrepreneurial orientation, general involvement and participative strategy affect performance". Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal.

Chua, Chrisman, & Steier (2003): "Extending the theoretical horizons of family business research". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, pp. 331-338.

Cruz, C., Habbershon, T., Nordqvist, M., Salvato, C., & Zellweger, T. (2006): "A conceptual model of transgenerational entrepreneurship in family-influenced firms". International Family Enterprise Research Academy. - Jönköping.

Giovannoni, E., Maraghini, M. P., & Riccaboni, A. (2011): "Transmitting Knowledge Across Generations: The Role of Management Accounting Practices" Family Business Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 126- 150.

Habbershon, T. & Williams, M. (1999): "A resource-based framework for assessing the strategic advantages of family firm". Family Business Review, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 1-25.

Hall, A., Melin, L., & Nordqvist, M. (2001): "Entrepreneurship as radical change in the family business: exploring the role of cultural patterns". Family Business Review, vol. 14, p. 193-208.

Hsu, I.(2008): "Knowledge sharing practices as a facilitating factor for improving organizational performance though human capital: a preliminary test", Expert Systems with Applications, vol. 35, pp. 1316-1326.

Kellermans, F., Eddleston, K., Barnett, T., & Pearson, A. (2008): "An exploratory study of family member characteristics and involvement: effects on entrepreneurial behavior in the family firm". Family Business Review, vol. 21, p. 1-14.

Lin, H., Lee, H., & Wang, D. (2009): "Evaluation of factors influencing knowledge sharing based on a fuzzy AHP approach". Journal of Information Science, vol. 35, no 1, pp. 25.

Lumpkin, G. & Dess, G. (1996):"Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance". Academic of Management Review, vol. 21, no 1, p. 135-172.

Memili, E., Eddleston, K. A., Kellermanns, F. W., Zellweger, T. M., & Barnett, T. (2010): "The critical path to family firms success though entrepreneurial risk taking and image". Journal of Family Business Strategy, vol. 1, pp. 200- 209.

Miller, D. (1983): "The correlates of entrepreneurship in three types of firms". Management Science, vol. 29, p. 770-791.

Moores, K. (2009): "Paradigms and theory building in the domain of business families". Family Business Review, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 167- 180.

Naldi, L., Nordqvist, M., Sjöberg, K., & Wiklund, J. (2007): "Entrepreneurial Orientation, Risk Taking and Performance in Family Firms". Family Business Review, vol. 23, p. 33-47.

Nordqvist, M., Habbershon, T. G., & Melin, L. (2008). "Transgenerational entrepreneurship: Exploring entrepreneurial orientation in family firms". En Landström, H., Smallbone, D., Crijns, H., & Laveren, E. (Eds.): Entrepreneurship, sustainable growth and performance: Frontiers in European entrepreneurship research, p. 93-116. Londres: Edward Elgar.

Pistrui, D, Huang, W., Oksoy, D., Jing, Z., & Welsch, H. (2001): "Entrepreneurship in China: characteristics, attributes and family forces shaping the emerging private sector". Family Business Review, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 141-152.

Zahra, S., Neubaum, D., & Larrañeta, B. (2007): "Knowledge sharing and technological capabilities: the moderation role of family involvement". Journal of Business Research, vol. 60, p. 1070-1079

Ascensión Barroso Martínez, PhD has attended the best family business conferences and she has published articles in indexed journals. His doctoral thesis entitled "The importance of the knowledge management in the entrepreneurial orientation in family firms". She current teaches Quality Management, Business Economics.

Tomás M. Bañegil Palacios, PhD has over 25 years teaching undergraduate and postgraduate in different European universities, as well as Brazil Argentina, and Ecuador. He has published some articles in very prestigious journals. He's currently Director of the Department of Business Administration. Finally, he has directed more than 10 doctoral theses.

Ramón Sanguino Galván, PhD has more than 12 years teaching undergraduate and postgraduate in different European universities, as well as in Brazil and Columbia. He has published some articles in very prestigious journals. His research interests are related to Knowledge Management, City competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Family Business.

Downloads

Published

2013-05-21

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Validation of a Measuring Instrument for the Relationship between Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurial Orientation in Family Firms. (2013). Journal of Small Business Strategy (archive Only), 23(2), 1-14. https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/article/view/182