Laura E. Marler

A Leadership Perspective of Reciprocal Stewardship in Family Firms

Davis, Allen, and Hayes found that family members employed by the family firm reported significantly higher levels of perceived stewardship than nonfamily members. We extend their research by exploring how stewardship in family firms can be further expanded throughout the firm using the theoretical perspective of leader–member exchange (LMX) theory. Particularly in family firms, the leaders stewardship behaviors may establish a culture of stewardship throughout the firm. The resulting reciprocal stewardship behaviors of employees can be explained through LMX mechanisms. Propositions are offered to explore conditions where the family firm context provides a unique opportunity for creating a culture of reciprocal stewardship.

Construed External Image and Organizational Identification: A Test of the Moderating Influence of Need for Self-Esteem

According to Social Identity Theory (cf., J. G. March & H. A. Simon, 1958), individuals tend to identify with prestigious or high-status groups. Researchers (J. E. Dutton, J. M. Dukerich, & C. V. Harquail, 1994) have revealed that organizational members also identify with organizations that have attractive public images. To gain a better understanding of the theoretical reasons underlying the relationship between image and identification in organizations, the authors examined this relationship in a healthcare setting. In addition, they investigated need for esteem as a moderator of the relationship between construed external image and organizational identification. Consistent with previous findings, the present results indicated that construed external image is positively related to organizational identification. Perhaps it is more important that the present findings also supported need for esteem as a moderator of the relationship between construed external image and organizational identification.

Vision and Exchange in Intra‐Family Succession: Effects on Procedural Justice Climate Among Nonfamily Managers

We develop and extend fledgling literature on procedural justice climate and succession processes in family firms by focusing on the impact of family vision and exchange systems on procedural justice climate among nonfamily managers. Drawing upon social exchange theory, we argue that family involvement accompanied by a weak family vision will be associated with restricted exchanges in dominant coalitions, which will have a negative impact on procedural justice climate among nonfamily managers. Conversely, we suggest that family involvement with a strong family vision will be accompanied by generalized exchange, which should positively impact the procedural justice climate among nonfamily managers. We expect that the extent to which nonfamily managers work to support or hinder intra–family succession will be influenced by their collective perception of a positive or negative procedural justice climate.

Exploring touch as a positive workplace behavior

Whereas most research has focused on the negative aspects of touch in the workplace (i.e. sexual harassment), this study focuses upon the positive use of touch. In an effort to explain individual differences in the use of workplace touch, three sequential studies are used to introduce the concepts of workplace touch self-efficacy and workplace touch initiation anxiety. In Study 1 we develop scales to assess the constructs. Study 2 provides an initial examination of the construct validity of the measures developed in Study 1. Results of Study 3 indicate that supervisor reports of touch self-efficacy and physiological touch anxiety are related to subordinate reports of supervisor touch. Additionally, results show that supervisor use of touch is related to several indicators of supervisor social effectiveness. Finally, sex of the supervisor appears to play a role in workplace touch as female supervisors report less touch anxiety, greater touch self-efficacy and more use of touch than male supervisors.

Leader reactions to follower proactive behavior: Giving credit when credit is due:

In the present study, we rely upon an integration of proactive motivation and performance theories to investigate a neglected research question – when is proactive behavior likely to be rewarded or punished? Based upon a self-determination theory perspective of proactive motivation, we hypothesize that leader feelings of responsibility for constructive change moderate the relationship between follower proactive behavior and performance evaluation. The results of a time-lagged study support this hypothesis, indicating that follower taking charge behavior is rewarded with higher performance evaluations only when leaders feel responsible for constructive change. Following the discussion of findings, we discuss practical implications, potential limitations of the present study and directions for future research.

Commentary: Who Are Your Friends? The Influence of Identification and Family In-Group and Out-Group Friendships on Nonfamily Employee OCB and Deviance:

We refine the findings of Vardaman, Allen, and Rogers that indicate the structural position of nonfamily employees in friendship networks can enhance organizational identification and reduce turnover in family firms. We extend their work by offering a more nuanced perspective that not all friendships are created equal. We propose that a family friend’s membership in the family in-group or out-group influences nonfamily employees’ organizational identification, and in turn, their behavior (i.e., organizational citizenship behavior and deviance). Our theorizing expands the nascent literature on nonfamily employees, offering a theoretical rationale for their complex and often poorly understood behavior.

Justice in the Family Firm: An Integrative Review and Future Research Agenda

To extend the understanding of justice perceptions in family firms, we take stock of the small but growing literature by reviewing notable conceptual and empirical papers published in the last 15 years that put forward research questions, propositions, and hypotheses related to justice perceptions in the family firm context. With the goal of providing a future research agenda, we identify research questions awaiting empirical answers and present potential difficulties in translating conceptual ideas into empirical studies. To capture differences in how the family aspect of a firm may influence justice, we discuss and identify reliable, valid measures of justice-related constructs and family influence.

Socioemotional wealth importance within family firm internal communication

Purpose One of the key characteristics that distinguishes the family business from other firms is the importance of accruing and maintaining socioemotional wealth (SEW). Using an experimental design, this exploratory study investigates the communication practices of family business leaders responding to employees responsible for a business disruption. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether managers take action to protect SEW while responding to a crisis. Design/methodology/approach Three employees of a family firm participated in the experiment. A family member employee and a non-family employee were instructed to write a message informing a family member leader of a business disruption they created (infecting a computer with malware). The family member leader then received these messages and wrote a response to each employee. These responses were then content analyzed to determine whether messages expressed SEW importance and to see if SEW content differed based on the recipient’s familial status. Findings Content analysis of messages intended for family members and non-family employees indicated that messages intended for family members contain significantly different content associated with dimensions of Socioemotional Wealth Importance scale, particularly in terms of reinforcing family dominance, sustaining family continuity, and maintaining family enrichment. Originality/value This study is the first to examine crisis communication within the family firm and whether SEW endowment occurs via internal communication within the family firm. By utilizing an experiment, this study extends the SEW literature further by adding to the diversity of techniques utilized to study this topic.