۱- Introduction

۲- Literature review

۳- Methodology

۴- Findings and discussion

۵- Conclusions

References

Abstract

Although the internationalisation of family businesses (FBs) has received increasing attention in recent years, much remains to be learned about how FB internationalisation unfolds as a process. Our review of 172 empirical studies from the period of 1991–۲۰۱۸ indicates that only 25 studies included both longitudinal data and strong process theorising, even though internationalisation is inherently processual, and FBs are longitudinal in nature. We acknowledge that both variance- and process-based theorising are needed to build an understanding of the FB internationalisation process. We contribute to the field by building an FB internationalisation process model based on a review analysis. Within the model, process-based internationalisation pathways are combined with variance-based capabilities (positive influences) and liabilities (negative influences) that affect internationalisation, with economic and non-economic goals viewed as driving the various internationalisation processes. On the basis of the model, we suggest that future research could adopt more longitudinal and individually focused approaches, as a means to understand the FB internationalisation process in various FBs and contexts, over various time periods, life cycles, and FB generations.

Introduction

Family businesses (FBs) possess some distinctive features, being passed on from generation to generation, with constant triggers for change stemming from the interaction of family, business, and ownership (Gersick, Davis, Hampton, & Lansberg, 1997). Non-economic, family-related goals often intertwine with economic, business-related goals and strategies (e.g. Berrone, Cruz, & Gomez-Mejia, 2012). Hence, the particular nature and extent of FB internationalisation has attracted increasing attention (see e.g. Arregle, Duran, Hitt, & Van Essen, 2017; Pukall & Calabrò, ۲۰۱۴). Taking into account Melin (1992) call for longitudinal perspectives on internationalisation, our claim is that FBs possess special features for process theorising due to the multigenerational influence and non-economic goal orientations. The evolving FBs and their internationalisation are well suited to process research, which ‘focuses empirically on evolving phenomena and […] temporal progressions of activities as elements of explanation and understanding’ (Langley, Smallman, Tsoukas, & Van de Ven, 2013, p. 1). However, as we see it, the full potential of such an approach has yet to be realised.