This article sketches the contours of an institution-based view of family ownership and control in large firms, with a focus on institutional roots, institutional relatedness, and institutional transitions. The institution-based view brings considerable continuity to family-firm research. It also offers significant novelty in helping resolve some puzzles. Specifically, it answers why the Berle and Means hypothesis on the “inevitability” of separation of ownership and control has not received support in many parts of the world. Finally, its broad scope enables us to integrate institution-based arguments with an important recent debate on the socioemotional wealth (SEW) priorities of family firms.
In this study we examine the moderating effect of competitive strategy (including differentiation and cost‐leadership strategies) on the relationship between exploration and firm performance. We find that the moderating effect of differentiation strategy is positive while that of cost‐leadership strategy is negative. And, these moderating effects are stronger in a highly competitive context. This study offers an explanation for previous mixed findings on the linkage of exploration to firm performance and enriches the discipline's knowledge regarding the performance implications of exploration. Moreover, we respond directly to the appeal in research on competitive strategy to clarify the role played by competitive strategy in profiting from exploration.
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