A systematic examination of the family business contributions: is this domain a legitimate field of research?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze family business research, which has experienced tremendous growth. Through this study’s categorization and evaluation of research, the authors illustrate the evolution of family business research in management, entrepreneurship and family business domains over the past decade. Design/methodology/approach This study provides an interdisciplinary systematic review of family business literature between 2008 and 2022 to analyze the family business field. Following similar previous reviews (Chrisman et al., 2003; Debicki et al., 2009), this study’s final sample includes 1,443 studies, which the authors categorize into six broad topics and 21 subcategories of management topics. Findings This study’s analysis reveals the field has grown nearly fivefold since 2007. As such, the authors examine the growth and decline of specific research topics. The authors also find in the past decade family business research has experienced rapid growth across a variety of outlets, signaling increasing reach, richness and legitimacy of the field. Originality/value By reviewing and analyzing 1,443 family business articles, the results illustrate the evolution of family business research over the past decade and what this means for its future. Based on this study’s systematic review, the authors offer insights into the state of the field and propose avenues for future research so the field can continue to prosper.

How bad do you want it? A bibliometric review of individual competitiveness

“…More specifically, a bibliometric analysis is useful for statistically assessing the impact of published works (Vogel and Güttel, 2013;Osareh, 1996). The ability of bibliometrics to synthesize a body of information on a given topic concisely, effectively and objectively has already been recognized by academics as a highly effective strategy (Khanra et al, 2021;Sherlock et al, 2022), helping researchers identify "'what,' 'where' and 'by whom' established the field" (Dharmani et al, 2021, p. 253). Finally, findings from bibliometric studies are inherently objective and quantitative in nature (Tiberius et al, 2020) because bibliometric analysis is "founded on the assertion that citations can be used as indicators of present and past activities of scientific work" (Schildt et al, 2006, p. 400).…”