Microfoundations in Family Firm Research: A Review and Agenda for Theoretically Driven Future Inquiry

Abstract

Microfoundations research, generally conceptualized as explaining macro concepts and relationships in terms of micro-level behaviors and interactions, has been argued as critical to knowledge-building. Thus, we reviewed the family business literature to assess the state of microfoundations knowledge. Results indicate most research does not examine all microfoundational links. In addition, much of the research lacks a theoretical foundation. To provide structure to guide future inquiry, we offer theoretically-driven directions for family business research for each microfoundation link. This will help prevent microfoundations knowledge from developing in a disjointed manner, and allow future research to build more systematically.