Why are non-family employees intrapreneurially active in family firms? A multiple case study

Köhn, Philipp; Ruf, Julian; Moog, Petra (2023). Why are non-family employees intrapreneurially active in family firms? A multiple case study Journal of Family Business Strategy, 14(3), p. 100532. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jfbs.2022.100532

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This study sheds light on the intrapreneurial motivation of non-family employees in family firms. Although family involvement is known to enhance workforce motivation to contribute innovative ideas toward the firm’s improvement, what motivates non-family employees in family firms and the role the enterprising family plays therein remain underexplored. Therefore, we conduct a multiple case study using a dyadic sample of interviews with owner-managers and non-family employees in nine German family firms. The cross-case analysis shows that in firms with strong enterprising family influence, the identification of non-family employees is heightened, intrinsically motivating them to become intrapreneurially active. Our findings also reveal that in family firms with reduced enterprising family influence, this intrinsic motivation decreases. Furthermore, we observe the establishment of certain business mechanisms in these firms aimed at fostering the extrinsic motivation of non-family employees.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Business School > Institute for New Work Business School
Name:	Köhn, Philipp; Ruf, Julian and Moog, Petra
ISSN:	1877-8585
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Julian Ruf
Date Deposited:	01 Oct 2024 13:42
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2024 13:42
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.jfbs.2022.100532
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Intrapreneurial motivation Non-family employees Family influence Family firm Identification Intrapreneurship
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.22375
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/22375