Does Knowing “Who Knows What” Matter for Family Firm Innovation? Insights From Transactive Memory System Theory

We extend transactive memory systems theory from psychology to examine the cognitive interdependence of family and nonfamily employees and its effects on family firm innovation. Using triadic data and dispersion modeling, we find that innovation is enhanced when family and nonfamily employees communicate and when they have a shared understanding of “who knows what”; however, we find unexpectedly that the communication effects differ for family and nonfamily employees, hindering the development of shared knowledge perceptions needed for enhanced innovation. We demonstrate the value in applying psychology-based research to family firm investigations and in investigating microfoundations of family firm innovation.

Transaction-specific investments in a supplier-distributor-supplier triad in China: opportunism and cooperation

Purpose Rather than focussing on dyadic distributor–supplier relationships, this study aims to examine whether the difference in transaction-specific investments (TSIs) between rival suppliers in a supplier–distributor–supplier triad influences whether distributors expropriate or maintain their supplier’s TSIs. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on triadic data from 276 questionnaires that address both the supplier–distributor relationship and the rival supplier–distributor relationship, a moderated regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. Findings Five out of six hypotheses are supported by the empirical test. The results show that the supplier’s TSIs increase the distributor’s opportunistic behaviour and reduce cooperation when the distributor perceives that the supplier’s TSIs are lower than those of a rival supplier. In contrast, when the distributor perceives that the supplier’s TSIs are higher than those of a competitor, the supplier’s TSIs do not improve cooperation and can shift the link between the supplier’s TSIs and the distributor’s opportunism from being positive to negative. Practical implications The findings have implications for the top managers of supplier firms embedded in distribution networks. This study suggests that the competitor’s TSIs can be regarded as an indicator of the supplier’s relationship with the distributor. By keeping an eye on their competitors’ TSIs, the top managers of suppliers can predict the likelihood of distributors’ opportunistic and cooperative behaviour and make efforts to improve their position by adjusting their own firm’s TSIs. Furthermore, this information can help suppliers decide on their investment strategies and maintain stable and healthy relationships. Originality/value This study 1) examines the effect of TSIs using a triadic framework and triadic data and demonstrates that how a distributor responds to a supplier’s TSIs, with either opportunism or cooperation, depends on the relative level of those TSIs in focal and competitive relationships; and 2) reveals the expropriation effects and restraint effects of TSIs by drawing on prospect theory. This finding indicates the dynamics of TSIs in a triadic relationship.

Parents’ Concerns Over Internet Use, Their Engagement in Interaction Restrictions, and Adolescents’ Behavior on Social Networking Sites

Little is known about parents’ motivations to engage in Internet mediation nor about how parents may influence each other’s Internet mediation practices. The present study uses triadic data, with reports from the mother, the father, and the adolescent child from the same family ( N = 357). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied for testing the relationship between parents’ concerns over Internet risks, parents’ engagement in mediation practices, and the adolescent’s engagement in risk behavior on social network sites (SNSs). Parents’ risk perception was not related to mediation practices, but the mother’s risk perception had a positive effect on the father’s engagement in parental mediation. Parental mediation predicted less online contact with strangers by the adolescent. The results show that both parents contribute individually to their adolescent child’s safe Internet use, which stresses the importance of involving both parents in parental mediation research.

Coexisting Agency and Stewardship Governance in Family Firms: An Empirical Investigation of Individual-Level and Firm-Level Effects

This article theoretically and empirically intertwines agency and stewardship theories to examine their distinct and combined influences on family firms. Primary matched triadic data from CEOs, family employees, and nonfamily employees in 77 family firms suggest that agency and stewardship governance affects individual-level behavior and firm-level performance. Specifically, agent behavior is highest under conditions of coexisting low agency governance and high stewardship governance and is lowest when agency and stewardship governance coexist at high levels. Furthermore, when high levels of agency and stewardship governance coexist, family firm performance is the highest. Theoretical implications and future research directions are discussed.