IFERA 2019 Conference, Bergamo, Italy
“Feeding the fire of entrepreneurship:
Theory and practice for the enterprising family”
In family firms, the intertwinement of the family and the business systems gives the former a crucial role in forging principles, values, and competences that affect entrepreneurial decision-making and outcomes. For example, family structure, members’ roles and relationships impact the resources made available to the firm and their use, both statically (i.e. at a given point in time) and dynamically (i.e. through family development and transitions, such as childbirth and marriage, but also divorce and death). Family-related norms, attitudes and their evolution also have implications on entrepreneurial behaviours (e.g., opportunity recognition, new business start-up decisions) and outcomes (e.g., survival, fulfilment of economic and non-economic goals). Scholars agree it is increasingly important to adopt a family perspective and to focus on the enterprising family as a yet unexploited unit of analysis in entrepreneurship research.
The aim of the conference is to create a fertile ground to a) support the development of theories of the enterprising family; b) favour the disciplinary cross-fertilization of family studies and entrepreneurship fields (e.g., the application of family science theory to investigate entrepreneurship); c) frame and systematize the contribution of management theories (e.g., agency theory, stewardship theory, socio-emotional wealth perspective, resource based view, …) to the theorizing on the enterprising family. Such theorizing effort at the “enterprising family” unit of analysis has relevant implications for practice too. Family business practitioners and educators can benefit from this line of inquiry, by recognizing the challenges related to family issues, which should be considered as complementary to the much more discussed business ones in fostering entrepreneurial potential of family firms.
The conference location is the old medieval part of Bergamo, a charming and lively town.
The University of Bergamo, ranked among the top 100 young universities worldwide and the top 500 universities worldwide according to the Times Higher Education, offers a vibrant academic environment
Keynote Speakers:
Howard Aldrich, UNC Chapel Hill, USA
Jay Barney, University of Utah, USA
Nadine Kammerlander, WHU, Germany
Pictures of the event are available on the IFERA Official Facebook page[tabby title=”Committee”]
Conference chair: Tommaso Minola
Conference Co-Chairs: Mara Brumana, Giovanna Campopiano
Consortia Co-Chair: Claudia Binz Astrachan, Emanuela Rondi
Research and publications Director: Josip Kotlar
Event Coordinators: Valentina Re, Inese Ziemele
[tabby title=”Program”]
Conference venue: University of Bergamo, Italy
Event dates: 17th – 21st June 2019
Conference Program Overview (pdf)
Consortiums Program Overview (pdf)
Conference proceedings (members access only)
[tabby title=”Conference Awards”]
IFERA 2019 has assigned several awards that, based on peer-review, will recognize excellence, quality and impact of papers and proposals submitted to the conference. Awards will include the Best Conference Paper, the Best Paper on Conference Theme, the Best Paper-Contribution to Practice, the Best Reviewer(s) and the best PhD Thesis Proposal.
The “CYFE – UNIBG”Best Conference Paper Award €2,500
Award jury: Alfredo DeMassis, Cristina Bettinelli, Alister Anderson, Kim Eddleston
Winner:
Family-oriented non-economic objectives and the internationalization of family firms: Evidence from Australia
Chris Graves, Henry Shi and Francesco Barbera
Other nominated papers:
- Failing to sustain collaboration: A longitudinal process study of failed family owner ‒ nonfamily CEO trajectories
Rüveyda Kelleci, Frank Lambrechts, Wim Voordeckers and Jolien Huybrechts - The family compass – How family identity enables family firms to align strategy and business identity
Jana Bövers and Christina Hoon - Job Benefits and Employee Happiness in Family and Non-family Firms – The Role of
Cultural Differences
Stephanie Querbach, Matthias Waldkirch and Nadine Kammerlander
The “DIGIP – UNIBG” & “STEP”Best Paper on Conference Theme: €1,000
Award jury: Evelyn Micelotta, Andrea Salanti, Peter Jaskiewicz
Winner:
Entrepreneurship Orientation in Family Firms. An Exploratory Study
Michela Floris and Cinzia Dessì
Other nominated papers :
- R&D Sources and the InnovationPerformance of Family versus Non-Family
Businesses
Fernando Muñoz-Bullon, Maria J. Sanchez-Bueno and Alfredo De Massis - Paradoxical Influence of Family Ownership on Innovation-Focused Organizational Change:
Evidence from a Large Family Business Retail Firm
Izabela Szymanska - The Effect of Active Learning during Formative Years on Self-Employment– Indirect and Direct Exposure to FamilyBusiness
Marjan Houshmand, Marc-David Seidel and Dennis Ma
The “SAGE”Best Teaching Case: €1,500
Award jury: Rachel Taliaferro, Anita Van Gils, Giuseppe Pedeliento
Winner:
The Carreño Family
Ricardo Aparicio
Other nominated papers:
- The Peak Hotel – The Challenge of Succession and Family Firm Continuity
Anita Zehrer and Gabriela Leiss - J.M. HUBER: In the Midst of the Leadership Transition
Marta Widz and Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez - Open Sports Argentina: Corporate Social Responsibility of a Small Family Businesses
Claudio Muller and Natalia Christensen
The “WIFU”Best Paper Contribution to Practice: €1,000
Award jury: Marcel Hulsbeck, Edoardo della Torre, Daniel Pittino
Winner:
The mixed gamble of strategic market focus in family and nonfamily firms
Ivan Miroshnychenko, Alfredo De Massis, Kim A. Eddleston and Josip Kotlar
Other nominated papers:
- An Exploratory Study on the German Single Family Office Landscape:
Understanding Archetypes and Consequences
Antonia Schickinger, Max Peter Leitterstorf and Nadine Kammerlander - How, Who, and When? The Role of the Advisor for Post-Succession Outcomes in Family-Owned SME
Alexandra Michel, Philipp Sieger and Nadine Kammerlander - How to Keep Up with Discontinuous Technology? A Multiple Case Study on the
Digital Transformation Process in Family Firms
Jonas Soluk and Nadine Kammerlander
The “IFERA”Best Reviewer Award: €500 + 2019 IFERA conference fee waiver
Award jury: Tommaso Minola, Mara Brumana, Giovanna Campopiano
Winners:
Juliana Binhote, Maria Josè Sanchez-Bueno, Alessandro Cirillo, Luca Manelli
The IFERA Best PhD research proposal Award: € 1000
Award jury: Rania Labaki, Federica Origo, Attilia Ruzzene, Cristina Cruz
Winner:
Digital Transformation, Digital Entrepreneurship, and Digital Innovation in Family Firms
Jonas Soluk
Other nominated papers:
- Green expectations: Generational Transfer of Environmental Values in Family Businesses
Nishanthi Kariyapperuma - The Psychology of Generational Turnover in Family firms: A Post- Cognitive Approach
Vittoria Magrelli - Feeding the Fire of Digitalization: Family Firms in Times of Digital Disruption
Ruth Überbacher
The IFERA Most promising dissertation Award: € 1000
Award jury: Esra Memili, Emanuela Rondi, Renato Redondi, Philipp Sieger
Winner:
Changing Family Demographics as a Venture Creation Opportunity
Jiyoung Kim
Other nominated papers:
- Chairperson of the Board in Family Firms
Anup Banerjee - Entrepreneurial Finance and Immigrant family Businesses
Ibrahim Malki - Unraveling the Complexity of the Family and Business Interface in Family Owned Businesses
Michal Perry
[tabby title=”Social Programs”]
Welcome Reception, co-sponsored by “STEP Project” and “Martinì Vineyard”
The Welcome Reception for all conference participants will be held on Tuesday June 18th at:
University of Bergamo, Pignolo Campus (main conference venue).
Address: Via Pignolo 123, Bergamo (map)
Time: 18.30-21.00
Dresscode: Casual
Social Evening
The Social Evening will be held on Wednesday June 19th at:
Chiostro di S.Agostino, Bergamo
Address: Piazzale di S.Agostino 1, Bergamo
Time: 18:00- 22:00
Dresscode: Casual
Gala evening – GLOWING IN THE DARK
The Gala Evening and Award Ceremony will be held on Thursday June 20th at:
Piazza Vecchia, Bergamo
Address: Piazza Vecchia, Bergamo
Time: 19:00 to 22:30 (attendees can leave at anytime)
Dresscode: Formal
IFERA Secret Party – BREAKING THE CHAINS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Secret Party will be held on Thursday June 20th at:
A secret spot
Address: Vicolo S.Agata, Bergamo
Time: 22.30 to 1:30
Dresscode: Casual
[tabby title=”Location”]
The IFERA 2019 Conference will be organised in partnership with the University of Bergamo and will be held in the Pignolo Campus in Bergamo, Italy.
University of Bergamo
Via Pignolo, 123, 24121 Bergamo BG
Italy
Bergamo is a city in the alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Milan, and about 30 km (19 mi) from Switzerland, the alpine lakes Como and Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Garda and Maggiore. The Bergamo Alps (Alpi Orobie) are clearly visible from the city.
With a population of around 120,000, Bergamo is the fourth-largest city in Lombardy.
The city of Bergamo is composed of an old walled core, known as Città Alta (“Upper Town”), nestled within a system of hills, and the modern expansion in the plains below. The upper town is encircled by massive Venetian defensive systems that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 9 July 2017.
Bergamo is well connected to several cities in Italy, thanks to the motorway A4 stretching on the axis between Milan, Verona, and Venice. The city is served by Il Caravaggio International Airport, the third-busiest airport in Italy with 12.3 million passengers in 2017. Bergamo is the second most visited city in Lombardy after Milan. For more detailed information about things to do in Bergamo please visit http://www.visitbergamo.net/en/
[tabby title=”Call for Papers”]
In family firms, the intertwinement of the family and the business systems plays a crucial role in forging principles, values, and competences that affect entrepreneurial decision-making and outcomes. For example, family structure, members’ roles and relationships impact the resources made available to the firm and their use, both statically (i.e. at a given point in time) and dynamically (i.e. through family development and transitions). Family-related norms, attitudes and their evolution also have implications on entrepreneurial behaviors (e.g., opportunity recognition, new business start-up decisions) and outcomes (e.g., survival, fulfillment of economic and non-economic goals). Scholars agree it is increasingly important to adopt a family perspective and to focus on the enterprising family as a yet unexploited unit of analysis in entrepreneurship research.
The aim of the conference is to create a fertile ground to a) support the development of theories of the enterprising family; b) favor the disciplinary cross-fertilization of family studies and entrepreneurship fields (e.g., the application of family science theory to investigate entrepreneurship); c) frame and systematize the contribution of management theories (e.g., agency theory, stewardship theory, socio-emotional wealth perspective, resource based view, …) to the theorizing on the enterprising family. Such theorizing effort at the “enterprising family” unit of analysis has relevant implications for practice, too. Family business practitioners and educators can benefit from this line of inquiry, by recognizing the challenges related to family issues, which should be considered as complementary to the much more discussed business ones in fostering entrepreneurial potential of family firms.
We invite papers on all aspects of family business research, including but not limited to succession, leadership, governance, innovation, strategy, marketing, organizational behavior, human resource management, sociology, family psychology, history, economics, finance and accounting, as well as topics that lie at the intersection of these and other interrelated disciplines. In addition, the International Family Enterprise Research Academy, IFERA, invites papers that contribute to the presented conference theme “Feeding the fire of entrepreneurship: Theory and practice for the enterprising family”. All theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome.
University of Bergamo (www.unibg.it) is looking forward to warmly welcome you in June 2019!
Based on the conference theme, we suggest the following research agenda:
● Enterprising family, family business, and their link as unit of analysis: What makes a family an “enterprising family”? How and why do different typologies of families (e.g., post-divorce extended family; single-parent family) or different forms of involvement of these families in the business (e.g., ownership, management, governance) influence entrepreneurial activities? How do these change across cultures? What differentiates serial enterprising families and portfolio entrepreneurship in family firms?
● Family embedded perspective on entrepreneurship: How do family dynamics (e.g., birth of children, new generation members’ entry) and resources (e.g., family social capital) affect decisions regarding entrepreneurial initiatives (e.g., degree of relatedness and autonomy granted to the ventures, size and scope of enterprising family portfolio)? Are there specific stages of the family (e.g., couple with children in teens, retirement, or death) that facilitate engagement in entrepreneurial initiatives? How do the interdependence of the family and other external stakeholders influence the activities of the enterprising family?
● Effects of entrepreneurship on the family: How do family business entrepreneurial activities affect the resources (human, social, financial, physical capital) available to the enterprising family? How do family business entrepreneurial performances affect the system of norms, attitudes, goals and values of the enterprising family? How do entrepreneurial activities influence the wellbeing experienced by enterprising families’ members?
● Reconnecting family business and entrepreneurship fundamentals: How does family members’ cognitive and emotional attachment to the family affect opportunity recognition and new start-up decisions? What is the impact of active (managers and employees) and passive (owners not working in the business) family involvement on individual members’ entrepreneurial intention? How does the embeddedness of family firms in an innovation ecosystem or industrial district influence entrepreneurial activities?
Key Dates and Deadlines:
● All submissions due: February 4th, 2019
● Notification of acceptance for conference submissions: March 22nd, 2019
● Application for doctoral/faculty consortiums: March 31st, 2019
● Notification of acceptance for consortiums: April 6th, 2019
Submission types:
IFERA 2019 welcomes a varied and wide range of submissions to create a vibrant conference environment among family business scholars. Submission types include:
● Full Paper (FP)
● Work in Progress (WIP)
● Research Dissemination (RD)
● Teaching Case Study (TCS)
Highlights:
● AMR paper development workshop (PDW) on “Theory development on the enterprising family (and beyond)” by Jay Barney on June, 17th
● Keynote speakers:
o Howard Aldrich, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
o Jay Barney, University of Utah (US)
o Nadine Kammerlander, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany)
● Special issues: The launch of journal special issues is being considered to give value to the most promising papers submitted to the conference
● Family Business Day with a novel format offering several opportunities of cross-fertilization among scholars and practitioners, and involvement of the local, lively entrepreneurial community
● Dedicated sessions for special issues in progress, meeting with editors of the main journals of the field, seminars on emerging topics in family business research and career development
● Conference awards: best conference paper, best paper on conference theme, best paper for practical contribution, best teaching case award, best Ph.D. research proposal award, best reviewer award
For further information about submission guidelines, conference awards, journal special issues, etc., please contact research@ifera.org
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