When Family Business Meets Social Enterprise: An Integrative Review and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

Although family businesses and social enterprises are typically examined as distinct organizational forms, research in both domains recognizes the significant influence of family on organizational goals. Our cross-disciplinary review of 104 articles, published in 50 journals between 1996 and 2020, capitalizes on this family connection and synthesizes the varied ways family influence has been examined in extant literature. Our review considers the role of the family in shaping social missions and directing social value while also emphasizing the importance of community stakeholders. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding the dynamic role of family influence across domains and enhancing interdisciplinary learning.