JFBS Special Issue Call for Papers
Inbound and Outbound Theorizing on Family
Business in Shaping Industries and Innovation
Deadline for Abstracts submission: 15 December 2022 (optional)
Deadline for Full paper submission: 30 April 2023
Guest Editors:
David Audretsch, Indiana University, USA
Maksim Belitski, University of Reading, UK
Nada Rejeb, ICD Business School Paris, France
Alfredo De Massis, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
Petra M. Moog, Siegen University, Germany
Special issue objectives
This special issue puts industry front and center. It calls for inbound and outbound theorizing
on family business roles in industries and how industries facilitate family business development
and innovation. We are explicitly looking for submissions that use industry as a variable of
interest and (or) dependent variable in the research, with industry representing a major
theoretical aspect of the arguments.
Our focus on outbound and inbound theories is not random but aims to decrease the lack of
studies with both theories in family business. There remains a gap in understanding how other
fields can draw from family business literature and benefit from this specific context to refine
and advance mainstream theories and better understand industries home to both family and nonfamily businesses.
Indeed, many phenomena currently considered within the field of family
business have broader implications (Holt et al., 2018). Numerous opportunities exist to
understand how family firms shape the dynamics of industries in regions and nations.
Outbound theorizing would contribute significantly to adapting and developing existing
theories in management research and redefining their boundary conditions (Jaskiewicz et al.,
2020).
In addition, pushing the frontier of academic research in these directions could lead to
significant theoretical and managerial implications. For example, conceptualizing existing
knowledge on the psychology of family firms (Elsbach & Pieper, 2019) within and across
industries would be a first step towards assisting policymakers with open innovation initiatives
that fit with the distinctive characteristics of family firms regarding their specific industry
backgrounds as well as their particular needs and constrains.
Following is a list of research questions intended to offer ideas and inspiration to develop
original contributions for our vision for this special issue, with the objective to cross-fertilize
the field of family business strategy and further the understanding of industry development
across disciplines. We welcome theoretical, empirical and methodological contributions
addressing the following as well as other topics of interest.
• What theories and methods are adequate to study the industry effects on family business and
the role of family business in shaping the industry?
• How can family influence become an important promoter for industry development, industry
innovation, development of communities and societies?
• What inbound and outbound theories may explain the contributions of family business to the
industry?
• What is the role of ownership in family business and its institutional differences across
industries?
• What is the role of family businesses in industry clusters, and how do the family-influenced
clusters affect (positively and negatively) innovativeness?
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• What intra- and inter-industry knowledge spillovers facilitate family business growth and
innovation?
• How do industrial characteristics change the relationship between inputs and outputs for
family business?
• What innovation strategies do family businesses pursue across industries?
• What is the potential contribution of inbound and outbound theories to understanding the
role of family business in creating and enhancing communities?
• To what extent is family business resilience affected by the firm's industry?
• Can the internationalization of family businesses be limited to specific industries?
• Can the German Mittelstand model with its high concentration of family businesses be
transferred to other countries and to other industries?
Important note
The guest editors are looking to receive submissions that represent a balanced mix in
contributions addressing both inbound and outbound theorizing on industry and innovation
aspects. We are not welcoming papers dealing exclusively with innovation in family firms.
Authors who intend to submit the full paper and will have submitted the abstracts by December 15th will be invited to present their work in progress at
the Indiana University Europe Gateway Conference in Berlin, Germany in March 10 2023 (hybrid format).
Tentative schedule
Abstract submission deadline: 15 December 2022 to
m.belitski@reading.ac.ukSubmission of full papers: 31 April 2023
First round of revisions: 30 July 2023
Revisions deadline: 15 October 2023
Second paper development workshop for revised papers: November 2023
Second round of review: 30 January 2024
Revisions deadline: 30 April 2024
Final acceptance: 30 June 2024
Questions and informal enquiries should be directed to the Managing Guest Editor, Dr. Maksim Belitski, via
m.belitski@reading.ac.uk.
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Maksim Belitski
University of Reading
Reading
01183786231
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