Title: Three-dimensional concept of familiness in family-owned businesses: evidence from Myanmar

Authors: Nay Zar Aung; Yoji Kohda

Addresses: School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1211, Japan ' School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1211, Japan

Abstract: This qualitative study explored the unique resources of family-owned businesses (FOBs), viz., familiness. Although familiness has been analysed from multiple perspectives, the role of family originated resources has still been neglected. Six cases of analysis revealed that five embedded resources of families are generative of familiness and able to develop capabilities for business. We also found that different family natures generate two different business behaviours, i.e., stable familiness (tradition-based family customs with inward-orientation behaviours) and flexible familiness (modern-based family customs with outward-orientation behaviours). This suggested that familiness may serve as a strategic resource to gain competitive advantages and it might help to maintain the core competency of businesses. Thus, this study aims to share our knowledge as feedback to the businesses for encouraging their socio-economic development and these findings offer benefits as human resources for businesses.

Keywords: family-owned business; FOB; familiness; resource; business behaviours; competitive advantages; Myanmar.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.113205

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.42 No.3, pp.318 - 334

Received: 16 Feb 2018
Accepted: 26 Nov 2018
Published online: 24 Feb 2021 *

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