Author
Jennifer E. Cliff
Bio: Jennifer E. Cliff is an academic researcher from University of Alberta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Entrepreneurship & Rhetoric. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 6 publications receiving 2417 citations.
Papers
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TL;DR: The authors argue that long-term changes in family composition and in the roles and relations of family members have produced families in North America that are growing smaller and losing many of their previous role relationships.
2,192 citations
TL;DR: This article examined how founders' work experiences and beliefs about an industry's prevailing practices influence the degree of novelty exhibited by their firms and found that extensive experience in the core of an organizational field constrains individuals into acting as "imitative entrepreneurs", essentially reproducing established routines even if they question their legitimacy.
203 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that an owner's sex has no effect on the extent of a firm's bureaucracy or the femininity of its employment relationships, and that both male and female owners tend to talk as if they organize and manage their firms in different ways, even though they do not do so in practice.
Abstract: This study challenges the assumption that male and female business leaders establish gender-stereotypic organizational characteristics in their firms. Data collected from 229 businesses in Vancouver, Canada, indicate that an owner’s sex has no effect on the extent of a firm’s bureaucracy or the femininity of its employment relationships. These findings hold even in situations theoretically conducive to eliciting gender stereotypes. Rather than conforming primarily to the archetypically masculine model of organizing, both male and female owners manage their firms with a mix of masculine and feminine approaches. Subsequent analyses revealed, however, that business owners tend to talk as if they organize and manage their firms in different (and gender-stereotypic) ways, even though they do not do so in practice. This finding may help explain the persistent belief that a leader’s sex leaves an identifiable imprint on organizational characteristics.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the validity of the multidimensional degree of family influence construct and the reliability of the family influence on power is investigated. But, the authors do not provide suggestions for further establishing the validity and reliability of this construct.
Abstract: In this commentary, we provide suggestions for further establishing the validity of the multidimensional degree of family influence construct and the reliability of the family influence on power, e...
64 citations
Journal Article•
5 citations
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01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them, and describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative.
Abstract: What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.
2,134 citations
TL;DR: The authors explored the multiplicity of contexts and their impact on entrepreneurship, identifying challenges researchers face in contextualizing entrepreneurship theory and offers possible ways forward, arguing that context is important for understanding when, how, and why entrepreneurship happens and who becomes involved.
Abstract: This paper sets out to explore contexts for entrepreneurship, illustrating how a contextualized view of entrepreneurship contributes to our understanding of the phenomenon. There is growing recognition in entrepreneurship research that economic behavior can be better understood within its historical, temporal, institutional, spatial, and social contexts, as these contexts provide individuals with opportunities and set boundaries for their actions. Context can be an asset and a liability for the nature and extent of entrepreneurship, but entrepreneurship can also impact contexts. The paper argues that context is important for understanding when, how, and why entrepreneurship happens and who becomes involved. Exploring the multiplicity of contexts and their impact on entrepreneurship, it identifies challenges researchers face in contextualizing entrepreneurship theory and offers possible ways forward.
1,856 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present theoretical and definitional issues associated with the concept and propose a conceptual account of institutional entrepreneurship that helps to accommodate them, and highlight future directions for research on institutional entrepreneurship, and conclude with a discussion of its role in strengthening institutional theory as well as in the field of organization studies.
Abstract: As well as review the literature on the notion of institutional entrepreneurship introduced by Paul DiMaggio in 1988, we propose a model of the process of institutional entrepreneurship We first present theoretical and definitional issues associated with the concept and propose a conceptual account of institutional entrepreneurship that helps to accommodate them We then present the different phases of the process of institutional entrepreneurship from the emergence of institutional entrepreneurs to their implementation of change Finally, we highlight future directions for research on institutional entrepreneurship, and conclude with a discussion of its role in strengthening institutional theory as well as, more broadly, the field of organization studies
1,827 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors make the case for the socioemotional wealth (SEW) approach as the potential dominant paradigm in the family business field and argue that SEW is the most important differentiator of the family firm as a unique entity and helps explain why family firms behave distinctively.
Abstract: This article makes the case for the socioemotional wealth (SEW) approach as the potential dominant paradigm in the family business field. The authors argue that SEW is the most important differentiator of the family firm as a unique entity and, as such, helps explain why family firms behave distinctively. In doing so, the authors review the concept of SEW, its different dimensions, and its links with other theoretical approaches. The authors also address the issue of how to measure this construct and offer various alternatives for operationalizing it. Finally, they offer a set of topics that can be pursued in future studies using the SEW approach.
1,592 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of 217 refereed articles on family business studies is presented, focusing on individual, interpersonal or group, organizational, and societal levels of analyses, and an assessment of the status of our current understanding at each level is provided and directions for future research are suggested.
Abstract: Based on a review of 217 refereed articles on family business studies, the literature is organized according to its focus on individual, interpersonal or group, organizational, and societal levels of analyses. An assessment of the status of our current understanding at each level is provided and directions for future research are suggested. A discussion of definitional issues, bases of distinctiveness, and family firm performance is used to help understand the domain or scope of the field. Methodological issues and strategies aimed to enhance the pace at which the field achieves a distinctive legitimate place in organizational studies are presented.
1,469 citations