Real Versus Sample-Based Differences in Comparative Family Business Research

This study sheds light on the importance ofcontrolling for demographic differences in research comparing family andnonfamily businesses. Managers from 757 family and nonfamily firms, varying insize and industry, from the Flanders region of Belgium were surveyed on anumber of variables. Results show that often-cited differences between familyand nonfamily firms are not "real." Controlling for demographicfactors, family firms did not differ from nonfamily firms with regard tostrategy, networking, long-term planning and control practices, growth, andmanagement training. "Real" differences were identified with regard to export, formalshort-term planning systems, variable reward systems, and CEO characteristicssuch as age, education, tenure, and gender. Hence, family and nonfamily firmsof a certain size, age, and industry do not differ in some aspects, as waspreviously believed, and more management techniques and concepts are applicableto family firms than were previously assumed. (LKB)