Hostname: page-component-54dcc4c588-hp6zs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-09-12T19:53:26.036Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Family Dynamics and Entrepreneurship in China: An Introduction of the Dual Tuning Model of Temporal Rhythms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2025

David Ahlstrom
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Hanqing Chevy Fang
Affiliation:
Missouri University of Science and Technology, US
Bin Liu*
Affiliation:
Xiamen University, China
James J. Chrisman
Affiliation:
Mississippi State University, US
*
Corresponding author: Bin Liu (binliu@xmu.edu.cn)

Abstract

Family dynamics can significantly influence entrepreneurship, yet the temporal complexities of this relationship remain inadequately explored. This special issue addresses this gap by emphasizing the intricate interplay between internal family evolvability such as generational transitions and identity shifts, cultural continuity, and external adaptability to rapidly changing economic, institutional, and technological contexts in China. We introduce a dual tuning model that highlights how entrepreneurial and family firms (FFs) strategically synchronize their internal and external temporal rhythms to manage conflicts and optimize performance. This lead article reviews existing literature, articulates the dual tuning model, and synthesizes insights from the articles in this special issue to illuminate how Chinese FFs navigate tensions between evolving internal dynamics and external market demands. We conclude by identifying promising future research avenues that leverage this temporal perspective to deepen our understanding of family dynamics and entrepreneurship in China.

摘要

摘要

尽管家庭动态对创业活动具有深远影响, 但其中时间维度上的复杂性尚未得到充分探讨。本期特刊聚焦这一研究空白, 强调中国制度情境下家庭内部的代际传承、身份转变、文化延续等‘演化性’因素, 与经济、制度及技术环境的快速变化所带来的‘适应性’要求之间产生的复杂互动。我们提出时间节奏的‘双重调适’模型,以揭示创业型企业与家族企业如何战略性地协同其内外部节奏, 从而缓解冲突、提升绩效。本文作为特刊的导论性文章, 通过回顾相关文献, 系统阐述该理论模型, 并整合本期论文的主要研究结果, 呈现了中国企业如何在内部动态演进与外部市场压力之间实现动态平衡。最后, 我们指出未来值得拓展的研究方向, 倡导从时间视角深化对中国家庭动态与创业关系的理解。

Information

Type
Perspectives
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Association for Chinese Management Research.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Ahlstrom, D., & Bruton, G. D. 2010. Rapid institutional shifts and the co–evolution of entrepreneurial firms in transition economies. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 34(3): 531554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahlstrom, D., & Ding, Z. 2014. Entrepreneurship in China: An overview. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 32(6): 610618.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahlstrom, D., & Wang, L. C. 2021. Temporal strategies and firms’ speedy responses to COVID‐19. Journal of Management Studies, 58(2): 592596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aldrich, H. E., & Cliff, J. E. 2003. The pervasive effects of family on entrepreneurship: Toward a family embeddedness perspective. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(5): 573596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andersson, G., Thomson, E., & Duntava, A. 2017. Life-table representations of family dynamics in the 21st century. Demographic Research, 37: 10811230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arregle, J. L., Duran, P., Hitt, M. A., & Van Essen, M. 2017. Why is family firms’ internationalization unique? A meta–analysis. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(5): 801831.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barone, G., & Mocetti, S. 2021. Intergenerational mobility in the very long run: Florence 1427–2011. The Review of Economic Studies, 88(4): 18631891.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blagoev, B., Hernes, T., Kunisch, S., & Schultz, M. 2024. Time as a research lens: A conceptual review and research agenda. Journal of Management, 50(6): 21522196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruton, G. D., & Ahlstrom, D. 2003. An institutional view of China’s venture capital industry: Explaining the differences between China and the West. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(2): 233259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruton, G. D., Ahlstrom, D., & Obloj, K. 2008. Entrepreneurship in emerging economies: Where are we today and where should the research go in the future. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32(1): 114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, R. S., Opper, S., & Zou, N. 2021. Social network and family business: Uncovering hybrid family firms. Social Networks, 65: 141156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calabrò, A., Chrisman, J. J., & Kano, L. 2022. Family-owned multinational enterprises in the post-pandemic global economy. Journal of International Business Studies, 53(5): 920935.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carney, M., Gedajlovic, E., & Strike, V. M. 2014. Dead money: Inheritance law and the longevity of family firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 38(6): 12611283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheal, D. 2002. Sociology of family life. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, C. C., Chen, X. P., & Huang, S. 2013. Chinese guanxi: An integrative review and new directions for future research. Management and Organization Review, 9(1): 167207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, L., Zhu, J. A., & Fang, H. 2021. Family business in China, Volume 2: Challenges and opportunities. London: Palgrave-Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, X., Arnoldi, J., & Na, C. 2015. Governance structure and related party loan guarantees: The case of Chinese family business groups. Management and Organization Review, 11(4): 599619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chrisman, J. J., Madison, K., & Kim, T. 2021. A dynamic framework on noneconomic goals and inter-family agency complexities in multi-family firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(4): 906930.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciravegna, L., Ahlstrom, D., Michailova, S., Oh, C. H., & Gaur, A. 2023. Exogenous shocks and MNEs: Learning from pandemics, conflicts, and other major disruptions. Journal of World Business, 58(6): 101487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dieleman, M., & Sachs, W. M. 2008. Coevolution of institutions and corporations in emerging economies: How the Salim group morphed into an institution of Suharto’s crony regime. Journal of Management Studies, 45(7): 12741300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ESCAP. 2016. Ageing in Asia and the Pacific: Overview. [Cited 3 December 2025]. Available from URL: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/SDD%20Ageing%20Fact%20Sheet%20Overview.pdfGoogle Scholar
Fan, C. C. 2024. Globalizing research on global cities and international business. Journal of International Business Studies, 55(1): 2836.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fang, H. C., Singh, K., Kim, T., Marler, L., & Chrisman, J. J. 2022. Family business research in Asia: Review and future directions. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 39: 12151256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman, M. S., & Pentland, B. T. 2008. Routine dynamics. In D. Barrt & H. Hansen (Eds.). The SAGE handbook of new approaches in management and organization: 302–315. London: Sage Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomez-Mejia, L. R., Cruz, C., Berrone, P., & De Castro, J. 2011. The bind that ties: Socioemotional wealth preservation in family firms. Academy of Management Annals, 5(1): 653707.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gong, K, Odom, D, & Kim, T. 2025. Institutional origin and Chinese family firms’ dot tax haven internationalization. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.32Google Scholar
Guan, X., Ahlstrom, D., & Liu, J. 2024. Infrastructure collaboration along the Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for corporate social responsibility and political activity. Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development, 8(8): 4705.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Härkönen, J., Bernardi, F., & Boertien, D. 2017. Family dynamics and child outcomes: An overview of research and open questions. European Journal of Population, 33(2): 163184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holcombe, C. 2017. A history of East Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hu, C., Wang, P., & Covin, J. G. 2025. Intergenerational Capital endowments and external funding in new ventures: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.22Google Scholar
Karraker, M. W., & Grochowski, J. R. 2012. Families with futures: family studies into the 21st century. London: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, R., & Peng, W. Q. 2013. The effect of industry characteristics on the control longevity of founding-family firms. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 4(4): 281295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klarner, P., & Raisch, S. 2013. Move to the beat—Rhythms of change and firm performance. Academy of Management Journal, 56(1): 160184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kreyenfeld, M., Andersson, G., & Pailhé, A. 2012. Economic uncertainty and family dynamics in Europe: Introduction. Demographic Research, 27: 835852.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, C. L., Lin, W. T., & Shih, Y. N. 2025. When do family firms plant different new trees? The role of family firms and CSR committees in green innovation. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.33Google Scholar
Li, G. M., Ge, B., & Dou, J. 2025. Like father like son: How perceived parental mentoring strategies shape successors’ entrepreneurial identity in Chinese family businesses. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.50Google Scholar
Li, J., Liu, B., & Qian, G. 2019. The belt and road initiative, cultural friction and ethnicity: Their effects on the export performance of SMEs in China. Journal of World Business, 54(4): 350359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, B., & Wang, P. 2023. Does Internet exposure reduce the desire for family control? Evidence from China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 190: 122436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, B., & Wang, Q. 2022. Speed of China’s OFDIs to the Belt and Road Initiative destinations: State equity, industry competition, and the moderating effects of the policy. Journal of International Business Policy, 5(2): 218235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, B., Ahlstrom, D., & Zhang, Y. 2024. The schizophrenic board secretary: An embedded agent between multiple stakeholders and financial misconduct. The British Accounting Review, 101323.Google Scholar
Liu, B., Qian, G., & Au, K. Y. F. 2023. Family influence and environmental proactiveness of family firms in China: A mixed gamble perspective. Management and Organization Review, 19(2): 348371.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, B., Qian, G., Lu, J. W., & Shu, D. 2024. Listing pathway, industry competition and internationalization: The case of Chinese family firms. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 41(3): 15151543.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lu, F., Huang, X., Xu, E., Chung, C. N., & He, X. 2022. Instrumental love: Political marriage and family firm growth. Management and Organization Review, 18(2): 279318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luo, X. R., & Chung, C. N. 2013. Filling or abusing the institutional void? Ownership and management control of public family businesses in an emerging market. Organization Science, 24(2): 591613.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maharani, I. A. K., Sukoco, B. M., Ahlstrom, D., & Usman, I. 2024. Rhythm and shift frequency of strategic renewal in Indonesian firm performance. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 18(6): 16871709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martinez, M., & Aldrich, H. 2014. Sociological theories applied to family business. In L. Melin, M. Nordqvist, & P. Sharma (Eds.). The SAGE handbook of family business: 8399. London: Sage Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyer, K. E., Prashantham, S., & Xu, S. 2021. Entrepreneurship and the post-COVID-19 recovery in emerging economies. Management and Organization Review, 17(5): 11011118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mulder, C. H. 2013. Family dynamics and housing: Conceptual issues and empirical findings. Demographic Research, 29: 355378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, M. K. 2020. Like family: Narratives of fictive kinship. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.Google Scholar
Newman, D. M., & Grauerholz, E. 2002. Sociology of families. Newbury Park, CA: Pine Forge Press.Google Scholar
Regnerus, M. D., & Burdette, A. 2006. Religious change and adolescent family dynamics. The Sociological Quarterly, 47(1): 175194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skorodziyevskiy, V. 2025. Paradox of family firms: Comment on Fang, Singh, Kim, Marler, and Chrisman (2022). Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.73Google Scholar
Skorodziyevskiy, V., Sherlock, C., Su, E., Chrisman, J. J., & Dibrell, C. 2024. Strategic change in family firms: A review from an institutional environment and firm size perspective. Family Business Review, 37(1): 130160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Song, J., Su, Y., Ding, Z., Wu, S., & Fan, D. 2025. Family diversity and hybrid entrepreneurship: A family embeddedness perspective. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.61Google Scholar
South China Morning Post. 2023. China population: ‘self-aware’ DINK couples, with no kids, could prolong demographic crisis. Available from URL: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3228374/chinas-self-aware-dink-couples-no-kids-could-prolong-demographic-crisisGoogle Scholar
Treas, J., Scott, J., & Richards, M. (Eds.). 2017. The Wiley Blackwell companion to the sociology of families. Oxford: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Wang, P., Liu, B., Delios, A., & Qian, G. 2023. Two-sided effects of state equity: The survival of Sino–foreign IJVs. Journal of International Business Studies, 54(1): 107127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, Q., Wang, Y., Chu, H., & Chen, J. 2025. Innovation in family firms: An intergenerational tale of symbol and substance. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.62Google Scholar
Wu, Q., Xu, J., Song, B., & Liu, B. 2024. Beggars cannot be choosers? Legitimacy deficiency and the use of trade credit by family firms. Accounting & Finance, 64(4): 39733998.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xi, J., Cai, J., Wu, X., & Cheng, Y. 2025. How does family culture generate competitive advantage for family firms? A case study from the affordance perspective. Management and Organization Review, 21(2): doi:10.1017/mor.2024.74Google Scholar