Environmental uncertainty and strategic behavior in Belgian family firms
By: VAN GILS, Anita
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Contributor(s): VOORDECKERS, Win | HEUVEL, Jeroen Van Den.
Material type: 
ArticlePublisher: Oxford : Pergamon, October 2004Subject(s): Family firm; Environmental uncertainty; Goal formulation; Strategic behavior; SMEEuropean Management Journal 22, 5, p. 588-595Abstract: Despite the prevalence and economic importance of family businesses both in Europe and the US, relatively little research has been performed on how these types of firms remain competitive in todays dynamic environment. The aim of this research projectconducted among a representative sample of family businesses in Belgiumis to analyze a managers perception of environmental uncertainty and to link it to the family firms strategic behavior. Results indicate that family firm managers do not perceive their environment as a very hostile one. To attain a competitive advantage, most of them opt for a competitive strategy that combines a cost leadership and differentiation perspective. However, a large group of family firms occupies a stuck-in-the-middle-position. The selection of a strategy is linked to family firm goals and the CEOs uncertainty perception of some specific issues in the family firms environment
Despite the prevalence and economic importance of family businesses both in Europe and the US, relatively little research has been performed on how these types of firms remain competitive in todays dynamic environment. The aim of this research projectconducted among a representative sample of family businesses in Belgiumis to analyze a managers perception of environmental uncertainty and to link it to the family firms strategic behavior. Results indicate that family firm managers do not perceive their environment as a very hostile one. To attain a competitive advantage, most of them opt for a competitive strategy that combines a cost leadership and differentiation perspective. However, a large group of family firms occupies a stuck-in-the-middle-position. The selection of a strategy is linked to family firm goals and the CEOs uncertainty perception of some specific issues in the family firms environment
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