Curriculum human capital and family firm

Abstract

Purpose - In this review we analyze the scientific literature prior to 2022 vis-à-vis human capital as a characterizing factor in family firms. This type of organization, even if not limited to small dimensions and resources or embedded in local markets and communities, maintains some strategies and attitudes related to a small or medium family enterprise. These organizations are moved also by affective coping strategies related to the family bond that influences the interaction between family business partners. This affective commitment needs a different approach by traditional small and medium-sized enterprises, where the human capital, related to non-material factors, must be properly managed to grant its potentialities. Design/methodology/approach – By using Web of Science and Scopus as databases we obtain a cluster map of six clusters via VosViewer. Based on cluster mapping, several areas related to this topic emerge. Findings - These include firm performance, the different forms of human capital, the theme of succession (very pertinent in family firms), and the most prolific countries cited regarding this topic—the USA and Italy. Originality/Value – This work considers two ways to operate with entrepreneurial organization. The first recalls a traditional approach among many economies which base their society on this kind of enterprise, SMEs, but reach also international and important economic power; the second way considers the human capital potentialities, which can empower these organizations and buffer eventual negative effects, for example internal conflicts.

Keywords

• entrepreneurship
• human capital
• family firms
• organization
• performance