Katarzyna Bratnicka-Myśliwiec, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Economics in Katowice, Faculty of Economics, Department of Entrepreneurship and Management Innovation, ul. 1-go Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Martyna Wronka-PośpiechPh.D., Assistant Professor, University of Economics in Katowice, Faculty of Economics, Department of Entrepreneurship and Management Innovation, ul. 1-go Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tomasz Ingram, Associate Professor, University of Economics in Katowice, Faculty of Economics, Department of Entrepreneurship and Management Innovation, ul. 1-go Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

A growing body of research is concerned with how family businesses achieve competitive advantage, yet unique qualities that distinguish family firms and non-family firms are sometimes overlooked. In our study, we argue that socioemotional wealth (SEW) may trigger or limit family firms’ strategic initiatives that ultimately shape their competitive advantage. Therefore, in our study of 193 Polish family firms, we investigate how SEW and a firm’s competitive advantage are associated with a family firm context. Our research results reveal that, indeed, SEW and competitive advantage are partially associated and SEW can be regarded as an important strategic antecedent to firm performance.

Keywords: family business, (SEW), competitive advantage.