The F-PEC Revisited: From the Family Business Definition Dilemma to Foundation of Theory. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rau, Sabine B.; Astrachan, Joseph H.; Smyrnios, Kosmas X.
• Is Part Of: Family business review. Volume 31:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 200
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: family business -- F-PEC -- scale creation and validation -- family business definition; Family-owned business enterprises -- United States -- Periodicals; Home labor -- United States -- Periodicals; Small business -- United States -- Periodicals; New business enterprises -- United States -- Periodicals; 658.045
• DOI: 10.1177/0894486518778172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4865

Abstract

In proposing a scale to solve the "family business definition dilemma" in 2002, the F-PEC scale sparked considerable interest and research in our field, particularly at a time when family business was in its formative stage of development. We respond to the invitation of the Family Business Review editor to tell our story concerning how the F-PEC finally came to life. We highlight research that has been done in respect to the three F-PEC dimensions on the individual, the group/family, and at the organizational levels, and outline future research opportunities that might inform a theory of the family business.