Abstract

 Family firms receive scant attention in the mainstream management literature, particularly with respect to the development of theories of this firm. This neglect is unfortunate because in terms of contributions, and especially numbers, family businesses represent a dominant form of economic organization throughout the world. Although the field of family businesses has been regarded as a separate academic discipline since the 1990s in the world, in Iran, there are no particular fields of study about this discipline. Furthermore, growth of firms is very important. This study investigated and explained the affective factors for growth and development of family businesses in Iran. It is noted that this research is the first academic research in Iran related to family business. This article tries to fill the gap between family business’s theories. It contains textile and oil industries in Tehran. Almost 78 family businesses in textile industry and 80 family businesses in oil industry were identified. A Sample of 88 firms from two industries as examined in this study. The findings showed that there are correlations between growth and independent factors such as risk taking of owner-managers, orientation to innovation, managerial skills, interest of people to participate in their family business, strategic insight in people of family, political environment, cultural environment and economical environment, and there are no correlation between growth and the governance of family on their businesses.

Key words: Family business, growth and development, entrepreneurship.Family firms receive scant attention in the mainstream management literature, particularly with respect to the development of theories of this firm. This neglect is unfortunate because in terms of contributions, and especially numbers, family businesses represent a dominant form of economic organization throughout the world. Although the field of family businesses has been regarded as a separate academic discipline since the 1990s in the world, in Iran, there are no particular fields of study about this discipline. Furthermore, growth of firms is very important. This study investigated and explained the affective factors for growth and development of family businesses in Iran. It is noted that this research is the first academic research in Iran related to family business. This article tries to fill the gap between family business’s theories. It contains textile and oil industries in Tehran. Almost 78 family businesses in textile industry and 80 family businesses in oil industry were identified. A Sample of 88 firms from two industries as examined in this study. The findings showed that there are correlations between growth and independent factors such as risk taking of owner-managers, orientation to innovation, managerial skills, interest of people to participate in their family business, strategic insight in people of family, political environment, cultural environment and economical environment, and there are no correlation between growth and the governance of family on their businesses.

Key words: Family business, growth and development, entrepreneurship.