Culture, Islamic capital and the entrepreneurial behaviour of family firms in Saudi Arabia
Alrubaishi, Dalal, McAdam, MauraORCID: 0000-0003-2203-5485 and Harrison, RichardORCID: 0000-0002-0154-0039
(2021)
Culture, Islamic capital and the entrepreneurial behaviour of family firms in Saudi Arabia.
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 2
(6).
pp. 1476-1501.
ISSN 1355-2554
Purpose: There is a significant gap in understanding with regards to the role of cultural context in
family business research. This paper aims to address this by exploring the critical and pervasive
influence of culture in shaping the entrepreneurial behaviours of family businesses based in Saudi
Arabia.
Design/Methodology/Approach: We adopt a qualitative interpretive case study approach, which
draws upon interviews with the incumbents and successors of ten Saudi Arabian family firms.
Findings: Our empirical evidence reveals the importance of family ties and culture on the
entrepreneurial behaviour of family firms in general, and the influence of ‘Islamic capital’ on the
intergenerational transfer of family legacy in particular.
Originality/value: We provide critical insights on how Islamic capital motivates Saudi family
firms to maintain harmony, avoid disputes and create a legacy for future generations by engaging
in entrepreneurial behaviours.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Family Business; Saudi Arabia; Islamic capital; Entrepreneurial behaviour