Financial reporting in family firms: A qualitative study on the objectives of financial reporting within family firms
2022 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Background: Family firms represent the majority of firms worldwide, and are regarded as a crucial part of the global economy. Despite that, there is little known about their objectives of financial reporting i.e how they use, produce and value their financial reports. In accounting literature two objectives of financial reporting are presented, a stewardship objective and a decision usefulness objective. Previous research within family business have found that family firms differ from non-family firms and that family firms utilize socioemotional wealth protection as a main reference point when making decisions.
Purpose: This study aims to provide an understanding of how family firms perceive the objective of their financial reporting and how this is shaped by SEW.
Method: The study was conducted using a qualitative method and implemented through semi-structured interviews. Nine family firms participated in the study, where eight family members were interviewed and two non-family members.
Conclusion: The result suggest that four out of the five FIBER dimensions (of SEW), family influence and control, identification of family members with the firm, binding social ties and emotional attachment influence the family firm's objective of their financial reports. Meanwhile, for the fifth dimension, renewal of family bonds to the firm through dynastic succession, our study suggests that future successions do not have an influence on the family firm's perceived objective of financial reporting.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022. , p. 106
Keywords [en]
Capital market logic, Compliance logic, Decision usefulness, Family firms, FIBER, Financial reporting, Socioemotional wealth, Stakeholder logic, Stewardship
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-57717ISRN: JU-IHH-FÖA-2-20221633OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-57717DiVA, id: diva2:1677425
Subject / course
JIBS, Business Administration
Supervisors
Examiners
2022-06-282022-06-272025-10-13Bibliographically approved