An exploratory study on a new corporate governance mechanism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore relationships between different governance configurations and firm survival. The objective is to describe the alternative mechanisms through which the owning family takes a stake in the governance of the firm.Design/methodology/approach – The governance systems of 116 family enterprises in Lebanon are examined. The study integrates family, ownership, leadership and the business itself constituting the four structural elements of a family firm's governance system. Then, the study tests four hypotheses whether the family, the ownership, the leadership and the business dimensions influence positively firm survival/longevity. The other hypotheses tested concern the advisory services and the legal form of the board, and how that might affect the survival/longevity of the family firm.Findings – This integrative view allows observation of interactions among the different structures, and the establishment of a coordinating governing structure. Hypotheses testing r...