How do family firm CEOs perceive their competitive advantages and disadvantages? Empirical evidence from the transportation industry

This paper explores the CEOs' perceptions of potential competitive advantages and disadvantages deriving from the unique bundle of resources that arises from the interaction between the family and the business systems. We rely on a multiple case study that involved seven family firms operating in the transportation industry. The case study analysis shows that a number of advantages and disadvantages are commonly perceived by family business CEOs in relation to different categories of resources. The evidence confirms the possibility that the interplay between family and business may benefit the family firms' competitive position and improve performance, and it sheds light on the important role played by the family's emotional attachment to the business for understanding the CEOs' perceptions about the sources of their firms' competitive advantages and disadvantages.